Page 108 of Arcane Entanglement

He tackled Evander to the ground, Rufus in his hold.

The dark swell tore through the train carriage like it was made of paper, smashing metal and shattering glass in a deafening cacophony that seemed to go on forever. Debris rained down on them, Viggo doing his best to shield them with his giant frame.

There was a moment of breathless stillness when the echoes of the detonation faded.

The world exploded into chaos.

Screams rent the air as passengers who’d escaped the initial attack scrambled to flee, their panicked cries mixing with the groans of those less fortunate than them.

Evander’s skull fairly rang as Viggo climbed off him and pulled him to his feet. He stared, stomach churning.

Half of Charing Cross station resembled a war zone. Smoke billowed from the wrecked train beside them, mixing with the acrid stink of dark magic that hung heavily in the air.

Evander’s alarmed gaze found Rufus. “How is he?!”

“Alive, but out like a light,” Viggo said grimly.

Relief made Evander weak. The fact that Viggo was still standing gave him the strength he needed to do what he must. He clenched his jaw and reached for his magic.

Pulsing heat came to life inside his chest, clearing his mind and sharpening his senses. Flames blossomed around him, the incandescent sparks moving under his will. Evander moulded the blaze until it formed a rippling, roaring cloud and sent it soaring above the platform and the comatose passengers.

Fire magic purified the air of the dark energy choking it.

Audible gasps and wheezes sounded as people started coming around.

Rufus stirred and moaned. The inspector blinked his eyes dazedly, a thin trail of blood trickling from a cut on his head. Viggo helped sit him up.

“What in the blazes just happened?!” Rufus gasped, leaning heavily on the Brute.

“Renwick’s here,” Evander said grimly. “I saw him when I got off the train.” He scanned their surroundings with a heavy frown. “It’s not just him. I can sense several sources of dark magic close by.”

As if summoned by his words, a group of robed figures emerged from the billowing smoke. There were sixteen of them. A third wore the blank faces and crimson pupils that signalled them as victims of the cursed gems being used to control their minds. Leading the mages was Renwick, his grey eyes chilling.

Evander’s blood ran cold.

The malevolent aura surrounding the dark mage was worse than when he’d last seen him. It was a discordant, jarring presence, at odds with the natural harmony of the world.

His every sense reacted viscerally to it.

“Duke Ravenwood.” Renwick’s voice was smooth, almost pleasant. It betrayed none of the evil Evander knew lurked beneath. “I must say, I’m impressed. Not many could have survived that blast.”

Evander’s nails dug into his palms. His gaze flitted to the figures accompanying the dark mage.

“I should have known you’d be too much of a coward to face us alone.”

A flinty smile played on Renwick’s lips. “Coward? No, your Grace. Merely practical. I can’t afford to take chances. Not when the stakes are this high.”

“Stakes?” Viggo bit out, body tense and ready to spring into action. “You mean stealing the life force of innocent people?!”

Surprise flickered in Renwick’s eyes. It was replaced by cool calculation.

“I see you’ve discovered the true purpose of the artefact I had Millbrook build for us.” He cocked his head mockingly. “It changes nothing. You’re too late to stop what’s already been set in motion.”

Evander’s mind raced.

Us? Someone else is involved in this? And what does he mean, set in motion?!

Viggo shifted protectively in front of Evander and Rufus.