Page 65 of Arcane Entanglement

“You’re positively glowing.”

“Oh.” Heat rose in Evander’s face.

He could hardly tell Rufus that he’d spent a good hour relieving himself with the enchanted toy in his bedside drawer last night after Viggo had left, all while imagining it was the Brute’s cock that was firmly wedged inside his body and wrecking him until he fairly shuddered with pleasure.

Evander had wanted to pinch himself when he’d woken up, certain he’d imagined everything that had happened between them. One look at the love bite Viggo had left on his neck made him realise it hadn’t been a dream.

He still wasn’t sure what a future with Viggo would look like. But he wanted to see it nevertheless.

Evander’s chest tightened at the truth he had yet to reveal to the Brute.

It made him recall the scene that had met him when he’d gone downstairs that morning. He’d been greeted by a funereal atmosphere upon entering the foyer.

“My Lord,” Mrs. Sinclair had murmured despondently.

Hargrove had stood beside the housekeeper, the morning papers in a white-knuckled grip. The manservant had looked about ready to spit nails.

Evander’s shoulders had tightened. “How bad is it?”

“It’s worse than bad, my Lord,” Hargrove had grated out. “They’re saying your position in Scotland Yard is untenable and you should be summarily dismissed.”

Evander’s stomach had sunk at that. He’d clenched his jaw.

“Looks like some nobles in the House of Lords are really keen to get rid of me.”

It shouldn’t have come as a surprise. He’d been a thorn in their side for years.

“What happened, my Lord?” Mrs. Sinclair had asked quietly.

Evander had met his former nanny’s steady gaze unflinchingly. Unlike Hargrove, she knewallhis secrets, including the one that would rock the entire British Empire if it were to be made public.

Though he could not reveal the exact details of what had taken place the day before at Scotland Yard, Evander had told them he’d used his powers to save a man’s life.

His explanation had gone some way towards mollifying Hargrove.

Mrs. Sinclair had sighed. “I guess it couldn’t be helped. Please, pay no heed to the papers, my Lord.” She’d shot a narrow-eyed look at a scullery maid who’d slowed to gawk at Evander. “I shall ensure that our staff keeps their mouths shut.”

The maid had flinched and hurried about her business.

Rufus’s voice brought Evander back to the present.

“I saw the print rags this morning.” The inspector was frowning.

“Come now,” Evander said lightly. “You should know better than to believe everything you read in those gossip columns.”

A muscle jumped in Rufus’s cheek.

“How can you be so blasé about this? We’re talking about your future, dammit!”

Guilt stabbed through Evander at his worried expression.

“Nothing will happen. I may jest about it, but I should count myself lucky my status as an Archmage never came to light before now.”

Rufus swallowed heavily. His mouth flattened to a thin line a moment later.

“What of Winterbourne’s threat yesterday? He said the Queen could strip you of your role as a Royal Arcane Liaison and force you to resign from the Met once he informed her of what happened.”

“I have no doubt Her Majesty will be…upset.” Evander did his best to keep his voice neutral as an array of conflicting emotions formed a tight knot in his chest. “But she won’t make me relinquish my position.”