Page 71 of The Library

Anna:You okay? You seem… off.

I glance over at her, catching her eye, and nod. I’m fine. I will be, anyway. But as I shove my phone back into my clutch, my mind keeps racing.

Why hasn’t Sebastian reached out yet? Is he deliberately keeping me in the dark, or is he really too caught up in whatever assignment he’s on with Ty to even think about me? Either way, it’s driving me insane. I need answers. I need something to go on. But more than anything, I need to know why he thinks I’m so fragile, why he doesn’t trust me with the truth.

I grab Anna’s arm, pulling her off the dance floor and back toward the bar. “We need another round,” I shout over themusic, already signaling the bartender. I need to drown this out. All of it.

Anna raises an eyebrow but doesn’t argue, her smile faltering slightly as she watches me down another shot. “You sure you’re okay?” she asks, her voice barely audible over the music.

“I’m fine,” I insist, forcing another smile. “Just… overthinking, I guess.”

She gives me a knowing look, but thankfully, she doesn’t press. Instead, she changes the subject, launching into a story about Ty and their last night together. I nod along, half-listening, but my mind is already drifting back to Sebastian as I make my way to the bathroom.

It’s not just the secrecy that’s bothering me. It’s the way he left, the way he told me to stay safe, like I’m some fragile thing that needs protecting. I don’t understand it. What danger am I in? And why won’t he tell me what’s really going on?

I scoff at the thought. He wants me to stay safe? As far as I’m concerned,heis the most dangerous thing out there. The monster that comes out of the shadows to take what he wants—ruthlessly. He’s the one who bound me, gagged me, threw me in his car, and dragged me into the woods like a predator stalking his prey. He’s the one who fucked me against a tree, leaving me shaking and broken in the best way possible.

The way he looks at me, touches me, like I’m his possession—his to destroy, to consume. He’s dangerous in ways I can’t even fully comprehend yet, and I know it. I’ve seen it. Felt it. He’s the one who pushes me to the edge, and every time I think I’ve had enough, that I can’t take any more, he drags me deeper into his world, into his darkness.

And now he’s telling me to stay safe?

I laugh bitterly, the sound echoing in the empty bathroom as a stare at myself in the mirror.Heis the danger. He’s the one I should be afraid of, but instead, I’m craving him. Everytouch, every bite, every growl in my ear has branded him into my skin. Maybe that’s why I can’t leave. Why I can’t stop thinking about him. Because he’s already made sure that no matter what happens, I’ll always come back to him.

The real question is: why am I not afraid? Why do I want him more with every twisted, dangerous thing he does?

As the night wears on, the alcohol does its job, dulling the sharp edges of my thoughts. But even through the haze of tequila, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s coming. Something big. Something that Sebastian hasn’t told me about. And I don’t know if I’m ready for it.

Eventually, Anna and I find ourselves back on the dance floor, swaying to the music, “Heavenly bodies,” by Arankai playing, our bodies moving in time with the beat. But even as I lose myself in the rhythm, my mind keeps drifting back to Sebastian, to the unanswered questions hanging between us.

I glance down at my phone, the screen still blank, no new messages. The frustration gnaws at me, a constant reminder of the control he has over my thoughts. With a sigh, I slip the phone back into my clutch and look up—only to feel a strong hand wrap around my throat, pushing me hard against the cold brick wall of the club.

Everything around me fades into the background, the thumping music, the laughter and chatter of the crowd—gone. All I can hear is the rush of blood in my ears, the pounding of my heart as I struggle to catch my breath. My vision blurs for a moment, panic setting in as I try to figure out what’s happening. Who has me like this?

Then a familiar voice slices through the haze, low and dark. “Hello, Lilith.”

The way he says my name sends a shiver down my spine, and instantly I know it’s him. I don’t even need to see his face to recognize the danger in his tone, the barely restrained powerthat’s always lurking beneath the surface. My body betrays me in an instant—my breath hitches, my skin tingles, and I can already feel the wetness pooling between my legs.

My nipples harden, pressing against the fabric of my dress, and I curse myself for reacting this way. For wanting him even now, when I fucking pissed at him.

Sebastian

Iwatch from the shadows, my eyes locked on Lilith as she dances, her body swaying to the rhythm of “The Devil in I” by Nikki Idol, completely unaware of how close I am. She thinks she’s safe here, that she can pull this little stunt and get away with it. I told her to stay at my house, but she didn’t listen. And now she thinks she can get away with defying me.

She’s playing games, pushing my limits, testing how far she can go. But she has no idea what it’s going to cost her. The way she moves, the way her body glides through the crowd, she’s like a moth drawn to the flame, and tonight, I’ll be the fire that consumes her.

I glance at Ty, who’s leaning against the bar, his eyes scanning the room but always flicking back to Anna. He’s as focused as I am. We got here shortly after the girls did, watching them from the shadows. Neither of us has made a move yet. But that changes now.

Anna texted Ty earlier, letting him know where they were, but I already knew because of the tracker in Lilith’s phone. She may think she’s running wild, but I’ve got my eye on her. Ty glanced over at me when the text came through, smirking as he said, “Better get your girl in check, man. Or let her come undone so you can piece her back together.” His voice was all mocking, but there was a truth under the words. A truth I know all too well.

I push off the wall, my eyes fixed on Lilith as she looks at her phone again. She’s waiting for something—maybe a message, maybe some sign that I’m going to let her off the hook. But there’s no mercy tonight.

As soon as she looks up, I’m on her. My hand wraps around her throat, slamming her back against the wall. The sounds of the club fade away. All she can hear now is the rush of blood in her ears and the heavy thud of her own heartbeat as she stares up at me, wide-eyed, trying to get what little air she can.

My cock grows hard as I feel the rapid heartbeat under my hand. Her body trembles, a perfect mixture of fear and something darker. Defiance? Maybe. But that’s just more fuel for me.

She doesn’t see who has her at first, but then I lean in close, my breath hot against her ear as I murmur, “Hello, Lilith.”

Her body reacts instantly. I feel the shiver run through her, I can see her nipples hardening under her dress, the one that is too fucking nonexistent to wear anywhere but the bedroom, her pulse racing against my fingers. And, god, I can sense it. I know her pussy is already soaking wet, just from me touching her like this.

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