“There are more prisoners,” Ginny said urgently as they headed for the door. “In the dungeons below. I’m pretty certain they are the mages and researchers who’ve gone missing.”
“Viggo, Solomon, and Fairbridge are down there right now.”
Relief flickered across Ginny’s face at Solomon’s name. “Good.” She gripped Evander’s arm. “There’s something else. Something I overheard while they were bringing us up here. The mages, they were talking about the convergence!”
Evander stopped in his tracks. “What?”
“The place Molyneux and Princess Eloïse mentioned,” Ginny confirmed grimly. “It’s real. And it’s here, right in this very monastery. They mentioned a chamber beneath the main chapel.”
A chill swept through Evander that had nothing to do with his ice magic.
His pulse quickened with trepidation as he pulled out Schmidt’s map. There was nothing on it to indicate a room below the chapel.
Ginny frowned. “Maybe whoever built it made sure it never got on any of the floor plans.”
Blood pounded dully in Evander’s skull.
A low rumble rose from the depths of the monastery, startling them.
The building began to shake.
CHAPTER 40
The vile magicthat flooded the building made the hairs rise on Evander’s nape. He knew instinctively that it had to do with the convergence.
“Rufus, can you get them out of here?!” he barked at the inspector as they swiftly exited the room, the ground trembling violently beneath their feet.
“The way we came in should still be clear.” Rufus shifted Shaw in his hold as they approached the staircase, a muscle jumping in his jawline. “I can get them to the shed and out through the wall.”
“Do it,” Evander said grimly as they took the steps rapidly.
“What about you?” Ginny asked anxiously.
“I need to stop Winchester.” Evander clenched his jaw. “I’m the only one who can.”
Ginny and Rufus exchanged a worried look before nodding reluctantly.
The quakes shaking the monastery intensified when they reached the ground floor. They raced through the dimly-lit building, Evander grinding his teeth at the corruption pressing down on them. He escorted Rufus, Ginny, and Shaw to the door they’d used to enter the building.
“Give them hell, your Grace,” Shaw mumbled as the three of them headed out into the night.
“I will.” Evander waited until their figures were safely swallowed by the whirling snow before turning and running back inside.
His heart pounded erratically as he navigated the twisting corridors, tracking the intensifying dark magic that seemed to emanate from the building’s very heart.
He rounded a corner and nearly collided with Viggo.
“Evander!” The Brute grabbed his shoulders, relief flooding his features. “You’re alright. Did you find?—?!”
“Ginny and Shaw are safe. Rufus is getting them out.” Evander gripped Viggo’s arms in return. “The convergence! It was all true.”
Viggo nodded grimly. “We know. Lina Velghe told us.”
There was movement behind the Brute.
Evander’s eyes widened in surprise.
Solomon and Fairbridge appeared with a group of men and women who looked the worse for the wear, the state of their clothes and their injuries telling their own grim story. A young woman with dark hair and a refined if tattered dress seemed to be leading them.
