Page 32 of The Library

As I lean against the door frame, I take her in, and my pulse quickens. She looks the same—perfect, delicate—but there’s something in her eyes tonight, a combination of fear and resolve that sends a thrill coursing through me. It’s exactly what I wanted. That flicker of defiance she’s trying so hard to hold on to, the illusion of strength, the way her body betrays her even now. She doesn’t even realize how much this moment excites me, how badly I want to tear that resolve to pieces and see her unravel.

The way she’s standing there, trying to look confident, like she’s walking in here on her own terms—it’s almost fucking comical. She’s scared. I can see it in the way her hands tremble slightly, the way her breath catches when my eyes lock on hers. But that fear is only part of it. Beneath the fear, there’s something else. Desire. A need she doesn’t fully understand yet, but soon will.

She thinks she’s still in control, still holding onto some shred of power. She has no idea that she’s already lost it the second she stepped through that door.

“Lilith,” I say, my voice low, letting her name roll off my tongue with the weight it deserves.

She shifts nervously, her gaze flicking from me to the room, then back to me. “We need to talk,” she repeats, trying to maintain control, but I can see her hands trembling.

“So you said.” I step aside, a smirk tugging at my lips as I motion for her to enter. I do it purposefully, knowing exactly how much it’ll piss her off, how much it’ll chip away at that little facade of confidence she’s clinging to. I can see the flicker of annoyance in her eyes, and it only makes me want to push her further, to see how far I can stretch her before she snaps.

“Let’s talk,” I add, my voice dripping with mockery, because we both know that’s not why she’s really here.

I shut the door behind her, locking us in together, and the soft click echoes in the quiet room. The tension between us hangs heavy, palpable, like the air thick with an approaching storm. I watch her as she walks into the living room, her eyes flicking around the space. She’s nervous. I can see it in the way her fingers twitch, in the way her chest rises and falls just a little too quickly. But she’s here, and that’s all that matters.

“Drink?” I offer casually, walking toward the bar as if this were any ordinary evening. But I know she’s anything but calm right now.

She shakes her head. “No… No, I’m fine.”

I watch her closely, the way she stands there, vulnerable yet defiant. She’s here for answers, but deep down, she already knows them. I move closer, circling her like a predator sizing up its prey. She hasn’t realized it yet, but the game is over. I’ve already won.

“Why did you come here tonight, Lilith?” I ask, my voice soft yet commanding, pulling her attention away from her nerves. “You could’ve stayed away, but you didn’t.”

She doesn’t waste any time. “Did you… Did you kill him?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper, yet it holds a kind of bravery I admire.

She comes right out with it. No hesitation. I like that. A girl who isn’t afraid to say what she wants.

I take a step closer, enjoying the way she holds her breath as I do. “Yes,” I say simply, my voice calm, unwavering. I won’t lie to her when she asks me things. I’m not going to just come right out and tell her things unless she asks. But I will never lie to her.

Her breath catches, and I see the shock ripple through her, the way her body tenses. But she doesn’t back away. If anything, she seems… conflicted. I can see the battle in her eyes—the fear of what that answer means, mixed with the undeniable pull she feels toward me. She wants to understand, but she’s already known the truth all along.

“Why?” she whispers, her voice barely audible.

I step even closer, closing the distance between us, and I can feel her body tense in anticipation. My fingers brush her arm, and she shivers at the contact. “Because he was going to hurt you. Because no one touches you but me.”

Her lips part, her breathing uneven, and I can see the struggle in her eyes. She’s scared, yes. But she’s also drawn to me, to this dark, twisted world I’ve pulled her into. And that’s exactly what I want.

“I’ll never let anyone hurt you, Lilith,” I breathe, my hand trailing down her arm, down to her waist, pulling her closer. She gasps at the possessiveness in my voice, her body trembling against mine. I lean in, my lips brushing against her ear as I whisper, “You knew this was coming. You knew the moment we met.”

Her breath hitches, and I feel her melt into me, her body responding even as her mind fights it. She wants me, even if she won’t admit it. She craves this—craves me. And I’m more than willing to give her everything she’s been searching for in those books.

“You can’t… do this,” she whispers, but her voice is weak, her resolve crumbling. I can feel it. I can see it.

“I already have.” My hand tightens on her waist, pulling her flush against me, and I can feel the heat of her body, the way she trembles in my arms. “And I’ll do it again. For you.”

She doesn’t move. Doesn’t push me away. Her breathing is ragged, her chest rising and falling in time with the thundering beat of her heart. She’s conflicted, torn between the fear she should feel and the desire that’s been simmering under the surface all along.

But I know how this ends.

Lilith

My heart pounds in my chest as I pull up to Sebastian’s house. I’ve been replaying this moment in my head ever since I sent him that text, ever since I decided tonight would be the night I confront him. But now that I’m here, standing in front of his imposing house, a part of me is screaming that this is a mistake—a dangerous, thrilling mistake that I can’t seem to pull myself away from.

The air is thick, almost suffocating, as I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. I don’t know what I’m expecting to find inside. Answers, maybe. Or more lies. But the truth is, I don’t even know what I’m going to say to him. Every time I think I’ve figured it out, my mind goes blank, overwhelmed by everything that’s happened in the last few days. Derek’s death. Sebastian’s message. The way he makes me feel.

I shiver at the memory of his touch, the way his hands felt against my skin. My body is still reacting to him, even now, even though I know I should be afraid. A part of me is terrified, but another part—a darker part—wants more. And that’s why I’m here, isn’t it? No matter how hard I try to convince myself that this is wrong, I can’t deny the pull he has over me.

I step out of my car, the cool night air biting at my skin. My fingers tremble as I approach the door, and I hesitate for just a moment before I knock. My heart races, and I can feel the heatrising in my chest, the same heat I felt every time Sebastian looked at me like I was his.

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