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Leon’s composed expression never faltered.

“Have you?”Viggo’s voice was neutral.“Funny, I’ve heard almost nothing about you.”

Leon’s eyes narrowed imperceptibly.

The tension between the two men crackled in the air, like static before a storm.

Evander cleared his throat.“Would you care to join us?”

Viggo’s face tightened.He was about to voice what Evander suspected would be a blunt refusal when Leon spoke.

“That’s a splendid idea.”The Frenchman’s smile was edged with steel.“I would like to get to know Monsieur Stonewall better.”

The challenge filled the space between the two men.

Evander couldn’t think of anything worse and was about to suggest they leave when Viggo spoke.

“Why not?”the Brute said, arching a haughty eyebrow.

Evander stifled a groan.Having his former lover and his current lover sitting at the same table was his definition of Hell.Neither of the two obtuse men in his life appeared to notice his discomfort as Leon signalled to a waiter to bring a third chair.

“I’ll have what he’s having,” Viggo said when the waiter presented him the menu.He indicated Evander with a tilt of his head.

A muscle twitched in Leon’s cheek at the familiarity of Viggo’s movement and words.

The waiter poured Viggo a glass of champagne and left hastily.

A fraught hush fell over them.

Leon broke the silence, his French charm on display in his relaxed manner as he leaned back in his chair.“Evander tells me you and your guild are assisting the Met in their investigations.”

“We are,” Viggo confirmed curtly.He took a sip of his drink.Surprise flashed across his face.He glanced at the bottle in the silver bucket.“This is nice,” he said grudgingly.

Leon smiled.“Merci.Call it the excellent taste of a Frenchman.”He glanced pointedly at Evander.

Viggo did not miss his look.He lowered his brows.

“What’s a French Special Arcane Investigator doing in London?”

Evander attempted to smooth things over.“I intended to talk to you about that tonight.Something happened at the?—”

“Do you really think it wise to share the details of our current investigation with this man?”Leon interrupted.

The Frenchman’s tone had grown so cold Evander wouldn’t have been surprised to see their breaths mist in front of their faces.Irritation prickled his skin.

“I already made it clear that I intended to inform Viggo andNightshadeabout this case,” Evander said tersely.“It is relevant to our mutual interest in dark mages.”

Surprise flared on Viggo’s face.“Wait.So the reason Winterbourne sent you that missive yesterday morning was because something happened that involved dark mages?”

His words hung starkly over them, the intimate meaning behind them instantly clear to Leon judging by the way he stiffened.

The Frenchman fixed Evander with a loaded stare.“So your new lover is the Ironfist Brute?”His voice was full of accusation.

It was Viggo’s turn to grow deathly still.His eyes shrank to slits.

“Newlover?That somehow implies that you two were intimate in the past.”

His suspicious gaze swung between Leon and Evander.