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Winterbourne’s eyes grew hooded.“Let’s just say certain people in the Ministry of Arcane Affairs recommended we provide you with all the necessary support,” he admitted cagily.He hesitated a beat.“I’ve authorised full Arcane Division resources for this case.”

Evander heard Rufus’s sharp inhale.He kept his gaze on the commander, his shoulders knotting at the enormity of the assets that were being put at his disposal.

“Is this because of the rumours running amok in Parliament?”

Winterbourne’s expression grew razor-sharp.“You’re not a fool, Ravenwood.You must be aware that the two chambers are experiencing a deep…malaiseover a possible magical conspiracy to overturn the order of our society.”

“And yet there was no sign of such malaisewhen they were turning a blind eye to the plight of the magicless individuals they should be serving,” Evander retorted sharply.

Rufus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Winterbourne lowered his brows.“Don’t quip with me, Ravenwood.”

“I apologise, sir.”Evander rose stiffly and picked up the case file.“We’ll leave immediately.”

“Did you really have to rile him up?”Rufus muttered once they were outside Winterbourne’s office, his stride matching Evander’s brisk steps as they navigated the crowded hallway.

“I was making a point.”

“He’s not the one you should be making a point to,” Rufus argued.“You know he’s on your side.”

“He should make it more obvious then!”Evander snapped.Remorse immediately stabbed through him at Rufus’s hurt expression.“I apologise.That was uncalled for.”

Rufus exhaled noisily and rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward movement.

“You know I’m of the same mind as you.”Concern darkened the inspector’s eyes.“It’s just—these matters are best handled with the precision of a scalpel, not the recklessness of a sledgehammer.”His face grew pinched.“Which you are usually very good at, I might add.I fear a certain recent acquaintance is rubbing off on you.”

Evander pursed his lips.Though their relationship had mellowed a little, Viggo and Rufus still acted like bickering cats and dogs on the best of days.

“Do you think this might be connected to Renwick and that mysterious‘I’character?”Rufus asked uncertainly as they descended a staircase.

“It’s too early to tell.”Evander frowned.“But if Shaw is correct about theNoctis Bloomshe found, then dark mages should be our first suspects.”

He didn’t tell Rufus that what concerned him the most was the fact that a renowned professor who was an expert in advanced Elemental Magic had gone missing.He had no doubt Whitley had been a colleague of Caine Renwick, who had also been a professor at the Royal Institute for the Arcane and had taught Elemental Magic.

It was only after Renwick’s death that the latter’s involvement in dark magic had come to light, as had unsavoury rumours that he had influenced a number of his students into taking up the forbidden practice.Whitley’s disappearance so soon after the truth about Renwick’s activities had emerged could not be seen as a mere coincidence.

“The sooner we examine the scene and speak with Whitley’s colleagues, the better.”Evander tucked the file under his arm as they exited the building.

A police carriage awaited them outside the gates of Scotland Yard, its black-lacquered sides emblazoned with the Met’s insignia.A pair of familiar faces sat in the box seat.

“Your Grace, Inspector Grayson.”Constable Freddie Fitch tipped his hat as they approached, his lanky figure bowed where he held the horses’ reins.

Constable Oliver Bartley beamed at them beside Fitch.“Top o’ the morning to you, your Grace, Inspector.”

“Constable Fitch, Constable Bartley,” Evander murmured.

“You appear quite chipper this morning, Constable Bartley,” Rufus remarked.

“Every day is another day to be grateful for this wonderful life, sir,” Bartley positively gushed.

“He won a game of cards last night,” Fitch explained at Evander and Rufus’s stares.

Rufus frowned.“Gambling is an unhealthy enterprise, Bartley.”

“But a legal one, sir,” the constable quipped.

Evander’s mouth twitched.