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“Who is your master?!”he snarled.

Musgrave’s eyes gleamed with macabre glee.He reached inside his cloak, removed a round metallic device, and pressed the button atop it before Evander could react.

“This isn’t over, Ravenwood!”he cackled.

“Evander!”Rufus yelled in horror.

Leon cursed and dashed towards him.

The only thing that protected Evander from the brunt of the dark magic explosion was the wall of ice his body instinctively erected in an act of self-preservation.

Even then, the blast sent him flying backward into Leon’s arms and sent them both tumbling to the ground.

By the time the smoke cleared, Musgrave had vanished.

Chapter34

“You idiot!”Evander snapped.

Leon winced as a healer took care of the cut on his scalp.“That’s the tenth time you’ve said that, mon cher duc.”

The healer maintained a diplomatic silence.

They were in the Met’s infirmary.The fog had begun to dissipate by the time they returned to Scotland Yard.Weak sunlight filtered through the windows of the ward and washed over Leon where he sat on the edge of a treatment bed.He’d stripped to his waist and was holding an ice pack of his own making to his nose.

Remorse filled Evander as he studied the cuts and bruises on his former lover’s body.He hadn’t wanted to leave Leon after they’d arrived back at Scotland Yard and had directed Rufus and Shaw to deliver an urgent report to Winterbourne about this morning’s incident in his stead.Cecillia had stayed at the Institute to await Rigley’s return and inform him about what had happened.

Evander reminded himself he was still upset with the Frenchman.

“Yes, well, it bears repeating considering the thickness of your skull,” he said nastily.“So what were you doing in that classroom?”

“I was examining the secret chamber beneath Whitley’s laboratory to see if we’d missed any clues when I sensed dark magic close by.I followed it to that lecture hall.”

Evander lowered his brows.“And you found Musgrave there?”

“Yes.He seemed surprised to see me.”

Frustration churned Evander’s stomach as he realised once again how close he’d come to losing Leon.

“What the devil did you think you were doing, going there on your own?!”he yelled, throwing his hands in the air.

Irritation tightened Leon’s mouth.“You do realise I’m a Special Arcane Investigator too?”

“That’s not the point,” Evander ground out.“We’re dealing with powerful forces.You’ve seen what they can do.Even Whitley and Chevalier were helpless against them.And you’re my friend before you’re a Special Arcane Investigator, dammit!”

Leon blinked, surprise replacing the anger on his face.A lopsided smile curved his mouth.

“Is that all I am to you now?A friend?”

The healer sucked in air and shot an avid glance at the pair of them.

Evander’s eyes shrank to slits.“I was about to add ‘close’ to the word ‘friend’ but since you insist on being an ass, I shall relegate you to a mere acquaintance.”

“Ouch,” the healer muttered under his breath, wincing.

“Come now, surely you jest,” Leon protested.A groan left him when the healer started working on his bruised ribs.

Guilt choked Evander’s throat.