Forbidden Request

Chapter Twelve: Beneath The Surface

As Sebastian and I emerged from our hiding spot, the library's dim, dusty atmosphere greeted us once more. I took a moment to steady my breathing, trying to dispel the lingering warmth and rush from our earlier close encounter. The cool air of the library felt refreshing against my flushed cheeks.

We moved quietly, navigating the labyrinthine rows of ancient, musty bookshelves. My mind was still a whirl from the proximity with Sebastian, but I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on our objective: finding a book that might provide insights into the mysterious abilities I'd been experiencing.

Sebastian led the way with a quiet confidence, his earlier flirtatiousness replaced by a more serious demeanor. He seemed to sense my distraction and kept his pace slow, allowing me to catch up. I could hear him softly muttering to himself, probably checking the shelf labels and murmuring titles that might be relevant.

I scanned the rows of bookshelves, my fingers trailing over the spines of ancient tomes. The library's silence was occasionally broken by the creak of wooden shelves or the distant shuffling of footsteps, each sound causing me to pause and listen carefully.

My thoughts kept drifting back to the moment we had been pressed together behind the shelf. The memory of Sebastian's warmth, his hand on my waist, and the closeness between us was still vivid. I shook my head slightly, trying to clear the distraction, and focused on the task at hand.

"Sebastian," I whispered, glancing over at him. "Do you think we're likely to find anything useful here?"

Sebastian nodded, his eyes scanning the rows with a practiced ease. "We should be able to. This place has everything. I just need some insight into what we're searching for."

His tone was curious, but there was a hint of teasing as if he was hoping to catch me off guard.

I hesitated, the weight of my promise to Professor Fig pressing heavily on me. I had sworn to keep my abilities a secret, and now, facing Sebastian's probing question, I struggled to find the right words. I could sense that he was genuinely interested and perhaps even a bit concerned, but revealing too much could jeopardize everything.

I nodded and continued my search, pulling out a few heavy volumes that looked promising but turned out to be unrelated. Each book I opened was a testament to the library's vast collection of magical knowledge, but none seemed to hold the key to understanding what I needed.

Time seemed to slip away as we worked, the quiet hours stretching into what felt like an eternity. I could feel the weight of the library's ancient knowledge around me, a silent witness to our secret quest.

Sebastian finally paused, his fingers brushing over a particularly old and worn book with a leather cover. "Do you think this might be it? Can you tell me exactly what it is and why you are looking for it?" he asked, his voice low but full of excitement. He carefully pulled it from the shelf, and I saw the faded gold lettering on the spine: Ancient Magic and Its Forgotten Paths.

"Um, not exactly," I replied, trying to sound casual. "I just... feel like there's something I need to understand better. This book seemed like it might help."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, studying me with a look that mixed hurt and something softer, almost protective. "Alright, if you're not ready to share, that's fine. We'll just see what we can find in here."

I nodded, grateful for his understanding. I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret for not being able to fully confide in him. We both turned our attention back to the book, the ancient text seemingly alive with possibilities.

With the book secured in my arms, Sebastian and I knew our next challenge was to get out of the Restricted Section undetected. The library was eerily silent, and the weight of our secret felt heavier as the early hours of Sunday morning pressed on.