Page 177 of Librarian

The aegis are already lowering their grimoires, their faces filling with horror.

More than half of those above are liminals. Some have even ignored my request that they leave underage arcanists at home and brought their children with them. I even catch sight of Eddy, who wassupposedto have left with Hopkinson and the other evacuees.

North’s going to kill her.

My gut swoops. Innocent bystanders are here now. They could get caught in the crossfire.

Which is exactly why enforcement agreed, despite their grumbles, that their priority is the protection of those above.

The aegis agents below are shuffling. Uncomfortable.

Even with the dozens of shielding spells I put between us and the Gallery, and the extensive evacuation plans, my skin is crawling.

“What is this, Librarian?” Michael steps forward.

I offer him a cordial head tilt. “Agent Ó Rinn, I’m glad you’re here. We don’t often agree, but you once reminded me of the power of truth. For all your faults, you’ve also never touched dark magic. Would you please scan Commander Carlton’s grimoire? After all, to paraphrase the late, great Isidora Carlton, if he has nothing to hide…he has nothing to fear.”

A bead of sweat forms at Michael’s hairline. Liam is his superior, and he splutters, “Absolutely not!”

The outrage from above is immediate.

“Why not?”

“Show them you’re innocent, Pops!”

“Libby, you know that spell. Come forward and do as the Librarian says.”

“I am not a necromancer!” Liam pales as the reason for the people on the Gallery becomes abundantly clear.

The aegis is now on trial, and their own loved ones are the jury.

“An alternative, then?” I offer. “State that exact phrase under a truth spell. It was sufficient to clear Northcliff Ackland a few weeks ago. If a liminal heir is willing to do it, surely a trustworthy adept like yourself wouldn’t object.”

“You’re stalling. This institution is hiding liminals?—”

“Liam, mate, just get it over with.” A heavily accented man mutters from within the aegis ranks. “She’s talking bollocks, but your mum’s up there, and she don’t look happy.”

Michael’s eyes narrow as the entire assembly watches their commander stutter and struggle to come up with an excuse. With the subtlest tilt of his head, two aegis agents step forward.

“Not her.” I point at the woman on the left. “She’s also used dark magic, though not to the same degree.”

The woman pales, raising her hands in surrender. “No. Well. Not since I was a teenager! I ripped the page out as soon as I realised what I was doing. I swear, I never killed anyone. What happened to my sister’s rabbit was an accident…”

Her confession is like a bomb. Outraged gasps echo through the Rotunda.

Everyone starts yelling at once.

Liam rushes me. Grimoire flying to his side. He makes it two steps before he’s caught by a wave of manipulation magic that crushes him to the fog-drenched floor.

Dakari.

Thank magic.

I didn’t move. Didn’t flinch, but it was a close thing.

My heart is in my throat as Michael strides forward, glares at me, and picks up the grimoire that fell to the floor in the fracas. With narrowed eyes, he hands it to the aegis agent who’s still rooted to the spot, watching his rabbit-murdering partner as she's wrestled to the ground.

The book thuds against his chest, and he jerks like it electrocuted him.