She closed her eyes.
CHAPTER 19
The next morning, Derek arrived at Victor’s apartment with his laptop and three coffees.
“I’ve been thinking about the offering.”
“The offering?” Ava asked, still wrapped in Victor’s shirt.
“Victor said we’d need something valuable to get Marchosias’s attention. Something rare.” Derek set up at the dining table. “I went down a research rabbit hole at three AM, and I found it.”
He pulled up an image of cuneiform text.
“The original tablet. The Right of Substitution. The actual document Marchosias created six thousand years ago.”
“We can’t use it,” Ava said immediately. The words came out too fast. “It’s a trap?—”
“We don’t want to invoke it. We want to show it to him.” Derek clicked through his notes. “This is leverage, Ava. Lilith used his seal, his authority, for fifteen years of predatory contracts. If we can prove she violated his own laws while using his name…”
“He’ll have to respond,” Victor finished. “Dukes don’t tolerate subordinates undermining their reputation.”
“Exactly.” Derek’s excitement was building. “We’re not just accusing Lilith of fraud. We’re showing Marchosias that his name has been used for something he created laws against.”
Victor straightened, his expression darkening. “The tablet is in the firm’s deep archives. Babylonian section. Basement thirteen.”
“Can you just check it out?” Ava asked.
“That part of the archive requires blood access. Two demons minimum. And even then…” Victor hesitated. “If we request official access, word gets back to the partners. Lilith will know we found our angle.”
“So we don’t ask permission,” Derek said.
Victor and Ava both turned to look at him.
“What? I’m just saying what you’re both thinking.” He closed his laptop with a decisive click. “We go tonight. After midnight when security is lightest. I can loop the camera feeds for maybe twenty minutes.”
“Derek—” Ava started.
“Your parents, Ava. Your family’s restaurant.” His voice was firm. “We do what we have to do.”
“Tonight,” Victor agreed finally. “Midnight. I know how to navigate the deep archives. But Derek’s right about the timing: we won’t have long.”
“What about the blood access?” Ava asked.
Victor held up his palm, where the brand from the hearth ritual still marked his skin. “I’m demon enough. And after the soul bond…” He looked at her. “You might be too.”
“So we’re really doing this?” Derek looked slightly ill. “Breaking into a demon law firm to steal a six-thousand-year-old clay tablet.”
“Borrowing,” Victor corrected. “We’re borrowing firm resources for firm business.”
“That’s not as comforting as you think it is.”
Ava looked between them.
“Midnight,” she agreed. “We get the tablet, we take it to Marchosias, and we make Lilith answer for what she’s done.”
After midnight,the building stopped pretending.
Ava’s pulse thundered as she crossed the lobby of Grimm, Malphas & Associates. The crystal chandelier swayed without wind. Shadows gathered thick in the corners, shifting when she wasn’t looking directly at them. The marble floor felt soft underfoot, like walking on something that was only pretending to be stone.
