Page 55 of Arcane Entanglement

Evander did his best to ignore the vision of one particular rugged, hairy-chested stud he would love to be under and pinned the manservant with a scowl.

“How about you mind your own private affairs and let me worry about mine?”

“But your private affairs are my concern, my Lord,” Hargrove fairly whined. “Including your sexual gratifica?—”

Evander threw a cushion at him. Hargrove caught it deftly, much to the mage’s irritation.

“Shall I prepare your bath, my Lord?” Hargrove said sullenly as he finished clearing the table.

“Please do.” Evander sniffed. “And stop looking inside my bedside drawer.”

Hargrove hesitated by the door.

“What is it now?” Evander grunted.

The manservant’s eyes gleamed with the spirit of curiosity.

“Is it true that you and the Ironfist Brute are working together, my Lord?”

Evander stiffened. “Who told you that?”

“A little bird I shall not name,” Hargrove replied nonchalantly.

Evander scowled. “Is this little bird five foot three, with brown hair and eyes?”

Hargrove maintained a poker expression at Samuel’s description. “I cannot say, my Lord.”

“Jasper?”

“Yes, my Lord?”

“Get out.”

Steam carrying the smell of herbs and rejuvenating potions greeted Evander when he entered his bathroom moments later. It was a luxurious space, with walls panelled in dark polished wood and a floor tiled in black and white mosaic marble. Tall windows made of frosted glass graced one wall of the chamber, the heavy velvet curtains framing them adding another layer of opulence.

The centrepiece of the room was the giant, freestanding copper bathtub, its burnished surface gleaming in the soft glow of the crystal chandelier suspended from the coffered ceiling and the enchanted ornate sconces.

Evander laid his enchanted cufflinks and folding cane on the marble-topped vanity and stripped out of his clothes. He turned and walked inside the magnificent, open shower opposite. Hot sprays burst from the multiple heads in the ceiling and walls as he twisted an array of taps.

Evander ran his fingers through his hair and lifted his face, his skin prickling pleasantly as the powerful jets cleansed the sweat and grime from his flesh. He washed up with a lavish, vetiver scented soap, rinsed himself off, and padded out to the copper tub.

Water sloshed as he climbed inside, stirring the concoctions Hargrove had poured. A sigh left him as he sank in the hot, fragrant vapour. Evander submerged himself to his neck and propped his elbows and head on the edge of the tub.

He closed his eyes and was just beginning to relax when the hairs lifted on the back of his neck. Magic flooded his bloodstream in a heartbeat. He twisted and cast the weapon in his fingers at the curtains behind him.

A figure caught the ice spear in his bare hand.

Evander’s heart stuttered.

Viggo stepped out of the shadows and raised an eyebrow. “Is this how you greet all your guests?”

Chapter23

It took allof Viggo’s willpower to keep his voice steady as he observed Evander.

He hadn’t meant to spy on the mage.

Having approached the back of the townhouse in Mayfair with a stealth borne of years of experience getting into places where he didn’t belong, it had taken him but a moment to clear the rear fence, its impressive height posing little challenge to his strength as he’d vaulted over it in one deft move.