Page 35 of Arcane Entanglement

Viggo glanced at the weathered watch hanging off the inside breast pocket of his coat. It was seven, the time they’d arranged to meet Evander. He frowned.

Where is that damn mage?

He was distracted by the sound of an approaching carriage.

A sleek, black four-wheeler drawn by a pair of magnificent horses turned the corner and approached Scotland Yard. The body of the vehicle was made of polished ebony and bore beautiful silver inlays forming the crest of a raven perched on a crescent moon on its doors.

Viggo had no doubt the carriage was heavily warded since it appeared to belong to someone of import. He blinked, a sudden suspicion blasting through his mind.

Wait. Don’t tell me that’s—hiscarriage?!

As if to confirm his worse fears, the vehicle pulled to a stop in front of where he and Solomon stood. A young lad in livery jumped down from the box seat and opened the door. His curious gaze flitted to Viggo. He froze, eyes rounding and jaw dropping on a shocked inhale.

Viggo’s heart sank when Evander stepped out of the carriage. He was dressed in his formal Met uniform, the silver buttons on his dark blue coat and the aiguillette on his left shoulder gleaming in the insipid sunshine piercing the morning mist, his blue eyes as clear and as cool as they had been when they’d met last night.

Viggo could tell the quality of the mage’s clothing was superior to the other inspectors in the Met. And it confirmed once more the bleak thought he’d had after the Ice Mage had leftNightshade.

He and Evander Ravenwood came from diametrically opposite worlds.

Worlds that were as different from one another as night was from day.

Which meant Viggo could never explore whatever the…feelingwas he’d experienced in the presence of the man last night. The same feeling currently quickening his pulse and hastening his breath despite his will. The feeling that was compelling him to touch and kiss this man.

Viggo swallowed, his nails digging into his palms.

Mages were his sworn enemy. And there was no way in the nine Hells he would ever sleep with one.

Chapter16

Butterflies swarmedEvander’s stomach at the sight of Viggo.

His breath caught when he glimpsed the array of emotions that flashed in the other man’s eyes.

Surprise. Dismay. A smouldering heat that sent his heart aflutter and made him forget his resolution to ignore the burn of attraction between them. A resolution he’d come to after several sleepless hours last night.

Viggo’s jaw set in a hard line, expression growing shuttered.

Evander could practically feel the invisible wall he’d just put up. He swallowed his disappointment.

This is a good thing. The more distance there is between us, the better it is for the both of us.

He became aware of young Samuel fidgeting beside him.

“Yes?”

“My—my Lord,” the footman squeaked, “is this—is this gentlemanViggo Stonewall?!”

Evander’s face relaxed at the excitement in his eyes. Young Samuel was acting like he’d just met his idol.

“Yes, it is.”

Samuel almost swooned. “Oh.”

An idea came to Evander. “Would you like his autograph?”

Viggo furrowed his brow. Samuel blinked.

“You mean,” the footman’s voice quavered, “like hissignature?!”