Page 124 of Arcane Entanglement

“That’s cold, my Lord.”

Evander took a shower and changed into comfortable day wear before making his way to the dining room. Hargrove’s stare turned disapproving as he watched Evander wolf down his meal.

“You’ll get indigestion if you eat that fast, my Lord.”

“And you’ll be right there to nurse me back to health,” Evander quipped, rising from the table.

“Har-har, my Lord,” the manservant grumbled. “Shall I bring you some coffee?”

“Please do. And make sure no one disturbs me. I shall be working late.”

Evander retired to the formal study on the ground floor and picked up several tomes on dark and rare magic from his bookshelves before sitting at his desk. They were exclusive editions rarely available outside the Royal Institute. Some he’d picked out personally from little known shops in Europe when he’d toured the continent.

The clock on the mantelpiece had just chimed ten o’clock when a mild breeze rustled the pages he was poring over. He frowned, so immersed in what he was reading it took him a couple of seconds to realise he’d not opened the windows.

Magic ignited his chest and warmed his blood as he jumped to his feet and whirled around.

“Good evening,” Viggo said.

The Brute stood watching him with a quiet intensity where he leaned against the wall, his ankles and arms crossed. Curtains moved gently next to him, letting in the night air through the window he’d pushed open.

Evander’s body grew light with relief. He retracted his magic and smiled tiredly.

“How long have you been standing there?”

“A good few minutes.” Viggo’s eyes glittered. “I like watching you work.”

Evander’s mouth went dry at the predatory light in the Brute’s stare. He swallowed.

“I wish you’d use the door, like everyone else.”

Viggo’s lips curved in a smile that quickened his pulse.

“And miss surprising you? That would be utterly boring.”

He straightened and closed the distance to Evander.

Heat coiled through Evander, as it always did in Viggo’s presence.

Viggo stopped in front of him. His gaze searched Evander’s face before he gently cradled his cheek.

“You look worn out.”

Evander’s flesh tingled where the Brute caressed him. He leaned into his touch.

“It’s been a difficult few days.”

Viggo’s gaze moved past him to the books on the desk. He wrinkled his brow.

“Your nighttime reading appears to be on a somewhat serious topic.”

Evander hesitated before relating what he and Rufus had learned that afternoon. A troubled silence befell them when he finished.

“So, this isn’t over yet,” Viggo said in a hard voice.

“It isn’t.” Evander ran a hand through his hair and sighed heavily. “But the murder case is closed, for now.”

Viggo’s gaze dropped to Evander’s mouth. Evander’s breath caught when the Brute brushed his lower lip with a thumb, his eyes darkening with an emotion that made his blood sing and his cock spring to attention.