Owned by the Devil King

the rules with

d a room. They existed in the unspoken understanding that nothing here was accidental-not the locked doors, not the strategica

ted for him to

not dis

, bathed in pale gold light, looking deceptively peaceful. Elara stood barefoot on the cool marble

ther chairs, composed, unreadable, a cup of black

ealized, wa

ell?" he ask

she re

oo

. "You said there

es

le one: You don't leave this pe

dy assum

"Rule two: You do not attempt contact wit

"You can't st

ever," he said. "

three?"

pa

n't lie

kidnapped me, stripped me of my

es

y in his voice ma

I break one of these

a puzzle he had every intention of solving. "Th

e not raised.

errifying than a thr

to meet his gaze. "

quietly. "That's

ore than anything el

e she broke w

hat was what s

the balcony t

fice adjoining the bedroom. The view stole her breath-an open expanse of sky and c

her capture, she felt s

g. She wasn't foolish enough to think sh

wanted to

ding open behind her was

ervant," Ni

y, heart racing. "

kno

at's the

ugging slightly at his coat. "The probl

don't need permissio

," he repli

ween them sharp

ur prisoner

ned. "You are

harder than

manded, gesturing around. "The penthouse. The clothes. Th

to break you,"

at do yo

hort of invading her space. "I wan

th caugh

ike you don't ex

between them, dan

You don't know a

it," he replied. "I know you looked at a futur

wasn't mine

hose anyway,"

, neither of

aightened. "Next

and went b

ors slid shut behind him, her pulse racing-not wit

e she broke wa

ened th

The blind spots. The rhythm of the guards' patrols-

until well

at first-just stood there, absorbing the space. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with volum

sonal

s of so

esk carefully and op

ph

but newer

ulse

fingers trembling,

assw

d as she opene

t call he

alled

ang

ic

red urgently. "Where are you

d quickly. "I'm safe, but I ca

r slamm

spun a

e, eyes cold, fury

trides and took the phone from her

at followed wa

ied,"

I needed to let som

rned

isolate me like

"You broke the one

manded, defiance burning brighter than

pped c

erstand," he said quietly,

n't to

turned and

locked be

m, breath shaking, ad

xpected p

ot expect

ow, that

rule bro

the follow

, his presence heavier than usual. His movements were sha

e asked before she

pau

afraid right

t skippe

decision," Nikolai replied.

s hit li

sion?" she

ked onto hers, int

fused

lt suddenly

ontinued, "you becom

in her ears. "Wha

a step

and dangerous, "that keeping yo

as the weight of h

longer a w

as pos

ov never gave up