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“Les Prophètes Illuminés?” Thornfield repeated, confused.

Evander gave him a brief explanation before turning his attention to Leon.“What do you know about it?”he pressed.“Thornfield explained the theory but what about its application and practicalities?Are there any limitations to this science?”

Leon scowled.“The French Ministry deemed the research too dangerous to continue due to the ethical implications.I can only conclude they felt the knowledge could be put into practice by a group willing to go that far.As for its limitations, I suppose death would be the ultimate one.”

Thornfield blanched.

Evander narrowed his eyes.“You mean the science is unstable?”

“In the hands of the foolhardy, yes.”Leon scoffed.“One wrong move and you could kill both the giver and the recipient of magical energy.”

“Somehow, I think our enemy anything but foolhardy,” Viggo said sourly.

Evander was in agreement.Vanishing two eminent professors and over eighteen thralls was evidence that they were dealing with sophisticated criminals.

“The power to wage war.To subjugate thousands.”Viggo’s hands clenched into fists.“Is that what they’re ultimately after?”

“I think it’s more than that.”Evander could not stop the dread creeping into his voice.“Acquiring the powers of Archmages would allow them to reshape society itself.”

A brittle silence descended upon the room as the full implications of his words settled over them.

“There’s something you need to see.”Thornfield indicated the journal in Evander’s hands with a jerk of his head.“A page at the back.It’s some kind of map Professor Whitley drew before he disappeared.”

Evander’s pulse thundered in his veins as he carefully opened the journal and leafed through it.It wasn’t hard to find what Thornfield had alluded to.

The page stood out like a sore thumb.

The others gathered around him as he pored over it.

It was a sketch of what appeared to be a large, circular chamber with strange apparatus arranged around the perimeter.

Leon frowned.“That looks like some kind of lab.”

“Professor Whitley believed the ones after us were building a facility to conduct their experiments—somewhere hidden, yet accessible,” Thornfield said nervously.“I don’t know how he came upon this schematic but this place could very well exist, here in London.”

Viggo straightened.“Then that’s where the missing thralls will be.”

Evander’s knuckles whitened on the journal.“And we’ll hopefully find Whitley and maybe even Chevalier there too.”

“We need to inform Commander Winterbourne about this immediately,” Rufus advised in the fraught hush.

“I agree.”Evander observed Thornfield carefully.“Do you have any idea who else within the Institute might be involved?It’s clear someone on the inside is working for these dark mages.It’s the only way to explain how Whitley got abducted and why we were attacked during our investigation.”

“Professor Dearmont comes to mind,” Rufus muttered morosely.

Thornfield hesitated.“Professor Whitley had suspicions, but nothing concrete.He never mentioned Professor Dearmont, but he did wonder if the one in league with his and Professor Chevalier’s sponsor had a connection to the War of Subjugation.He thought whoever it was likely still clung to old resentments and ideologies that never truly died.”

The student’s words struck a cold chord in Evander’s chest and caused Viggo’s expression to harden.

“Mr.Thornfield, we need to get you somewhere safe,” Evander said, breaking the tense silence.“Your knowledge makes you a valuable witness—and a target.The Met has several properties in and outside London where you can go into hiding.”

“What about Mary?”Thornfield asked immediately.He reached for his servant’s hand.“She’s risked everything to help me.I do not wish to be separated from her.”

“Of course,” Evander assured him.“She will go with you.”

Relief brightened Thornfield and Mary’s expressions.

Viggo moved to the window and scanned the back alley with a faint frown.“We should leave soon.Word travels fast in these parts.Our earlier commotion may have drawn unwanted attention.”