by Lorna TedderBook 1 of The Payback Archives · Secret Lives of Librarians Universe
Think La Femme Nikita–style covert ops collide with the dark academia spell‑slinging of The Magicians and the snark‑sleuth vibes of Veronica Mars in a surveillance mission that proves payback really is a witch.
About the Book
Lilah Burns isn’t just an occult librarian; she’s a magical black-ops agent for a secret society. Her latest assignment sends her straight back into the one place she never wanted to see again: the home of her ex-boyfriend, the man who shattered her trust.
The objective: plant surveillance and find proof that his manipulative new wife, a notorious international book thief, is targeting their organization. For Lilah, it’s also a chance for a little cathartic, petty revenge. After all, payback is a witch.
Paired with her stoic and dangerously competent partner, Raven, the simple in-and-out mission spirals into a tense game of cat-and-mouse when the targets return unexpectedly. Forced into hiding, Lilah overhears a secret far more dangerous than stolen books: a plot to expose and blackmail the entire priesthood.
But it’s a different discovery—a single crow feather preserved in a glass vial—that forces her to confront the emotional ghosts she’s been running from. To survive the night, she must rely on Raven, blurring the line between partnership and a tantalizingly slow-burn attraction. Closure is a dish best served cold, but for Lilah, getting even is just the beginning.
Before You Read
This story touches on past emotional manipulation and betrayal, references to toxic relationships, and themes of self-worth after abandonment. Characters process grief and trust issues with non-confrontational closure. No graphic violence or explicit content.
Read It Free — All Chapters
The complete novel, free to read right here.
- Operation: Petty Revenge“Professor Drusilla Saint Augustine always knew how to push just hard enough…”
- Tight Spaces“I froze. Raven was halfway to the master bedroom, smoke alarm casing in one hand…”
- Emotional Justice“I was starting to feel sick—and not just from Rune’s voice…”
- The Weight of One Feather“My stomach dropped. I’d forgotten all about my silent notifications.”
- What We Choose to Keep“I was caught between two realities, one still chasing the other.”
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