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I stopped myself just before I reached intoa hole in there My mind flew in a mil ion different directions How could Dad know that Archer was there last night? Did he know I'd taken the coin? Archer had said he'd use it to find me Maybe Dad wanted to use it to lure him here

But before I could have a mental breakdown, Dad said, "I know it's uncomfortable to talk about, but it's very i of what happened last se it didn't sound too h of relief "I told you Mrs Casnoff made me write a state's in there"

"I read that And neither I, nor the rest of the Council, believe it contains the entire truth"

I nant outrage, but it was actual y closer to a bleat Probably because Dad was right: that stupid statein to touch the whole truth

"Your entangleled,"I spluttered

"Listen to me!"Dad snapped, and I shut my mouth with an audible click He lowered his voice as he continued "Did you see Archer at Shel ey's last night?"

For just a second, I thought about lying But there was so me that indicated he already knew the answer Lie, and this whole thing would just get that much worse

"Only for a ot them out there, the easier it would be "But Dad, he protected iven me to them, or kil edweird with hirabbed ht, and it's not like he shook aze made the words dry up inthis both as your father and as head of the Council It is imperative that you have no further contact with Archer Cross"

I knew al of that But there was so it actual y said out loud that physical y hurt "I get it,"I said, looking down "I'ether, think of hoard fa around, knocking over the Christmas tree"

Dad didn't crack a smile at my joke, but I couldn't blame him I think the fact that I practical y choked out the words kil ed some of the hu hed "Sophie, Archer Cross is perhaps the greatest threat Prodigium have ever faced"

I stared at him "Okay, I know that The Eye freaks everyone out, but I saw theht, Dad They're not that scary, and Archer's one of the youngest ones"

"Yes, but he's also a warlock In the past, The Eye has used the element of surprise and sheer nuht But if they were also capable of using e we have The idea that L'Occhio di Dio could recruit one of our own is terrifying to Prodigium It's why Archer Cross has to be found, and dealt with"

"You "

I walked over to the nearestIt arped with age, distorting arden This one wasn't nearly as pretty as the others The fountain was covered in moss, and one of the stone benches had cracked in half

Dad calass, I watched his hands hover overto rest at his sides "Sophie, I know this is difficult to understand, but these are very dangerous times for us When we arrived, you asked why the Council was here at Thorne Abbey instead of in London"

"Lara said there had been so around

His eyes met mine in the , our faces wavy "Yes Namely, that L'Occhio di Dio burned Council Headquarters to the ground two o"

Now I did turn around "What?"

"That's why there are only five Council members here at Thorne The other seven died in the attack"

Even though I hadn't know any of the Council ut I couldn't think of anything to say but, "Why didn't we hear about that at Hecate?"

Dad turned away froilt-and-velvet chairs that lined the wal s

He sighed as he sank into it "Because we're working very hard to keep that knowledge secret If it got out, it would cause panic, and we siht now"

He looked back at me "Can I be brutal y honest with you, Sophie?"

It wouldBut I looked at his sagging shoulders, the naked fear on his face Taking a deep breath, I nodded "Please"

"Do you reiue of another, but one that has the potential to be far, far worse The Eye did not attack Council Headquarters on their own They had help froabout the Brannicks?"