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Evander could see the fear still gripping the young man from the way his hands trembled slightly.

“Who did you think we were?”he prompted.

Thornfield’s expression darkened.“The same people who took Professor Whitley.”

Rufus leaned forward.“Do you know their identity?”

Thornfield frowned and shook his head.“No.We were certain we were being watched the past few weeks, but we never actually saw anyone suspicious around us.There was just this…feeling of eyes observing us.”He shivered and rubbed his arms briskly.

Evander exchanged a guarded glance with Viggo.The theory they’d discussed in bed that morning was starting to look more and more convincing.

“Viggo and I wonder whether the dark mages who were after you were using shadow magic to spy on you.”He hesitated, conscious of Rufus’s surprised stare.“We think that may be how they’ve been watching the thralls they kidnapped too.”

“Why did you not tell me this earlier?”the inspector asked in a chagrined tone, his gaze swinging between Evander and Viggo.

“It was pure speculation on our behalf until now,” Evander said apologetically.“And we only discussed it this morning.”

Rufus’s mildly flustered expression told Evander he’d guessed under exactly what circumstances they’d conversed about said theory.

Thornfield had gone pale.“Thralls have gone missing?!”

Evander nodded stiffly.“They’re not the only ones.Did you know Professor Chevalier also vanished?”

“What?!”Thornfield gasped, horrified.

“A Special Arcane Investigator from Paris arrived in London yesterday,” Evander explained.“Chevalier disappeared five days ago from the Paris Institute for the Arcane.No one has seen or heard from him since.”

Thornfield’s knuckles whitened in his lap.“My God!”

He startled when his maid gently took his fingers, unfurled his fist, and placed a steaming cup of tea in his hand.

“Thank you, Mary,” Thornfield whispered shakily.

The old servant smiled softly, affection gleaming in her eyes.

“Mary was my nursemaid.”Thornfield’s face radiated gratitude as he gazed warmly at his servant.“She insisted on coming with me when she found out I intended to disappear for a while.”

“I promised your mother on her deathbed that I would do everything to make sure you live a long and happy life, Master James,” Mary murmured as she served Evander, Viggo, and Rufus tea in chipped cups.

Thornfield’s throat worked convulsively.He took a sip of his tea.

“It’s best you show them what you’ve been hiding, Master James,” Mary encouraged gently.

Thornfield faltered before bobbing his head.

The student put down his cup, went over to the trunk, and withdrew something from it.Evander’s pulse quickened at the sight of the leather-bound object in Thornfield’s hands.

“Is that?—?!”

Thornfield dipped his head, his features set in determined lines.

“This is Professor Whitley’s research journal.He entrusted it to me the day before he disappeared.”He crossed the floor and handed over the journal.

Evander carefully accepted it.

“The professor discovered something terrible,” Thornfield said, his voice dropping.

It took all of Evander’s willpower not to immediately open the worn leather volume in his hands.