Demon King (Claimed By Lucifer #1) - Elizabeth Briggs Page 0,22

took my elbow again, his fingers strong and possessive as they dug into my skin. “Shall we continue? I have one more shop I’d like us to visit.”

I dimly nodded, my throat tight, as Lucas led me down the hall, leaving the plaster rubble behind, to another shop—Alexander McQueen. I had to practically pick my jaw up off the floor as we walked inside past all the beautiful clothes, shoes, and purses. There were actual runway gowns here on display in this secret back room, with capes and feathers and jewels. Real jewels, not tacky sequins. It was almost enough to make me forget what I just saw.

Lucas had picked that man up by his neck and thrown him into a wall. How did he have that kind of strength? And how had that man walked away without a scratch?

Could all this stuff about demons actually be true?

No. Impossible.

I had no explanation for it, but what I saw did confirm one thing—Lucas was more dangerous than I’d thought.

“I need a gown fit for a queen,” Lucas said to the salesman. “One of a kind. In her size.”

“I have the perfect thing,” the smartly dressed man replied in a respectful tone. “I’ll bring it out immediately.”

Lucas nodded and the man disappeared. I stared at Lucas with fear trailing down my spine, wondering how he could look so casual after such an act of violence. And so disturbingly gorgeous. Fuck, maybe he was the devil. Or at least the closest thing to it.

The salesman returned carrying an ethereal ball gown that was all black except for tiny crystal stars trailing down to the different phases of the moon along the bottom hem. At the shoulders, silver moon clasps held on a long, sheer black cape with more crystal stars running down it. Everything about it was soft and billowy except for the bodice, which was low-cut and form-fitting. It was the most beautiful gown I’d ever seen in my life.

Lucas nodded. “Have it fitted for her.”

I instantly reached out to touch the crystals on the gown, but then pulled my hand back. “It’s lovely, but I can’t imagine I’ll ever have anywhere to wear it.”

He pinned me with his dark gaze. “On your final night, you’ll be attending the Devil’s Night Ball as my guest.”

I counted the nights in my head. That was the night before Halloween. “What’s the Devil’s Night Ball?”

“It’s when the demons honor me as their King.”

I had no time to process his absurd words before I was whisked away into a dressing room, where a woman helped me put on the gown. Then I stared at myself in the mirror, my face pale, my eyes scared, while I stood in the loveliest dress I’d ever worn. Was this what Persephone felt like when she was kidnapped by Hades? Did Lucas think all the glitz and glamour would hide the dark, seedy depths of his underworld?

He moved behind me and met my eyes in the mirror, then rested his hands on my shoulders possessively. “Yes, this is the gown. And when you wear it by my side, everyone will know you’re mine.”

“Only for seven nights,” I said, my voice defiant, even though I was secretly wondering if escape was still an option.

His lips curled into a dark smile. “We’ll see about that.”

7

Hannah

When we returned from our shopping trip, a whole spread of food awaited us in the apartment, with gourmet sandwiches, fancy meats and cheeses, and a salad with feta cheese. I needed some time to myself after the day’s events, and grabbed some food and retreated to the guest room. But when I opened the door, my breath caught and I nearly dropped my entire plate.

Flowers and plants now packed my previously sparse guest room, and I inhaled the fresh, floral scents I loved so much. Each corner had a weeping fig tree, and flowers grew in pots along the windowsill, on the desk and side tables, and inside the bathroom. I spotted white lilies, purple violets, blue irises, and white-and-yellow daffodils. No roses, which I found curious, but I didn’t mind. I’d always thought roses were overdone and overrated, especially when there were so many other beautiful plants out there.

Then it hit me. These were all my favorite flowers.

How did he know?

How did he always know?

Lucas’s voice at my back made me jump. “I thought they might help you feel more at home.”

“They’re lovely,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. Between this and his earlier