"Ms. Collins, I genuinely do not know whether Ms. Montrose collapsed because I drew on her mana. What I can tell you with certainty is that I did not take more than I should have." Elder Loujt holds his ground.
"I said I was tempted. I did not say I acted on it." He adds, slower, making sure each word lands.
Silence.
Sonia breaks it when she sees Maeve and Alicia still not responding. "Maeve, you have to believe him. I know my uncle. He does not lie. He is telling you the truth."
She takes a breath. "And I took some of her mana too. I felt it was necessary, to add her mana to my Light so I could purify more effectively. If drawing on her mana is what caused her to collapse, then I am at fault as well." She says it quickly, almost frantically.
"You took her mana too?"
Liam's voice cuts across the room.
