“Yes.” Evander lowered his brows, unease dancing through him. “Although I am beginning to wonder if our presence will put her and her entourage in danger.”
A fraught hush fell over the library. The distant sounds of carriages and the Paris foot traffic filtered faintly through the windows.
Evander realised everyone was looking at him. He took a deep breath and came to a decision.
“This contact of yours in Brussels. Can we trust them?”
“Yes,” Leon said adamantly. “They’ve been working this case longer than any of us. I’ll send a message to them to make contact when you arrive in Brussels.” He faltered. “They preferto remain anonymous for now. Too many people know their face and discretion is paramount.”
Viggo’s eyes narrowed fractionally. Evander knew his lover had caught the same evasive note he had. Leon was hiding something—not maliciously, but deliberately.
“Very well,” Evander said. “In the meantime, we would like to see any archives or resources you have regardingLes Prophètes Illuminés. The more we understand about their research, the better prepared we’ll be.”
“Of course.” Leon’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’ve already arranged for you to have full access to our restricted collection. There’s also—” He stopped as the library door opened.
A young clerk entered, looking flustered. “Pardonnez-moi, Comte Beaulieu. There’s been an incident. The police are requesting your immediate presence.”
Leon rose and reached for his coat on the back of his chair. “Where?”
“The Marais district.” The clerk swallowed hard. “A man has been found dead in his apartment. They believe it’s murder and that magic was involved.”
Evander was on his feet before the clerk finished speaking, as was Viggo. The others followed suit, faces grim.
“We’re coming with you,” Evander said adamantly.
Leon’s movements stilled as he shrugged into his coat. He frowned. “I’m afraid the only ones I can allow to accompany me are you, Inspector Grayson, Miss Shaw, and Mr. Fairbridge at a push. The others are civilians.”
Frustration tightened Viggo’s face.
Ginny sighed. “He’s right.” She put a hand on Viggo’s arm. “We have other means of obtaining information. We should do that while they go with Leon.”
Viggo dipped his chin reluctantly. He met Evander’s gaze, his own still full of unease. “Be careful.”
CHAPTER 17
The Marais districtsmelled of old stone, coffee, and the peculiar mixture of horse dung and baking bread that characterised most Parisian neighbourhoods. Their carriage rattled through narrow streets lined with medieval buildings that leaned precariously towards each other, the daylight struggling to penetrate the shadows cast by centuries-old architecture.
Leon was silent beside Evander, his earlier levity vanished completely. He tensed when a small crowd came into view. They were gathered outside a narrow building with a faded blue door.
Evander narrowed his eyes. That had to be the crime scene.
Their carriage drew to a halt behind two police wagons. They stepped out onto the cobblestones amidst a sea of stares and headed for the building’s entrance.
A police cordon held back the curious onlookers, the translucent barrier shimmering faintly in the sunlight. The gendarme behind it recognised Leon and disengaged the magical device powering the cordon. He waved them through, his inquisitive gaze flitting briefly to Evander and his team.
Evander felt the corruption in the air the moment they stepped inside the building. He froze as it danced faintly across his skin, raising goosebumps in its wake.
“Evander?” Rufus said, alert.
“I can sense a trace of dark magic,” Evander warned grimly.
Leon lowered his brows.
Rufus exchanged a guarded look with Shaw and Fairbridge.
They climbed three flights of narrow stairs, the taint of dark magic growing stronger with each step.
The apartment door stood open and was guarded by two more gendarmes. Beyond them, Evander could see French police officers moving carefully through what appeared to be a scholar’s lodgings. There were books and papers scattered everywhere, all signs pointing to a living space that had been violently disrupted.
