Page 17 of Arcane Entanglement

The Brute was accompanied by three cloaked, masked figures who stank of dark magic. Evander’s stomach curdled when one of them turned towards Graham, shadows coalescing around his fingers.

No!

He scrambled to his feet, fear and fury causing a violent burst of ice magic to fill his body on a rush of power. Evander’s breath fogged in front of his face as he drew his arm back and hurled the weapon that had come to life in his hand with all his might.

The icicle impaled the dark mage’s shoulder just as the crack of a firearm shattered the night. The man jerked twice. Light flashed around the projectile that had smashed into his left flank and latched onto him with spider-like legs.

A cry left the mage’s throat as he was enveloped in dazzling static. His entire body went rigid before he convulsed and dropped to the ground, muscles spasming and back contorting uncontrollably.

The magic sparking across his clothes faded as he lost consciousness.

Everyone’s gaze shifted to the smoking pistol in Ginny’s right hand.

She’d kicked the carriage door open and was leaning out of the vehicle, her arm steady and a scowl darkening her pretty face as she aimed her enchanted derringer.

A mage lunged for her, a nasty blade in hand.

Ginny jerked out of the way, grabbed the top of the door frame, and shoved herself out of the vehicle. Her stockinged leg moved in a graceful arc as she twisted and back kicked the man in the face with her left foot.

Bone crunched under the heel of her delicate silver slipper.

The mage staggered sideways on a colourful curse, blood spurting from his broken nose. Ginny landed lightly in front of him, took hold of his shoulders, and kneed him violently in the groin.

Samuel sucked in air, horrified delight dawning on his young face.

The mage’s eyes crossed.

“That’s what you get for making me ruin this dress, you swine!” Ginny hissed as he groaned and slumped to the ground before her. She knocked him out with a blow from the handle of her pistol.

Dark magic bloomed around the third mage’s fingers.

Graham moved to intercept him as he raised his hand towards Ginny.

“Stay back!” Evander barked.

The coachman froze.

The mage stiffened when he sensed Evander’s wind magic. He tried to avoid the attack.

“Too late,” Evander growled.

The mage gasped as an invisible lasso wrapped around his throat. He clutched at bands of nothingness, his fingers sinking impotently through tightening loops of wind magic. His toe caps scraped the cobbles as he rose from the ground.

Evander moved his hand and sent him flying into a tree fifteen feet away.

Chapter9

The mage smashedinto the trunk with a harsh grunt. Leaves rained down on him as he slid to the ground, his head lolling forward, chin on chest.

Evander started across the street, the power humming in his blood making the hairs on his skin stand on end.

“Take Samuel and go find help.”

He removed his Arcane Division issued enchanted whistle from a pocket in his waistcoat and lobed it at Graham.

The coachman caught it.

Evander kept his eyes on the Brute as he sent ice racing along the harness shackling the horses to the carriage. The straps snapped at a flick of his fingers, freeing the nervous beasts.