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Whips of fire unravelled from Evander’s hands, making the water in the air steam.He spun the elemental weapons above his head until they formed a ring of fire around him and Leon.

“Use yourNullification Magic!”Evander yelled as the shadow creatures shrieked and jerked back.

Leon glanced at him even as he sent a volley of ice spears through a couple of the creatures, pinning them momentarily to the wall before they dissolved and reformed.

“Are you certain that will work?!”

“Anything is worth a try right now,” Evander said grimly.

Leon nodded sharply.“Watch my back.”

Evander took up a defensive position behind his former lover.

The hairs rose on his nape when he sensed the Frenchman’s magic building around them.Movement ahead had his eyes widening.He cursed.

The shadow creatures were merging into a single towering, humanoid form that nearly brushed the ceiling.

“Bloody hell!”Rufus shouted.

“Run, your Grace!” Shaw yelled.

Bile rose in Evander’s throat as he gazed up at the monstrous apparition.A maw formed where its mouth should be, the gaping hole expanding as it dropped towards him and Leon, as if it meant to devour them whole.

“Now would be a good time!”Evander barked.

The Frenchman tsked, the sound amused.“As impatient as ever, I see.”

Evander’s ears popped when Leon released a powerful blast ofNullification Magic.The void of deadly magical energy spread outward from where they stood, snuffing out every shadow creature it touched.The giant monster descending upon them like a wall of judgement roiled violently before vanishing into wisps that faded to nothingness.

The room brightened, the silence around them so sudden and deep it made Evander’s ears ring.He startled when Shaw whooped behind her ice wall.

The forensic mage froze mid-fist pumping at the sight of the figure standing framed in the open doorway of the laboratory.Sweat beaded Rigley’s brow as he stood there, chest heaving and face pale, his robes and hair in disarray.His alarmed gaze found Cecillia.

“Cecillia!”

Evander dropped the ice barriers he’d erected while Rigley rushed past Shaw and hurried across the laboratory.

Cecillia fell into Rigley’s arms and shuddered with relief as he hugged her tightly to his chest.

“Uncle!”she mumbled hoarsely.

Chapter17

Shatteredglassware crunched under Evander’s boots as he approached Rigley and Cecillia, the headmaster’s arms still curled protectively around his niece’s shoulders.

“Uncle?”Rufus echoed.The inspector exchanged a frown with Evander and Leon.

Though his complexion remained ashen, Rigley recovered his composure.“I suppose explanations are in order.”

“Indeed,” Evander said coolly.“Starting with why you concealed your familial relationship with Professor Harrington.”

Guilt clouded Cecillia’s eyes.Evander now understood the meaning of the words she’d spoken when they’d first met.

“Quite frankly, I didn’t think it relevant to your investigation,” Rigley admitted.

“You didn’t think—!”Rufus began hotly.He fell silent when Evander raised a hand, the annoyance tightening his features reflected in Leon’s expression.

Evander noted the defiance in Rigley’s voice with a faint frown.It was clear he was being difficult for the sake of protecting his niece.