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Between the four of them, they had the cuff relic confiscated and Alfred secured just as the police arrived.

“We were called by a Mr. Collins,” the head constable said to Wesley. “He said there was an attempted murder today and there’s a fresh corpse buried in the Valemount graveyard. What a right mess.”

“That’s one way to put it,” Wesley muttered.

With Alfred loaded into the police lorry, they went back up to the manor.

“I will make sure both the medallion and the cuff relics are locked up in my family vaults,” Sebastian said, as they walked through the gardens with Arthur and Rory not far behind.

“We should check on your cousin and Lady Nora. And we should make sure a doctor arrived for Louis, although I am still angry with him.”

Wesley raised an eyebrow. “ You’re angry?”

“He tried to shoot you, Wes, of course I’m—shit.”

Without warning, Wesley’s knees turned to liquid, sending him stumbling forward.

“Wesley!” Arms quickly came around Wesley from behind, catching him before he hit the ground. “Sorry, sorry,” Sebastian said, pulling Wesley upright. “The magic got away from me.”

Wesley snorted, the last of the watery sensation leaving his limbs.

Perhaps another man would have been annoyed at the realization that he was probably going to fall several times over the next few days, but the thought made Wesley smile.

“I think the odds are fairly certain that this won’t be the only time you lose control. ”

“I’ll be fine,” Sebastian insisted.

“You just said you’re still angry.”

“I mean, I am , but—”

“You’re the one who told me it’s harder for paranormals to keep control of their magic when emotions are high.

” Wesley let his fingers brush against Sebastian’s wrist, the one with the tattoo.

A platonic enough gesture for public, but still letting himself have that touch.

“And you are a paranormal again. There’s no question. ”

A tiny smile curled on Sebastian’s lips. “I guess I am.”

“Exactly,” said Wesley. “So do you really think you ought to walk into the manor and knock the whole house to their knees?”

“I won’t,” Sebastian insisted. “It will be fine—oops.” He grabbed Wesley by the arm, just barely keeping him on his feet as another rush of magic swept the garden path.

“You know what? Maybe I will not go anywhere near Louis. Maybe I will just go up to my room and change into clothes without mud. Alone.”

“Good thought,” Wesley said, letting his fingers indulge in another quick brush against Sebastian’s wrist.

Inside the manor, Wesley found Geoffrey and Nora in the ground-floor library.

Nora was pacing and shaking her head. “Uncle Louis is stable and resting.” She sighed.

“I’m not sure what I’m going to do about him.

Or about Father. And I don’t have the faintest idea how my sisters are going to handle this when they find out. ”

Nora and Geoffrey had missed all the magic, so that secret was safe. But Nora and her sisters would certainly have plenty else to deal with. “So you did know, this entire time, that Dr. Wright was really your father?” Wesley asked.

“Of course I did,” she said. “But only for a few weeks. I really was in Canada visiting my sister. Father came to me as I was preparing to come home. Said there had been an attempt on his life two years ago, and Uncle Louis was pretending to be the duke so Father could investigate. He asked me to assist with the doctor cover story on the ship home. I was just so happy that he wasn’t actually dead; what cause did I have to doubt them? ”

“None,” Geoffrey said firmly. He was standing rather close to Nora. “I think you’ve been absolutely admirable throughout the whole ordeal. As brave as Artemis herself.”

“Really?” Nora paused in her pacing and eyed Geoffrey. “You know, it’s going to be a very trying time, dealing with all of this,” she finally said. “Some of my sisters have very strong opinions about reputation. I could use some company I can trust…if you’d like to stay?”

“Oh,” Geoffrey said, looking rather surprised. “Yes, actually. I’d be happy to.”

A maid stuck her head into the library. “Begging your pardon, Lady Nora, but all four of your sisters have telegrammed. Two of them are already on their way and Lady Euphemia is on the phone now.”

“Oh dear.” Nora sighed again. “Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me?”

Wesley watched Nora follow the maid out of the library.

“I still don’t understand why you followed Sebastian to the guest house,” he said to Geoffrey.

“I mean, you’re right that I would have been livid if you had knowingly let Sebastian wander into a house infected with scarlet fever.

But since when do you care if I’m cross? ”

“Oh, I don’t,” Geoffrey said. “But Don Sebastian had been such a decent fellow in the art gallery, giving me a chance to talk to Lady Nora. It really would have been poor of me to let him catch scarlet fever. But obviously I couldn’t say that ; Don Sebastian would think I didn’t know how to talk to women. ”

“God forbid he got that impression.” Wesley tilted his head, considering Geoffrey. “You know, there was a moment, out on the hunt, where I was worried that you’d been the one to take the shot at me. After all, that would make you Lord Fine now.”

“That is incredibly insulting, Wesley,” Geoffrey said, sounding genuinely affronted. “We’re family .”

Wesley gave a tiny shrug. “Yes, well—”

“And also,” added Geoffrey, still testy, “ I wouldn’t have missed.”

Wesley pinched the bridge of his nose.

After Wesley had come to a suitable arrangement with Geoffrey and finally changed out of his muddy hunting coat and cleaned up from the moor, he joined Sebastian, along with Rory and Arthur, in the manor’s gardens.

“Geoffrey has agreed to handle everything and keep all of your names out of it,” said Wesley.

“Out of the goodness of his heart?” Rory said skeptically.

“Partly,” said Wesley. “And partly because I bribed him with the Bentley. I have a second one in Yorkshire that can come to Kensington; today I want to take the H6. After all, I did win it.”

“The staff has already put the new rear tire on it.” Sebastian had also changed out of his muddy suit. He was still nearly glowing with energy—or more likely, with the magic still storming through him, the stampede of wild horses finally finding their way home. “It’s ready to go.”

“Shall we get out of here then?” Wesley said. “Sebastian, are you going to attempt some kind of flimsy subterfuge to get the keys?”

But Sebastian immediately shook his head. “Arthur should drive.”

They all looked at him, and he flushed. “As Wes has noticed, my magic is a little hard to hang on to right now,” he said sheepishly.

“Arthur has Rory’s magic in his aura that saves him from being knocked down by mine.

I don’t want to risk an accident myself—or accidentally causing an accident, if Wesley is behind the wheel. ”

“So your magic is really back?” Arthur asked.

Sebastian held out his wrist, showing a familiar swirl of colors returned to his tattoo. “Yes,” he said, and Wesley could hear the happiness in his voice.

Rory squinted at the colors. “No more lion?”

“Oh, he’s still there,” Wesley said, eyes on the rampant lion hidden in Sebastian’s tattoo, always all Wesley’s, whatever form he took.

Not long later, they were on the road and heading east. The rain became light snow as they drove, flakes landing on the H6’s windshield.

By the time they’d made it back to London’s outskirts and then into Kensington, it was well into evening.

Wesley’s footman, Ned, was already coming down the front steps as they pulled the H6 up to the curb.

“My lord.” He had a big smile as he opened Wesley’s door, seemingly unbothered by the significant amounts of barking clearly coming from next door. “Delighted to see you.”

“Why do I hear two dogs?” Wesley said suspiciously, as he stepped to the curb.

“Because Lady Pennington got her Maltese, Powerpuff, a friend,” Ned said, as he held the door open for Sebastian to exit. “A darling little spaniel. They’re playing in the garden.”

Sebastian had gone doe-eyed. “That’s so sweet.”

Wesley sighed. “Just tell me there’s dinner.”

“Yes sir,” said Ned, as Arthur and Rory joined them on the curb. “Your other friends have just arrived, and you’ve brought Mr. Kenzie, Mr. Brodigan, and Mr. de Leon too? Miss Elsie will be delighted. Mrs. Harrick’s made a late dinner; she’s showing off her skills tonight.”

“My other friends?” Wesley said, blinking.

But as he walked into his home, he realized he could hear Jade’s and Zhang’s familiar laughter, and new voices he didn’t recognize.

“Oh, they’ve all made it!” Arthur said. “Wesley, come on, you have to meet Gwen and Ellis. If you think you and Sebastian have a complicated past with us, you’ve got nothing on these two. They adore Sebastian, though, so you’ll probably love them.”

Wesley huffed a laugh. “Be right there.”

Arthur and Rory hurried toward the dining room. Sebastian had disappeared when they got out of the car, probably sneaking in through the basement, which left Wesley alone with his footman. “Ah, Ned.” Wesley cleared his throat. “About sleeping arrangements—”

“I’m glad you brought that up, sir,” Ned said seriously. “You see, we have a bit of a problem.”

“We do?” Wesley braced himself. “What’s that?”

“Well, sir,” Ned began, “Your friends Miss Robbins and Mr. Zhang have said they’re staying with the Taylors, but Mr. Kenzie and Mr. Brodigan will need rooms here. And I’m afraid the basement room isn’t available.”

Wesley blinked. “Not…available?”

“No sir,” Ned said. “The cats are in there.”

“The cats ?”

“Yes sir,” said Ned. “And so you see, we’re not going to be able to put Mr. Kenzie or Mr. Brodigan down there. I’m afraid they’re going to have to share the guest room.”

Wesley opened his mouth, then closed it.