“You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?” Zara’s voice was low, intimate. “About the risk. About getting caught. About what a scandal it would be if someone found Ramona Greenbriar getting fucked in Thornwood’s restricted archives by a demon.”
Ramona whimpered against her palm. Her hips moved with Zara’s fingers, chasing the pleasure, completely lost in it now.
“So beautiful like this,” Zara continued. “So desperate. I can feel how close you are already.”
She was. Ramona was so close, every nerve on fire, the combination of danger and desire and Zara’s fingers inside her pushing her right to the edge.
Zara’s thumb found her clit, circled it with perfect pressure. Ramona’s eyes rolled back.
“That’s it,” Zara breathed. “Come for me. Right here. Right now. Show me how good it feels to take back what’s yours.”
The orgasm hit like lightning — sudden, overwhelming, all-consuming. She bit down on Zara’s palm to muffle her cry, her whole body shaking, waves of pleasure rolling through her while Zara worked her through it with practiced skill.
When she finally came down, boneless and trembling, Zara huffed a quiet, self-satisfied laugh.
“Feel better?” Zara asked, slowly withdrawing her hand.
“I—” Ramona started laughing breathlessly. “I can’t believe we just did that.”
“You started it.” Zara adjusted Ramona’s tights and skirt back into place, wiping her hand on her own jeans after Ramona had gasped when she’d reached to wipe it on a nearby book. “Getting all worked up while we’re hiding from guards.”
“You didn’t have to finish it.”
“Where would be the fun in that?” Zara kissed her forehead. “Besides, you asked so nicely.”
The footsteps had faded completely. The library above was silent again.
“Can you focus now, Mortal?” Zara asked.
“Yes.” Ramona tested her legs. They held. Barely. “Yes, I can definitely focus.” She blinked. “Has it been enough time yet?”
“Almost.”
Right. The grimoires. The actual reason they’d broken in.
“You search that section.” Zara pointed left. “I’ll take the right.”
They split up.Ramona moved through the stacks with her tiny flashlight, running her fingers along spines, reading titles in ancient, dead languages. Her heart was still racing, butdifferently now. Not just fear. Excitement. The thrill of taking back access that had been forbidden.
She found the first grimoire tucked between larger volumes.Liber Purgationis Maleficae. She pulled it carefully, opened to the table of contents. Chapter seven. Cleansing demonic corruption from convergence points. “Zara,” she whispered. “I found?—”
A sound.
Distant but distinct. Footsteps. Not coming from above, but somewhere closer.
Ramona froze, listening.
The footsteps continued — regular, measured. A guard making rounds?
Zara appeared beside her instantly, silent. Their eyes met. Through the tether, Ramona felt Zara’s sharp attention, her assessment.
The footsteps were getting closer.
Ramona pulled out her phone but didn’t get service. Zara checked her HellBerry, and Ramona saw a message from Felix.
Felix: A guard is coming downstairs, not sure why. Am setting off alarm on other end of building to buy you time. Hurry UP.
They found the other two texts in a frantic hustle — splitting up again and practically running between shelves.
