Chapter 46

Renwick’s eyes snapped open at Evander’s words. They glowed with an unholy light that made him flinch.

The dark mage’s voice resonated with power when he spoke.

“Very good, your Grace.” A cruel smile twisted Renwick’s features. “I’m glad to see your reputation for intelligence is well-deserved.”

Evander steeled himself. “This madness ends today, Renwick!”

He gathered his magic around him like a cloak.

Renwick’s smile widened. “Oh, I don’t think so. You’re a tad too late, your Grace. You see, the process has already begun. Soon, this part of London will be nothing but a graveyard for the thralls who live here.”

Rage narrowed Evander’s vision.

Viggo took a step towards Renwick, his eyes burning with hate.

They startled when the floorboards began vibrating under their feet.

The machine beneath the dark mage had hummed into life. An ominous energy crackled along its surface, filling the air with malevolent power.

Evander moved in front of Viggo and thrust his hands forward, sending a barrage of ice shards hurtling towards the device. He scowled when a wall of darkness sprang up before they could connect, absorbing the attack.

The shadow creatures had retreated to their master’s side and merged to form a shield around the machine.

Renwick laughed, the sound echoing unnaturally around them.

“Did you really think you could stop me, Ice Mage?!”

He sent a wave of corrupt energy surging towards them with a flick of his hand. Evander barely had time to throw up a barrier of wind and ice before it struck. The force of the impact sent him skidding backward into Viggo, his boots leaving furrows in the dusty floor.

Viggo steadied him before charging forward with inhuman speed. He leapt, his massive frame soaring impossibly through the air towards Renwick’s suspended form. His fingers were about to close around the dark mage’s ankle when the black wall rose and solidified.

He slammed into the barrier and went flying backwards, crashing into a stack of crates.

“Viggo!” Evander cried out in alarm.

The Brute shook off splinters and dust and climbed to his feet. “I’m alright.”

Evander’s mind raced as his gaze found Renwick and his evil contraption. There had to be a way to stop it, to shut down the device before the dark mage could unleash its devastating power.

This can’t be what the crystal vial was intended for! It’s too big! Is this just another part of their plans to rid this city of thralls?! He clenched his jaw. None of that matters right now.

“Viggo, we have to destroy that machine! I’ll create a path for us!”

The Brute dipped his head briskly.

Magic exploded around Evander as he unleashed his elemental powers.

Renwick scowled. Bolts of evil energy bloomed around the dark mage, along with another horde of shadow creatures.

Wind, ice, and fire swirled around Evander in a furious maelstrom as he deflected Renwick’s attacks and mowed down the monsters, Viggo at his side. They advanced step by gruelling step, the Brute smashing aside the dark magic projectiles that got through his elemental defence.

The vile power crackling around Renwick intensified.

Evander’s stomach dropped.

How the devil is he doing that?! It’s almost like he’s tapping into an endless well of dark magic!

The warehouse began trembling from the force of the battle, sending dust spiralling down on them.

Evander felt his strength begin to flag when they got within a few feet of the barrier. Sweat poured down his face. His breaths started coming in ragged gasps. Behind him, Viggo’s movements were also slowing, the countless impacts he’d endured finally taking their toll.

Dread chilled Evander to the bone as he cut his eyes to the tiring Brute.

We're running out of time!

Renwick took advantage of his momentary distraction to strike.

Shadow creatures surged from the dark wall, faster than Evander could react. They wrapped around Viggo, pinning his arms to his sides and lifting him off his feet as they snatched him away. The Brute roared in fury, face reddening and muscles bulging as he struggled against their insubstantial yet unbreakable grip.

“Viggo!” Evander shouted, his throat thick with fear.

Renwick blocked his path as he floated down to the floor. He approached Evander, a vile energy swirling around him.

“Stand still if you don’t want my shadow creatures to choke your dog, Ice Mage,” the dark mage sneered.

Evander ground his teeth so hard his jaw ached.

Corrupt bands were coiling around Viggo’s throat.

Their eyes met, their frantic gazes reflecting their dread and desperation.

Evander forced himself to remain motionless when Renwick stopped in front of him. The stench of corruption coming off the dark mage was so dense it almost made him gag.

“I must thank you, your Grace.” Renwick reached inside Evander’s coat. “I would never have found this had it not been for your presence in that alley.”

He pulled out the crystal vial Evander had recovered from the scene of Millbrook’s murder.

Evander cursed.

Renwick ignored him. He held the object between two fingers and examined it with an evil smile, his grey eyes gleaming with triumph.

“The final piece of the puzzle,” he murmured. “With this, my master’s device will be complete.”

Evander’s pulse stuttered. His master?!

The suspicion he’d harboured solidified into certainty. Renwick wasn’t working alone. There was someone else, someone even more powerful pulling the strings from the shadows.

Renwick slipped the vial inside his coat and twisted on his heels. He paused on his way to the machine rumbling menacingly a short distance away.

“Oh. I almost forgot.” He turned and closed the distance to Viggo, an evil expression distorting his features. “Here’s a parting gift.”

Evander’s chest tightened, his body fairly vibrating as he vacillated between the urge to rush to Viggo’s side and not moving for fear Renwick would order his monsters to hurt the Brute.

“What are you doing?!” he demanded harshly.

His breath froze in the next instant.

Viggo’s eyes widened at the sight of the dark gemstone Renwick had just extracted from his coat. The Brute cursed and began struggling even more fiercely against the monsters restraining him.

“Don’t,” Renwick warned coldly when Evander finally gave in to his instincts and moved.

The shadow creatures tightened their grip on Viggo’s windpipe.

Evander skidded to a stop as the Brute choked and wheezed, his nails digging so hard into his palms he drew blood.

“Please,” he mumbled, despair a living thing eating at his soul. “Stop this! I beg of you!”

Tears sprung to Viggo’s eyes. His face turned purple as he locked gazes with Evander, as if he wished to see him and him only in his final moments.

Renwick stared between the two of them. Understanding had him drawing a sharp breath.

“Oh.” Stunned laughter left the dark mage on a bark. “Oh my! You and the Brute are lovers!”

His ecstatic tone as he bent over and laughed made Evander want to rip his heart out of his chest with his bare hands.

“I shall enjoy watching this even more!” Renwick said gleefully.

He straightened, walked over to Viggo, and rammed the gem into the back of his neck with a burst of dark magic.

Viggo’s scream shattered Evander’s world.

Renwick removed a ring from his pocket and slipped it on his finger. The dark stone atop it glowed crimson when he poured his magic into it.

Evander watched numbly as the shadow creatures under Renwick’s command released Viggo.

The Brute landed on the floor with a soft thud. He looked up slowly.

A fresh wave of agony twisted Evander’s heart as he gazed into Viggo’s red pupils and impassive face.

No.

“Kill him,” Renwick ordered callously.

Viggo moved, each step he took impossibly loud in Evander’s ears.

Evander stared up at the Brute when he stopped in front of him, the fight draining out of him. He didn’t realise he was crying until his vision blurred.

His name on Viggo’s lips made him flinch.

“Evander,” the Brute whispered in a strained voice. “Do you trust me?”

Evander swallowed convulsively, Viggo’s expression clearing as he blinked rapidly.

The scarlet flare in the Brute’s eyes was dimming. His jaw set in a hard line.

Evander went weak-kneed with relief.

Viggo was fighting Renwick’s magic and the cursed gem. And by the looks of it, the Brute was winning.

Renwick made an angry sound behind Viggo and took a couple of steps towards them.

“I said, kill him, dammit!” he snarled.

Evander looked from the dark mage to the Brute and finally answered his question.

“With every beat of my heart.”

Viggo smiled grimly. His hand flew to the back of his neck.

Evander’s eyes rounded when the Brute ripped the cursed gem out of his flesh with a grunt of pain. Viggo turned and hurled the stone at the explosive contraption behind Renwick, along with the pouch he’d yanked out of his coat.

Renwick whirled around, hand outstretched and face contorting with rage.

“ No! ”

But he was too late. The gem had embedded itself in the machine, along with the Brute’s bag of anti-magic tricks. Dark energy crackled and surged inside the device. It began to shake ominously.

Viggo lunged for Evander.

Evander gasped as the Brute barrelled into him and lifted him off his feet as he ran for the wall facing the river. Viggo smashed a window with an elbow and tossed him outside with all his might.