Page 109 of Arcane Entanglement

Amusement gleamed in Renwick’s eyes. “What are they paying you, Stonewall? I’ll double it, whatever it is.”

“You can’t afford me,” Viggo growled. “Even if you could, I would never work with the likes of you!”

Renwick’s expression turned ugly.

“A worthless thrall will always remain a worthless thrall, I see.”

He signalled to his followers.

Shadows came to life around the mages, writhing and reaching out with grasping tendrils. Horror gripped Evander’s chest in a vice when Renwick’s followers directed their attacks at the passengers in the station, their intent to maim and destroy all too clear.

A woman screamed and fell, her body twisted at a strange angle.

A man dropped to his knees, air rasping through his throat as he clutched desperately at the dark bands throttling him.

Power rolled through Evander on a wave of fury, the elements answering his call as if waiting for this very moment. The wind and fire that sprang up at his command deflected the sinister wisps seeking fresh targets. Ice and earth sprouted from the ground, sharp spikes shooting towards the enemy.

A couple of mages let out gurgled shouts when the elemental spears found them.

“Rufus!” Evander shouted over the howl of wind and magic. “Get everyone out of here and evacuate the station!”

The inspector nodded jerkily before disappearing into the billowing smoke. His enchanted whistle soon rose above the pandemonium gripping Charing Cross. An answering sound echoed in the distance scant seconds later.

This close to Scotland Yard, reinforcements would come quickly and in large numbers.

Evander fisted his hands.

We just have to hang in there until they arrive!

He stiffened when dark magic bubbled around Renwick’s hands. The temperature plummeted. Frost crystallised on the platform as the dark mage’s powers leeched the warmth from the air.

Fear squeezed Evander’s heart when he grasped Renwick’s intent.

“No!”

Heat flashed through his blood as he stepped in front of Viggo. A wall of fire burst into life around them, the flames so intense sweat immediately beaded the Brute’s brow.

The elemental barrier absorbed most of Renwick’s deadly attack.

A dark bolt slipped through, its power still potent despite being dampened by Evander’s fire magic.

Viggo yanked Evander behind him and blocked it with his forearms, a grunt of pain leaving him as the magic scalded his skin.

Evander braced his hands against the Brute’s back and grounded them with earth magic as the impact shoved them some half a dozen feet.

Viggo dug his heels in and brought them to a halt.

The fire faded, revealing Renwick and his followers.

The Brute bared his teeth. “My turn.”

He drew his arm back and slammed his fist into the ground with a roar.

Evander gasped when the platform shuddered violently beneath them.

A crack split the surface. It spread as it snaked towards the dark mages.

Renwick scowled and moved nimbly out of the way of the rupture. Two of his associates weren’t as lucky. Their feet got jammed into the break, snapping their ankles.