Page 146 of The Fifth Heir

So did the guilt in his face. Leander had objected to the repair, written rules to protect me in the sky, and defended my selection before the Hall. He had also known his family intended to put me inside this circle.

Malcolm answered for him. “Leander’s family sponsored the lawful petition for this demonstration.”

My stomach dropped.

Leander’s gaze remained on mine.

“You knew.”

“I knew a petition was being considered.”

“What information did they use?”

“This is not the time,” Malcolm said.

“It seems like precisely the time.”

The inner containment ring brightened around my feet.

Malcolm lowered his staff against the control mark. “The demonstration will proceed.”

Torren left his position again.

The Fire channel locked around his boots.

“What did you do?” he demanded.

“To maintain controlled spacing, each heir remains at his assigned position until the demonstration concludes.”

Rafe tested his own boundary. Silver light rose around his legs.

Sebastian’s Shadow recoiled from the edge of his rune. Leander had not yet activated Frost, but the blue containment line already held him.

The headmaster stood.

“Release the positional wards.”

“Movement during simultaneous exposure would destabilize the channels,” Malcolm said.

“That restriction was not included in the approved procedure.”

“It is a standard safety measure.”

“Release them.”

Malcolm pressed the staff against the control mark.

The positional wards remained.

One of the repaired metal sections flashed.

He looked down.

For the first time, uncertainty appeared in his face.

“Malcolm,” the headmaster said.

“The system is completing the current sequence.”