Demon King (Claimed By Lucifer #1) - Elizabeth Briggs Page 0,10

buff, and this vase hit both of those notes.

I’d expected a lot of things from Lucas Ifer, but I hadn’t imagined him as a connoisseur of ancient art and old books somehow. I stared at the vase for far too long, and then turned to the bookshelves to get lost in them. Row after row, both fiction and nonfiction, covering so many genres and topics it made my heart sing. I soon got overwhelmed and grabbed a notepad and pen to make notes on which books I had to read during my time here. There was no way Lucas would be around twenty-four-seven, even within the bounds of our deal, not if he had a city to run. This was the perfect way to distract myself from worrying about Brandy all day.

“I see you found my library.” Lucas’s smooth voice interrupted me, and I turned toward him. He stood in the doorway in his impeccable suit, all brooding darkness and beguiling shadows.

“It’s incredible. I could stay here forever getting lost in these shelves.” I was halfway through the room and my list had already gotten longer than I could manage.

A wicked smile danced across his lips. “I can arrange that, you know.”

I stiffened, remembering why I was here and how he controlled everything in my life for the next few days. “On second thought, seven nights is plenty.”

He let out a low, dark chuckle, the sound so sexy it made my toes curl. “What do you like to read?”

“History and mythology mostly, but I also love romance. Historical, paranormal, fantasy romance… It’s my guilty pleasure, I guess you could say.” I clamped my mouth shut the second the words came out. I wasn’t sure why I’d confessed that to him, especially when men were often so derisive about romance novels.

“No reason to feel guilty when it comes to pleasure…or romance.” He sounded amused, but at least he wasn’t mocking me or putting down the genre. “Those are my favorite genres as well.”

I gestured at the Greek vase. “I guessed that from the art. Very impressive.”

He followed my gaze with a mysterious smile. “I find history so…fascinating, don’t you? Especially how it can be depicted so differently from what truly happened.”

“But how would you know what truly happened?”

His smile grew wider and became downright devilish. “That is the question, isn’t it?”

“Excuse me.” A voice interrupted us just as I was about to lose myself in Lucas’s dark gaze. I shook myself and turned toward the door, where another far-too-attractive man stood. He wore a suit like Lucas, but didn’t pull it off quite as well, even with his broad shoulders. The tips of his sandy blond hair touched eyelashes of the same color, and big blue eyes looked out at me from a face that could have belonged to any boy next door. Only this place didn’t have a next door, so where was this guy from? Where were any of these people from?

“Yes, Gadreel?” Lucas asked.

“I’ve brought her things from the motel, as you asked.” Gadreel’s eyes landed on me and lingered, like he was intrigued by my presence. I wondered if Lucas made these sorts of deals with women regularly, or if I was the first one to become the devil’s plaything for seven nights.

Lucas idly waved a hand. “Put them in the guest room.”

“Of course, my lord.” Gadreel gave a quick bow before exiting the room. Did Lucas really demand such old-fashioned obedience from his people?

Lucas’s intense gaze turned back to me. “If you’re wondering about our deal, I assure you my best people are looking into your friend’s disappearance and should have some leads soon. I expect we’ll know a lot more tomorrow.”

I swallowed, feeling a tiny trickle of hope and relief. “Thank you.”

“I always fulfill my end of the bargain.” His emerald eyes drew me in, and I was powerless to look away. “Now, it’s time for you to fulfill yours.”

4

Hannah

A long black limo drew up at the curb outside the front of The Celestial. I was pretty sure we got in at the back while the front was arriving at our destination. The spectacle was even more eye-opening than my low-cut black silk dress, which Lucas had delivered after he’d discovered I’d brought nothing formal to wear to Las Vegas. Or more accurately, that I didn’t own anything formal. Nothing that would live up to his standards anyway.

I’d never been in a limo, as far as I could remember. It was leather-everything with windows tinted