Page 121 of Arcane Entanglement

“It’s common practice to throw water on fighting dogs,” Evander said in clipped tones.

“You tell them, your Grace!” someone shouted.

They turned.

Shaw was beaming at them from the bottom of the rubble.

“What are you doing here, Miss Shaw?” Rufus said sharply.

“I’m a forensic mage, sir,” Shaw replied brightly. “I’m forensicing.”

Chapter48

Evander pinchedthe bridge of his nose and sat back in his chair.

It was his fourth day writing up reports concerning the investigation into Alastair Millbrook’s murder and its unexpected outcome. Not only had he had to submit the official paperwork due to Winterbourne, he’d also been asked to pen an account for the Ministry of Arcane Affairs and the War Office.

Viggo’s going to be furious.

He’d met the Brute in his official capacity as the lead investigating officer on the case two days ago, when he and Rufus had taken his statement. Though Viggo had acted out his role as the head ofNightshadesuperbly, he’d been unable to mask his desire for Evander at times, something which Rufus had noted with a pinched expression.

Evander’s crotch grew uncomfortably tight as he recalled the way Viggo’s leg had brushed tantalisingly against his thigh under the table. Heat warmed his cheeks at the memory of the erection he’d sported throughout most of their meeting.

Thank goodness Rufus didn’t notice.

Evander worked for another hour before putting his quill down and pushing away from his desk. He walked over to the window of his office in Scotland Yard and looked broodingly out over the Thames. His gaze found the blackened ruins downriver, as it had done many a time these past few days.

The events that had led to Renwick’s death played through his mind like scenes from a nightmare. The battle at Charing Cross Station. The chase across the Thames and the southern embankment. And their final confrontation in that ill-fated warehouse.

Sleep had not come easily to him since that day. Every time he closed his eyes, he recalled the searing light of the explosion and the heart-stopping moment when he thought he’d lost Viggo.

They were still no closer to finding out the identity of Renwick’s master, the true architect of the ghastly plan behind theBlood Siphon. In that respect at least, the dark mage’s death was something Evander had come to regret. Still, there was no guarantee Renwick would have revealed his secrets even under the influence of a powerful enchanter.

A knock at the door drew him back to the present. He turned from the window.

“Come in.”

Rufus entered, looking as weary as Evander felt. Dark circles shadowed his eyes and his usually immaculate uniform was rumpled from hours of work.

“The report’s in.” The inspector dropped a thick folder on the desk and sat down heavily in the chair opposite. “You’re not going to like this. Caine Renwick was a professor at the Royal Institute for the Arcane.”

Evander’s pulse quickened. He moved to the desk and opened the folder.

The Royal Institute was his alma mater, the place where he’d learned to hone his magical abilities and control his immense power. The thought of someone like Renwick teaching there made him sick to the stomach.

“He specialised in advanced Elemental Magic?” Evander said tightly as he read the file.

“Yes, with a focus on wind magic.” Rufus sighed. “He was quite respected in his field, apparently. His colleagues describe him as brilliant, if a bit intense.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “There’s more. It seems there were a few rumours involving Renwick and some of his students. They were apparently brushed under the carpet by the higher-ups in the institute. Word on the street is money may have changed hands to silence the students’ families.”

Evander straightened. “What kind of rumours?”

Rufus hesitated. “The kind involving dark magic. Wind magic may not be the only thing he taught at the institute.”

Evander stared blindly at the report, his mind racing.

How many young mages did Renwick influence with his twisted ideologies? And how deep does the corruption run?

“This is worse than we thought.” Evander sat down heavily. “If Renwick was able to hide in plain sight at the institute, who knows how many others might be doing the same.”