Page 87 of The Library

In the Society, blood is the only currency that matters. It’s how we make promises, how we seal fates. And Lilith is no different. She’s my everything, and I need her to know that this isn’t just about love. This is about possession, about claiming her in every way possible.

Slowly, she reaches out and takes the ring from my hand, her fingers trembling as she slides it onto her finger. The blood stonegleams in the dim light, a symbol of everything we are—dark, twisted, but irrevocably bound.

“Forever,” I murmur, my voice low and rough as I lean in to kiss her. “Until death rips me away from you.”

She looks up at me, her eyes filled with tears, but I know they’re not tears of fear. They’re tears of love, of acceptance. She nods, her voice barely a whisper. “Forever.”

As I press my lips against hers, claiming her once more, I know there’s no turning back now. She’s mine—body, mind, and soul. And I’ll protect her with my life, no matter the cost.

As we lie back in bed, her head resting on my chest, the warmth of her body soothing the rage and adrenaline still coursing through my veins, I let my thoughts drift back to the assignment. To the men we killed, the blood that was spilled. It’s not over yet. The Society’s work is never done, and there’s still a lot of danger lurking in the shadows. But right now, with Lilith lying beside me, her fingers tracing the tattoos on my chest, I feel a sense of calm I haven’t felt in years.

There’s a storm coming—I can feel it. But I’ll be damned if I let it take her away from me. No matter what happens, I willalwayscome home to her.

Lilith

It’s only been a week since Sebastian proposed, and I still haven’t processed the whirlwind of emotions that come with it. The blood stone in the center of my engagement ring feels heavier every time I glance at it—more than just a stone. It’s his blood, his very essence, binding us together in ways I’m just starting to grasp. I know what it means. What it means for him. What it means for us. And I can feel something shifting inside me, something I can’t explain but can’t ignore.

He’s mine. He’ll always be mine.

We’re going out tonight—Ty, Anna, Sebastian, and me. It’s supposed to be a celebration. I’m wearing a white dress, the irony of it not lost on me, but I love how Sebastian’s eyes always darken when he looks at me in white. He’s in dark jeans, a black tee that hugs his muscles just right, and a backward baseball hat that drives me wild. That damn hat does something to me, ignites a fire I can’t control. After he told me to marry him, that possessiveness inside me has only gotten stronger, more intense.

I glance at the ring, the blood stone catching the light. His blood is literally on my hands. It’s a part of me now, a symbol of the darkness we both share. There’s no escaping it. But I don’t want to. I feel this pull—this overwhelming possessiveness—and it’s new, raw, but it’s not unwelcome. I know he’s always beenmine, but now? Now, I’m his in ways I never imagined. I can feel the change in myself. He’ll never belong to anyone else.

The night is a blur of drinks and music. Sebastian is never the type to lose control, even when he drinks, always keeping a grip on the world around him. But me? Anna and I are on the dance floor, swaying to the music, lost in the rhythm, the heat of the club. I can feel Sebastian’s eyes on me, watching my every move like a predator stalking his prey. His possessive gaze only fuels me more, and I can’t help but smirk, knowing what he’s thinking.

But then something changes.

From the corner of my eye, I see her. Bleach blonde, with big fake tits, her eyes locked on Sebastian like she’s found her next meal. My stomach turns. She walks right up to him, her finger trailing down his chest, whispering something in his ear, her body language screaming “fuck me.”

And then it happens. The rage. It boils up inside me, fast and hot, like wildfire. Anna must see the shift in my face because she stops dancing, watching me closely. I know this girl—Ashley. I’ve seen her around campus, always throwing herself at any guy with a pulse. And now she’s in front of Sebastian, touching him, smirking like she’s already won.

I remember what Anna told me almost a year ago about how Sebastian leaves women obsessed with him, how they fall apart after he’s done with them. Is that happening to me? Am I just like them? But then I glance at the ring. No. He’s marrying me. He gave me his blood. He’s mine, not hers. He’ll never be hers.

I feel my body move before I even think. I push through the crowd, my white dress glowing under the club lights as I storm toward them. The second I reach them, I slide between Sebastian and Ashley without a word. My hand grips Sebastian’s chin, pulling his face down to mine, and I kiss him—hard. This isn’t a kiss of love. It’s a claim. A fucking statement.

Sebastian’s eyes darken immediately, his body responding to my possessiveness. He kisses me back with a hunger that nearly knocks me off balance, his hands gripping my waist like he’s reminding me who’s in charge. But I don’t care. He’s mine. And everyone here is going to know it.

Ashley laughs behind me, a sharp, cruel sound, but I don’t give a shit. She doesn’t matter. Not now, not ever. After what feels like hours but is probably just a few seconds, Sebastian pulls back, his lips brushing my ear. “Feeling possessive, darling?” His voice is low, thick with amusement and something darker.

I don’t answer. I don’t have to.

The rest of the night blurs by in a haze of alcohol and adrenaline, but the rage never leaves me. It simmers beneath the surface, growing hotter with every passing minute.

The bass pounds through the walls of the club, a relentless beat that vibrates through my bones. The air is thick with the smell of sweat and smoke, bodies pressed too close together in the dim light. Neon signs flicker overhead, casting a sickly glow over everything. Laughter, shouts, and clinking glasses drown out my thoughts, but none of it quiets the storm brewing inside me.

I down another shot, the burn of the liquor doing little to calm the fire in my chest. I can feel eyes on me—hungry, curious, and leering—but I don’t care. I don’t feel anything except the fury that threatens to consume me whole.

Sebastian is nowhere in sight, lost in the sea of people. His absence fuels the anger burning through me. I need to escape, to breathe, to be anywhere but here.

And then, in the bathroom, it all comes to a head.

Anna and I step inside, laughing, but my laughter dies instantly when I see her. Ashley. She’s standing at the mirror, applying lipstick, her eyes catching mine through the reflection.

“Sweetheart,” she says, her voice dripping with condescension, “he might be fucking you now, but trust me, he’s been inside me more times than you can count. When he gets bored of you, he’ll come back.”

It’s like something snaps inside me.

Before I even realize what’s happening, I have my fist in her hair, yanking her head back as I slam her face into the mirror. The glass shatters, blood splattering across the sink as her body crumples to the floor. But I don’t stop. I’m on top of her, my fists flying as I beat her bloody. My white dress is covered in red, the metallic smell of blood filling the air.

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