Page 51 of Arcane Entanglement

They turned. Evander’s shoulders knotted at the sight of Viggo.

Rufus drew himself to his full height. The inspector did not even bother to hide his hostility.

“What are you doing here?”

Something Evander couldn’t read flashed in the Brute’s gaze when their eyes met.

Viggo shrugged. “Magnus is still out, so I asked if I could tour the facilities.”

His relaxed tone made Rufus’s mouth flatten to a thin line.

“This isn’t some goddamn museum, Stonewall!” the inspector snapped.

Shaw stepped out of the Brute’s shadow.

“Commander Winterbourne gave his permission,” the mage piped up cheerfully. “Viggo was especially keen to see where our alchemists worked.”

Rufus’s face darkened.

“You should have started with the basement,” he muttered. “And why are you calling him Viggo, like you’re friends?”

Shaw’s expression grew pinched. “He told me to.” She crossed her arms and arched an arrogant eyebrow. “Why, are you jealous, sir?”

Rufus made a choked noise.

Evander swallowed a sigh as they started bickering. Though he wasn’t entirely sure why the inspector had taken an instant dislike to Viggo, he suspected it had to do with the Brute’s attitude towards him in Winterbourne’s office. He became conscious of a rising din and looked around.

If his freshly revealed secret of being an Archmage had created something of a ruckus in the lab, Viggo’s presence was about to cause a veritable uproar.

“What’s the matter with you, folks?” Brown shouted over the brouhaha. “Ain’t none of you seen a Brute before?!”

“But it’s the Ironfist Brute, sir!” someone exclaimed.

“He’s the leader ofNightshade, no less,” another alchemistsaid.

Brown glowered. “And?”

The alchemists reluctantly returned to their tasks, though not without stealing covert glances at Viggo.

“I apologise about that,” Brown said gruffly. His expression cleared and his mouth curved in a faint smile as he observed the Brute. “Vincent Brown. I’m an old drinking friend of your uncle.” He gave Viggo his hand.

Surprise jolted Evander. Even Rufus looked astonished.

Viggo stared before slowly shaking the alchemist’s hand. “You are?”

“Yes.” Brown’s smile faded. “Or at least I was before your aunt Mary died. I doubt you remember, but I was at the funeral.”

“I don’t,” Viggo said quietly. “Thank you for coming.”

Evander could tell the Brute truly meant his words.

Brown rocked back on his heels. “How’s Jack?”

“He’s well.” Viggo’s expression loosened a little. “I shall tell him we met.”

“Please do. I really should catch up with him.” Brown beamed. “Now, tell me why you think this isn’tMonk’s Lilac, young man.” He slapped Viggo heartily on the back, only to wince and shake his hand.

“Do you mind?” Viggo gestured to the glass tube in the rack.