Page 28 of Devil’s Reign

My smile widens. She did mention books this morning, but I had a lot on my mind and dismissed her. “You have a problem with non-fiction?"

“They make my eyes cross and give me migraines. No offense to the writers and readers of non-fiction. It’s just not for me.”

“I see.”

“And now that I finally get to make demands—” She takes a breath, steeling herself. “I need to speak with my mother. She must be worried about me. Even if you’re not going to let me go, I need her to know I’m okay.”

“I never said I’d give in to your ridiculous demands. Listening seems to make you feel better, and it costs me nothing.” I shrug carelessly, and she narrows her eyes.

“You can’t just leave me here all alone without at least trying to make things easier for me. I’ve been cooperative!"

I shrug again, enjoying her mounting frustration more than I should. “Not sure if you’ve noticed, myshka, but I can do whatever the hell I want.”

Her jaw drops, and I can see the rage flash in her eyes. I chuckle as I head for the door, her indignant huff sharp behind me as I pull it shut.

Boris meets my eyes briefly, then looks away. “Get me, Nathaniel,” I instruct him before making my way to my office.

I roll my neck tiredly as I sink into my chair. It’s been a long day, but that confrontation with my little prisoner leaves me strangely energized—and painfully aware of my unresolved arousal. Turning towards the window, I look over the city below as I pull out my phone and make a call.

“Send up a full wardrobe. Anything you think a woman might need,” I tell the manager of the boutique on the second floor. “I’ll text you her size. I want it delivered right away.”

“Yes, sir. Of course.”

I’m texting him Melani’s measurements—courtesy of Vasily’s thorough report—when there’s a short rap on my door. Nathaniel walks in. “You asked for me, sir?”

I drop my phone and spin my chair to face him. “You mentioned your uncle works in construction?”

His brows knit together, but he nods. “Yes, he’s a carpenter.”

Perfect. “Get him here first thing tomorrow morning. I want the smaller entertainment room converted into a library.” I have no need for two anyway.

“S-sir?” Nathaniel blinks at me. “What about the chess board, the pool table⁠—”

“Find somewhere else for them.” My phone pings with a text, and I wave him away. “Go clear the room out now so when your uncle gets here, he can start immediately. And order books. Fiction. The kind women love to read. I need the library ready by midday tomorrow.”

I glance down at the text, hoping it’s Vasily with more information about Melani. But it’s Elmira.

Don’t forget family dinner tomorrow.

As if I would forget. We do this shit every month. When I glance back up, Nathaniel is still standing there, lips parted, staring at me like I’ve just ordered him to fetch a unicorn’s horn or something equally ridiculous.

“Well?” I ask.

“Midday tomorrow might not be possible,” he says carefully. “I don’t think I can order books at this hour, and even if I could, shipping enough volumes to fill a small library will take time. I’ll also need to get an interior designer to redecorate the room and direct my uncle on where to build the bookshelves and other necessary furnishings. There are probably other logistics I can’t think of right now, but if I start making preparations tomorrow, we could have the library ready by⁠—”

I lift a hand to stop the flood of excuses. “Reach out to all of them tonight. Wake them if you have to. Drop my name, and they’ll all come running. I want that library finished tomorrow.”

He gulps but nods. “Yes, sir.”

16

MELANI

I wake reluctantly, yanked from my ridiculous dreams—of flying around the city on a unicorn with Mamma and Luciano—by loud clanging and scraping that refuses to be ignored.

Yawning, I rub the back of my hand over my face and sit up, squinting at the unfamiliar room until memory catches up. Right. Still a prisoner.

The noise draws my attention to the door. “What the hell’s happening out there?” I mutter, even though there’s no one here to answer.