Page 62

Viggo spoke in the fraught silence.

“Does that mean they killed thralls so they could study their brains?”His voice was devoid of emotion.

Evander’s throat tightened painfully at the silent rage radiating off him.

To Leon’s credit, he did not look away from the Brute’s hot gaze.“I do not know for certain.Vivisection is not legal in the Empire or the Continent.There is a strong possibility Chevalier and his colleagues studied the brains of thralls who died from natural causes.”

Viggo didn’t respond for a moment.

“I hope you’re right,” he finally ground out.“Because if I and other thralls find out they cut the skulls of living people, there will be a reckoning like none the world of magic has seen before!”

His threat hung heavily in the air, a stark reminder of the divide that still existed between them.It took all of Evander’s willpower not to reach out and comfort his lover.

“Your Grace.”Mrs.Scarborough approached, her golden eyes narrowed behind her spectacles as she read the paperwork she’d picked from a table.“It wasn’t just thralls.”She showed them another set of diagrams.“They were studying the brains of mages as well.Specifically, those with rare or powerful abilities.”

Evander’s blood ran cold as he stared at the drawings.He met Leon’s troubled stare.

“It seems Cecillia and Headmaster Rigley were wrong about Whitley’s intentions, after all,” Rufus said, scowling.

Evander wasn’t so sure.Whitley’s behaviour before his disappearance had not been that of a man hiding his unethical research, but rather someone who was being targeted.

“There’s a good chance Whitley is innocent of any wrongdoing,” he said thoughtfully.“I think he stumbled upon something he shouldn’t have heard or seen.”

“I agree, your Grace.”Shaw hurried over from the filing cabinet, the drawer she’d been rifling through half open.“I found this at the bottom.”She handed him a sheet of paper.

Evander took it off her, the others gathering around him.

It was a letter addressed to Whitley, from Chevalier.

Mon cher ami, I fear I have been blinded by academic curiosity.The implications of what our sponsor is suggesting go far beyond theoretical exploration, like you suspected.I already carry a wealth of guilt for the actions of my past, foolish self.I agree with you.We cannot, in good conscience, continue down this path.We should gather the evidence of this research to show to the authorities and put a stop to this madman’s plans.

The letter was dated a month ago.

“Mon dieu,” Leon murmured, his face pale.“Just what kind of trouble did they get themselves into?!”

Evander’s heart slammed against his ribs as he reread the letter.

“Your Grace, could this be the announcement Whitley intended to make at the faculty dinner he failed to attend?”Shaw said sharply.“The one Cecillia mentioned?”

Evander clenched his jaw.“I believe you may be right.It would explain why he seemed scared out of his mind.”He looked around the chamber.“And it would account for this room.”

Rufus’s eyes widened.He looked around.“This is where he was gathering his evidence!”

Evander nodded grimly.“And Chevalier’s by the looks of it.It’s clear Whitley didn’t trust his colleagues, hence why he chose to hide it down here, far from prying eyes.”

“Does that mean he suspected someone in the Institute of being a mole for this sponsor?”Viggo said.He frowned at their stares.“What?”

“By jove, he’s right!”Rufus mumbled.

Evander silently cursed himself for not having arrived at the same conclusion sooner.“That would explain many things.”

The implications of their findings hung heavy in the air between them.

Evander came to a decision.“Shaw, get a team from the AFD to examine this room and gather all the evidence here.We should take everything to Scotland Yard posthaste.But discreetly, mind.We don’t want to alert whoever may be watching our movements.”

Shaw nodded.

They were about to leave the chamber when Mrs.Scarborough paused, her head tilted to one side as if listening to something the others couldn’t hear.She moved towards a section of wall that appeared unremarkable, one hand outstretched before her.