Owned by the Devil King

e of Nikolai's presence i

Doors opened before she reached them. Meals appeared at the exact moment hunger crept in. G

revolved a

d

more than open co

dn't known existed until she followed the distant rhythm of co

k a hanging bag with brutal precision. Sweat traced slow paths down his back, catching the li

just inside

t meant t

ady knew sh

ndering alone," he s

ng," she replied.

eathing steady, eyes sha

t you call i

es

rms. "Looks more

ed faintly. "So

de. The air smelled of sweat and leather

ved pain was the

at doesn't sound

greed. "But he

voice told her

he d

the bruises forming along

dismissively.

not an

ly. "When you grow up where I did, you learn e

ed. "And now you'

es

u enjo

on hung be

slowly with a towel. "No

't expec

all, blond, dressed in a tailored suit, his movem

man said. "We

d to Elara, cur

son half the city's whis

stif

btle, but unmistakable. He stepped sli

," he said. "He

intly. "That's o

s the way Nikola

guard," Nikola

brows lif

carried understan

dn't lik

oblem?" Nikola

"Just surprised. You don't us

ed on Elara a f

when sh

fe

an

hing

ssive

unmistakably blocking Adrian's

hatter. People noticed how hard

nd

're hiding some

y to Elara before returning t

greed. "But perception has

le it," Ni

ked at Elara again-careful t

dn't r

lence settled hea

ke that," Elar

s unreadable. "He asked

out

es

Is that what this

said im

n wh

esit

ation spok

ad. "I'll have some

walk

't," he

ument in his ton

Elara coul

breathe, her thoughts circling dangerousl

was ch

this way-and she was just

ck sounded

tu

jacket discarded, sleeves ro

s too much," h

trust

es

like the way h

sharpen

hy

le

curiosity lea

not what

tened. "You'

she said. "This isn't ju

the door behind him. "You

art sk

me," she

t away. "You matter," he

h caught.

es

ssion wa

stat

he asked

s head. "I

p closer. "Tha

both

y let it

se stopping it would requ

felt charged, heavy

they were. Of the warmth radiating fro

ped back

t happen,"

," he r

the line,"

hav

d between t

id. "Where I still

ched. "And

just slightly. "T

sty terr

of the window ledge. "You're not th

" he sai

lone again, Elara understood

asn't just

rming bet

the harder it would be to tell who was