Page 46 of Arcane Entanglement

“I see the way you look at him.” He pinned Viggo with an accusing gaze. “Promise me you won’t fuck the mage, Viggo. It will lead to no end of trouble if you do.”

Motion caught Viggo’s eye before he could come up with a suitable denial.

Shaw had entered the infirmary. She exchanged brief words with the healer who had taken care of Magnus before approaching the bed.

“Commander Winterbourne requests your presence,” she told Viggo. “If you could please follow me.”

Viggo tensed. Reginald Winterbourne was the commander of the Arcane Division and Evander’s chief. Judging from Shaw’s nervous expression, it seemed Evander’s discussion with his superior was not progressing as he’d wanted it to.

He got up and fell in step behind the mage as she started across the room.

Solomon rose from his seat to accompany him.

Viggo paused. “Stay with Magnus. He’ll be scared if he wakes up in here on his own.”

Solomon hesitated before nodding and slowly sitting down.

Viggo caught Shaw’s curious glance as they exited the infirmary.

“What?”

“Are you upset with him?” The forensic mage scratched her cheek. “His Grace, I mean?”

“Why would I be upset with him?”

“You hate mages,” Shaw said bluntly. “And he’s the pinnacle of magehood.”

Viggo grimaced. “Is that even a word?”

Shaw sniffed. “I’m making it so.”

Viggo bit back an involuntary smile. He couldn’t help but like the spunky mage.

They passed a group of officers. If Shaw noted the wary looks Viggo earned, she showed no sign of it. Low murmurs followed them as they navigated the corridors of the Arcane Division, Viggo’s skin prickling at scores of vigilant stares.

It seemed news of the incident in the lockup had spread throughout the Met.

“Did you know?” Viggo said after a moment. “That he was an Archmage?”

Shaw pursed her lips. “None of us knew.” Her brow wrinkled. “Except maybe Inspector Grayson. He didn’t seem that shocked by what happened in that cell.”

Viggo recalled Rufus’s warning to Evander. He frowned.

He knew alright.

“How likely is it that the Met will keep his secret?” he grunted.

Shaw seemed as surprised by the question as he was for uttering it.

“Wait. Are you worried about his Grace?”

“It’s our fault he had to reveal his status as an Archmage,” Viggo said awkwardly.

Shaw watched him for a moment before smiling. “You truly are a gentleman, Mr. Stonewall.”

“Please, call me Viggo.” He made a face. “Also, I don’t know what to make of that statement. I feel I should be insulted rather than flattered.”

Shaw laughed. “I wouldn’t worry too much about his Grace. He has a way of…getting himself out of the most ridiculous situations with nary a hair harmed on his pretty head.” Her smile faded. She sighed. “As for your question, do bears shit in the woods?”