Round 172 Transcript

At dark corridor in New York high rise penthouse suite, the pressure shifts from waiting to immediate risk. The ward answers the party's presence with a fresh pulse through the stone and no one can mistake it for safety. The nearest sign of danger is now structural collapse imminent. Someone has to answer that change now.

I push harder against the barrier spell, sweat beading on my skin despite the chill air from the dark corridor. The wardstone pulses again—closer now—and I feel its energy trying to slip through my defenses. My grip on the dildo slips slightly and I curse under my breath. "Silra!" I snap, voice sharp. "The barricade's not holding. We need something heavier against the door." My eyes flick to Halie, still clutching her holy symbol like it'll actually help here. "And someone needs to check on Abby before she panics completely." The demon inside me stirs at Hera's rising fear, feeding off it, and I have to concentrate not to lose control of my spellwork. I don't have time for this shitshow. Every second counts now that the wardstone is actively responding. I channel more power into the dildo—my cunt clenches with unwanted arousal from the sensation—and pray nobody notices how close I am to losing it entirely.

I watch Jeane strain against the barrier, her face twisted with effort. The wardstone's pulse feels like teeth in my skull now—not good. I grab a heavy lamp from the floor and shove it under the door to brace it better. "Hold that," I tell Hera sharply when she wavers. Then back to Jeane: "You're channeling too much. Switch out with me before you short-circuit."