Page 50 of Arcane Entanglement

He wanted Viggo to know why he’d decided to join the Met despite being an Archmage. More than that, he wanted to hurt Viggo for not trusting him.

That realisation stopped Evander short and brought a lump to his throat.

What am I doing right now? He doesn’t deserve this.

“Alright.”

Evander’s distracted gaze shifted to Winterbourne.

The commander was looking at him with a resigned expression. “I will release Magnus Graveoak.” His tone hardened. “But you and Mr. Stonewall will bear full responsibility for him and his actions until this case is closed.”

Relief made Evander giddy.

Viggo swallowed and closed his eyes briefly. “Thank you,” he mumbled to Winterbourne after a short silence. He hesitated before turning to Evander. “And I apologise, your Grace. I should not have said those things to you.” A trace of bitterness underscored his voice. “I may hate who you are and what you stand for. But you saved Magnus not just once, but twice. And for that, I will forever be grateful to you.”

Chapter21

“Your Grace?”Vincent Brown said in a troubled voice. “Are you alright? You look a little pale.”

“I’m fine, Mr. Brown.”

Evander caught the worried look Rufus shot his way where they stood in the AFD’s Alchemical Analysts’ lab.

An array of brass and copper instruments gleamed on the benches and shelves around them, alongside dozens of bubbling retorts and alembics connected by networks of glass tubes. One wall of the room was occupied by an immense glass-fronted cabinet filled with hundreds of small vials and jars, each meticulously labelled and organised. A fume hood enchanted to safely disperse any dangerous vapours or magical emanations stood beside it.

Chained to a pedestal in the centre of the chamber was its most prized possession, a massive, leather-bound tome filled with several centuries of alchemical knowledge and enchanted to update itself with new discoveries and techniques. Magic hummed faintly around the Alchemist's Codex, the numerous protective wards in place shimmering slightly as they caught the light.

Evander realised most of the staff had stopped what they were doing and were openly gawking at him. Brown scowled.

The men and women resumed their tasks guiltily.

“I apologise, your Grace,” the alchemist grunted. “I’m afraid you’ll be the subject of gossip for a while yet.”

Evander hesitated. “Are you not curious? About why I hid the fact that I’m an Archmage?”

Brown met his steadfast stare. “I gathered you decided it would be too much trouble for it to become common knowledge, your Grace.” The alchemist shrugged. “To be honest, I would have done the same if I were in your shoes. Many would no doubt relish the authority and prestige that come with that title, but anyone acquainted with yourself knows you are not that kind of man.”

Relief lightened Evander’s chest. The fact that his closest associates were not threatened by his secret and had chosen not to treat him any differently after discovering his hidden abilities filled him with more gratitude than he could ever express.

It had been the same with Ginny and Rufus too.

Viggo’s face swam before his eyes. Evander couldn’t help but go over what the Brute had said in Winterbourne’s office, before they’d parted ways. His throat tightened. He doubted Viggo would ever treat him with more than just basic civility now that he’d learned exactly what he was.

“Are you certain about the nature of the powder Shaw found at the scene of the attack?” Rufus asked Brown.

Evander focused on what they were saying.

“Yes. I believe what Miss Shaw discovered at Hyde Park Corner isMonk’s Lilac.” Brown indicated the glass tube sitting inside a rack on his workstation.

Evander frowned at the purple dust coating the lining of the vessel.

“Isn’t that a rare plant with magical properties?”

“It is indeed, your Grace.” The alchemist lifted a small bottle containing a similar looking substance from the bench. “As luck would have it, I found a sample of it in our stores.”

Rufus’s face tightened. “Can this help us find the mages who attacked his Grace’s carriage?”

“It might if it was actuallyMonk’s Lilac,” someone drawled.