Page 6 of A Dusk Of Stars

“And you’ve waited this long to tell us?” the scrawny Professor of Runology demands with a chuckle.

“Who is it? Is it O’Connor?” another professor chimes in.

Serra shakes her head. There’s this weird, tense little smile on her face as she says, “His name is Jericho Bane and he’ll be teaching Shapeshifting Studies.”

My eyebrows pull down, the name sounding familiar.

“Bane, you said?” Head of House of Lilith echoes. “As in Bane Incorporated?”

That makes the logo flash before my eyes — the stylized flame I’ve seen on everything from sports uniforms to fronts of casinos.

There’s a moment of silence before it bursts with questions from all around the table.

“Silence,” Lorcan snaps in his deep, guttural voice. “It’s undignified, to get yourselves worked up like this over some random man.”

I catch this weird look that Serra throws him, but Head of House of Lilith beats her to it. “You can say what you want about him, but he’s definitely not a ‘random man’.”

“I don’t care how rich he is,” Lorcan says with a glare in his direction. “As soon as he steps foot in this Academy, he’s lower status than any of the actual professors gathered here.”

I roll my eyes.

“I don’t understand why we’re even letting him come here,” the Professor of Runology agrees. “It’s questionable at best what kind of influence that kind of man will exert over our students.”

True. After all, Bane sounds like one of those shriveled-up old assholes sitting on the riches left to them by other shriveled-up old assholes, rubbing his palms while continuing the legacy of exploiting people’s weaknesses. So I myself am wondering why the Academy would hire someone like that. Playing politics or hoping for donations aren’t excuses enough, not for bringingthatkind of man among impressionable students.

But gods, I can’t say I’m liking all this animosity…

Serra breathes a sigh. “Thankfully,” she says pointedly, “Mister Bane, or should I sayProfessorBane, has been detained from coming to this meeting. I hope you’ll be on better behavior when you meet him at tonight’s Opening Ceremony.“ And there’s a finality in her voice when she continues, “But I believe you’ve all received my email about the Archivist.”

Finally. My colleagues don’t seem too happy about the change of subject, but they comply.

“Bloody hell,” Head of House of Lilith curses with a smirk. “Talk about timely notices.”

Serra ignores the remark. “We’ll be needing a replacement, of course,” she says, her eyes sweeping over us all. “Are there any Librarians who’d like to take the role on?”

I give the other potential candidates a chance to nominate themselves first, so as not to appear unfair or pushy.

To my surprise, no one does. Although, when I think about it, itisa tedious, solitary kind of work.

I inhale deeply. This is it, this is the moment. “Iwould, Professor Naehorn.”

The Pied Piper doesn’t look up from her papers, but everyone else’s eyes immediately dart to me, Lorcan’s being the ones filled with most contempt. Of course they would. He was the one most opposed to the Academy hiring a human Librarian.

There’s a second of silence as I muster the courage to keep going. “This will be my fourth year working as a Librarian here,” I start reciting, keeping my eyes locked with Serra’s, “I know the Library like the back of my hand—”

“Thank you, Miss Novak,” Serra cuts me off. It stings, but at least she’s smiling as she explains, “There’s no need, we all know each other here, don’t we?”

I don’t get a chance to react.

“And you’re a Scion,” I hear Lorcan add, disgust lacing his every word. My eyes dart to him. “So it’s enough that you’re inthe role you’re inright now.” He leans back in his chair, looking around the table in search of approval. “I don’t think we should be giving you a promotion.”

My mind buzzing, I don’t look away, but with the corner of my eyes, I see others nodding away.

Fuck, he’s ruining this for me.

Quick, do something.

“Okay, alright,” I start, fighting to keep my breathing calm and my voice without poison, “so there are human men you’ll build statues of, but inmycase, it’s the bloodline that’s problematic?”

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