Page 29 of The Library

My stomach drops.The Library? That’s where I met him. That’s where this all started.

“I’ve heard rumors,” Anna continues, her voice hushed, like we’re talking about something forbidden. “About Sebastian, I mean. He’s part of this… group. Some people say it’s a secret Society. Others say it’s just a club for rich assholes. But everyone knows they’re dangerous. The Ashfords have a reputation.” She glances around before leaning in even closer. “I’ve even heard he’s killed people. Like, a lot of people. No one really knows what this ‘Society’ does, but murder? It’s definitely part of it.”

Her words send a chill down my spine, but before I can respond, Anna furrows her brow. “Shit… do you think Ty’s in it too? He was with Sebastian last night, so… maybe he’s involved?”

I sit there, feeling like the ground is shifting beneath me. Sebastian.The Library. His family. The way Anna talks about him makes it sound like he’s more than just a guy from a powerful family. He’s something darker. Something I’ve been pulled into without even realizing it.

“And get this,” Anna continues, her voice dropping even lower. “Every girl who’s been with him says he’s into some really intense shit. Like, BDSM-level intense. They talk about it like it’s the best sex of their lives, but it’s always the same. He breaks them, in a way. Leaves them obsessed with him.”

Her earlier thought about Ty seems short-lived, already forgotten as she dives back into talking about Sebastian. “It’s fucking crazy. Every girl says he gets inside their heads. It’s not just physical. He leaves them wanting more, like they can’t live without him.”

Her words send a shiver through me, and I feel heat rising to my cheeks. My thoughts flashback to last night, to the way Sebastian touched me, the way he whispered my name. There was something dangerous about it, something that felt like it was teetering on the edge of control. And I wanted it. I still do.

“I mean, you know I’m not one to judge,” Anna says, laughing softly. “I’m all for some wild shit in the bedroom, but Sebastian? He’s different. He gets in your head. That’s what all the girls say. I just want you to know what you’re getting into before you decide to fuck him.”

Anna’s never been one to have the tongue of a ‘lady,’ and I know she doesn’t give a shit about anything or what anyone thinks. It’s one of the things I love about her—she says exactly what she means, no filter. But I’m barely listening to her anymore. My mind is spinning, trying to process everything she’s saying. The Ashfords. The Library. The way Sebastian made me feel like I was his, even though I barely know him.

An intense, unfamiliar feeling surges through me—jealousy. The thought of Sebastian fucking other women shouldn’t surprise me. I knew he wasn’t a virgin, obviously. But the idea of other women being obsessed with him, having had that same hold over them, makes my blood boil. It’s irrational, but I can’t shake the anger that flares inside me at the idea of anyone else being so close to him.

Anna leans back in her chair, taking a sip of her coffee, oblivious to the storm raging inside me. “It’s wild, right? I always thought you had a type, but this guy? He’s on a whole different level.”

I force a smile, but my thoughts are a mess. “Yeah… wild.”

Anna’s talking, laughing about something Ty said, but I’m barely hearing her. My mind is somewhere else—already thinking about tonight. About seeing Sebastian again. About confronting him. So I grab my phone and send him a text before I can talk myself out of it.

We need to talk.

I don’t even know what I’m going to say. What can I say? Part of me is terrified, but another part of me—the part I can’t ignore—is aching to see him again. To feel his hands on me, his voice in my ear, that raw power he exudes.

He texts back pretty quickly, his response short.

Sebastian:Where?

For a moment, I hesitate, feeling the weight of the decision in my hands. But then it hits me—this is my chance. Let me walk into his world for a change. I’ll be the one to invade his space, like he’s done to mine so many times before. I type back:Your place.

It’s a small victory, but it feels like I’m playing the game now, just like he is with me. The idea of stepping into his world, on my terms, gives me a sense of control I’ve been craving.

“I’m gonna go see him tonight,” I say suddenly, interrupting Anna mid-sentence.

She blinks, confused. “Who? Sebastian?”

I nod, feeling the weight of my decision settle over me.

Anna’s eyes widen in surprise, but she quickly recovers, grinning. “Damn, girl. You don’t waste time, do you?”

I shrug, trying to play it off, but inside, I’m a mess of nerves and anticipation. “I just… need to talk to him.”

Anna smirks with a wink. “Talk. Sure.”

I laugh, but it’s hollow. The truth is, I don’t know what’s going to happen tonight. All I know is that I need to see him. I need answers. About Derek. About everything.

Anna glances at her phone and sighs. “I have to go, but you have to tell me everything after tonight. Promise?”

I nod, but my mind is already elsewhere, racing ahead to what’s coming. To Sebastian. To whatever this thing between us is.

“I will,” I say, forcing another smile as Anna stands and gives me a quick hug.

She leaves, and I’m alone with my thoughts. The café feels too quiet now, too still. I can’t sit here any longer. I need to go.

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