Page 15 of Captive Prize

That night, I decided her slur wouldn’t define me. It would strengthen me.

I was the Ivanov demon. The devil’s own son, sent to protect our family’s interests.

Pavel was telling me he remembered. He was ready to play his part.

It helped. A little.

Didn’t stop the guilt, though, as I took the knife from the green-eyed girl and tossed it aside.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked.

“You want answers. If I use that, I’ll kill him. Besides… you want proof you can trust me,printsessa. Let me show you how I get answers.”

She looked me up and down. Lips tight. One brow lifted.

“Don’t call me that. And was that Russian? Who are you?”

“I told you who I am.” I silently cursed myself for slipping.

“Are you Russian?” she asked, stepping between Pavel and me.

I almost lied. Almost.

But something about her stopped me. Lying to her felt wrong.

“Do I look Russian?”

Her eyes narrowed. She stepped aside, still calculating. She didn’t trust me—but she liked what she saw.

I smirked, then drove a punch into Pavel’s face.

His head snapped back. The loud crack of bone echoed in the room as blood burst from his nose.

The pain in my knuckles almost drowned out the guilt twisting in my gut. I couldn’t hold back.

If I pulled a single punch, they’d know. We’d both be dead.

Pavel started swearing in two languages, vowing to murder me the second he got free.

Honestly? I wasn’t entirely sure it was just for show.

I had to clench my jaw to stop from laughing.

Same threats he used when we were kids. Any time he lost, he’d swear vengeance—switching languages like it gave his fury more weight.

I didn’t wait for him to stop. Another solid punch landed in his gut, just missing any vital organs.

Had to look real.

Didn’t mean I wanted him pissing red for a week.

The broken nose was already enough.

The others stood behind me.

The girl folded her arms and stared straight ahead, refusing to look away—like she had something to prove.

Mateo stood just behind her, a sick grin on his face like he was getting off on the show.

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