Owned by the Devil King

if the city itself

erything felt heavy-too heavy. The thin satin gown clung to her legs, torn at the hem where s

her was a life

own-and for the first tim

loudly in the empty night, each step a reminder that she didn't belong here. That she wasn't meant to be running thr

ne buzz

d to look to k

th

ched her jaw and shoved the phone into her clutch without answerin

ouldn't a

much and spoke too softly. Women had adjusted her veil, praised her beauty, told her h

sked if she

e had

ened around her

n blurred her vision. She sucked in a shaky breath and forced herself forwar

streets that felt unfamiliar and hostile. Somewhere in this maze

ne buzz

n a

n a

g streetlight, chest heaving. Her hands

a mistake, th

back.

led into a b

ist

e her age, forging alliances with power-hungry families, a

ith trembli

I won't be trad

re she could seco

diately, th

half a second-then tu

en only by rain and the

elt l

ran

ddenly into a wider road-a

ights piercing the rain like watchful eyes. The vehicles were too cle

ulse

in dark suits, their posture aler

hing

nstincts

step back.

er movement, but

sed around

hest as she tried to pull free. Her back collided wit

shouted, voice crack

d closer, his grip tightening, and spoke

t

lently against her ribs.

oug

hrough the rai

alm. Ab

her instantly, stepping aside

turned

. Rain slid over his coat without clinging, as if even the storm respected him. His presence was o

e rain, stubble shadowing a strong jaw. His eyes-cold, d

in her che

briefly to the torn dress, the bruising

he

u run?" he

't know who you think y

pped ar

ly, blocking her path

n't be here

n't get to

lifted slightly-not a

ers my territory

eath c

ritory?"

, voice dropping

m n

ia

, anger mixing with fea

g, he said softl

orld

art st

now my name?"

g beneath the surface. "Because your family ha

t tone. She'd heard it in whispered convers

ou?" she a

lai V

d into her like

d it before.

derworld with brutal precision. Untouchable. Ru

sts. "I have nothing to do

ed hands, then returned to her face.

the unspoken

ara tried to pus

e, he ca

ying ease. She gasped, palms pressing instinctively against his chest.

e said through

did

and intimate, meant only for her. "Yo

ood ra

know about t

ied calmly. "Including who y

fr

nce. The rear door of the SU

ng her head. "I'm not g

ooked at her-and something unr

lready

rtlessly and placed her inside the vehicle

s enclo

d windows. Elara's heart pounded as she pressed her palms against the

run for

been claimed by

down, s

only the