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Evander found Viggo seated beside Solomon’s bed, the Brute’s massive frame dwarfing the chair beneath him.Solomon appeared to be sleeping peacefully, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

“How is he?”Evander asked quietly.

Viggo looked up, exhaustion etched into the lines of his face from lack of sleep.“Better.The healers fixed his leg and said he’ll make a full recovery.”

Relief washed through Evander.

Viggo had insisted on staying with Solomon after their rescue.

“I’ve spoken to a few of the thralls we found inside the facility,” the Brute said quietly.“Our theory was correct.They were snatched by shadow creatures wielded remotely by Musgrave and his acolytes.”

Evander studied the circles under his lover’s eyes and wished he could erase them.

“How’s Simmons?”he asked, taking the seat beside the Brute.

“He’s stable, though he’ll need specialist care.”Viggo’s expression darkened.“The healers aren’t sure what to make of the magic Musgrave forced into him.”His fingers found Evander’s, the screen and their position protecting them from curious eyes.

Evander squeezed Viggo’s hand, the Brute’s warmth a much needed balm in the chaos of the past twenty-four hours.

“Finn sent word fromNightshadean hour ago,” Viggo continued quietly.“Our agents have made progress tracking theNoctis Bloomsuppliers.The shipments are coming through Liverpool, not the Thames as we first thought.They’ve identified several warehouses where it’s being processed.”

Excitement buzzed through Evander at the news.“Good.That’s one thread we can pull on.”He hesitated.“We found some disturbing evidence at Musgrave’s home that points to what his master may be plotting.”

Interest sparked in Viggo’s tired eyes.“Tell me.”

Evander had just finished recounting their discoveries when Leon appeared around the side of the screen.

Chapter44

The Frenchman looked even worsethan Viggo, the dark circles beneath his eyes lending him a gaunt look and his normally immaculate appearance somewhat dishevelled.

Leon acknowledged Viggo with a curt nod.His gaze lingered on their clasped fingers before he addressed Evander.

“Whitley and Chevalier are awake.They’re asking for us.”

Viggo reluctantly let go of Evander’s hand and rose to his feet.“I should go check on Katie and the others.”

“I’ll find you afterwards,” Evander promised, trying to mask the sense of loss he felt at not being able to touch Viggo.

Leon watched the Brute leave with an impassive expression.

“You should be more careful, mon cher,” he murmured as he led Evander across the ward.

Evander followed the Frenchman to a private room at the end of the infirmary.Inside, Whitley and Chevalier reclined against pillows in adjacent beds.Both men were alarmingly pale, their faces haggard and their eyes sunken.Mrs.Scarborough stood between them.The curse-breaker was checking a complex arrangement of enchanted crystals that was monitoring their vital signs.

“Your Grace,” she acknowledged Evander with a slight bow.She frowned at Whitley and Chevalier.“They insisted on speaking with you, though I advised them against any undue exertion.”

“We’ve rested enough,” Whitley said weakly.His voice was rough, as though he hadn’t used it in some time.“There are things you need to know.”His expression grew haunted as he met Evander’s gaze squarely.

Mrs.Scarborough sensed the need for privacy and quietly left the room.

Evander approached Whitley’s bedside.“We have a lot of questions for you.”He looked over at Chevalier.“Both of you.”

“We shall answer them to the best of our abilities, your Grace,” Chevalier said solemnly, his French accent more pronounced in his feeble state.

Evander pulled up a chair between the beds.“How did you come to be involved in this research?”

The professors exchanged a weary glance.