For readers who want to see how the CIA recruits magicians—and what happens when a college freshman discovers he's been living in a world he never knew existed.

Ruger Stern thought his biggest challenge was heading off to college. Then Amanda Newport approached him with an impossible offer: join the CIA's secret Torrent Control Organization and train to become a magical operative.

What starts as disbelief becomes reality when Amanda reveals a hidden magical realm and offers to unlock Ruger's latent power. Recruited into the elite Librarian program, Ruger quickly learns that not all magic-wielders protect the world—some are searching for dark grimoires that could destroy it.

As he hunts members of a magical terror group, Ruger discovers the hard truth: power comes with impossible choices. In the end, he must decide if his magic will be used for good...or evil.

Perfect for fans of the Jayne Thorne series who want to see the TCO's recruitment process from the inside. This standalone prequel reveals how ordinary people are transformed into magical operatives—and the cost of that transformation.