Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 21: Riding with Elites

The sun had barely dipped below the horizon when Ruelle found herself standing in the middle of the forest, staring at the broken wheel of the carriage. The fading light cast long shadows across the dense trees, beginning to make the forest seem even more eerie.

The local coachman scratched his head nervously as he examined the damage. "Sorry, miss," he muttered, his voice laced with apprehension. "But it seems like I can’t take you any further," he said, while his eyes darted towards the thickening woods.

Suddenly a wolf’s howl pierced through the silent forest, sending a shiver down both their spines. Without warning, the coachman bolted in the direction they had come from, abandoning both the carriage and Ruelle without so much as a backward glance. She could only watch in disbelief as the man disappeared among the trees, leaving her stranded.

"He... left," Ruelle whispered to herself.

Ruelle had planned to escape to Sexton before the night deepened, desperate to avoid any confrontation with Ezekiel or her mother. The thought of him questioning her again, sent a wave of unease through her. But none of the carriages in the village had been willing to travel to the vampire territories at this hour. Fear held the human coachmen at bay, unwilling to set foot in this side of the woods after sunset.

Now she was left alone, with only the growing chill of the evening and the silence of the domineering forest for company.

Frustration simmered beneath her skin, her hands clenching into fists. The longer she stayed, the more vulnerable she would become. She couldn’t just stand here, waiting for something—or someone—worse to find her.

Searching for a shortcut, Ruelle began to walk, barely two minutes passing before the sound of hooves echoed through the trees. The rhythmic clatter grew louder, and a sleek black carriage emerged from the shadows, its polished wood glistening faintly in the dim light of dusk.

Ruelle murmured. The carriage slowed as it approached, drawing closer

dirty blond hair and a grin. It was Sawyer, who said, "If

small smile, "I do... if it isn’t much trouble." Her options were limited, and staying alone in the forest wasn’t one of

and he called to the coachman, "Edmond, be a dear and pick up Miss

something that she couldn’t quite catch. The coachman then climbed down from his seat to retrieve Ruelle’s belongings, tying

cheerful as

interior were a welcome contrast to the biting cold outside, but as she took her

over her shoulders—the person who had dragged the chained human student through the halls

dark-haired passenger sitting diagonally from her

trees outside the window, his expression unreadable. His demeanour was cold and distant, as

to retrace her footsteps and leave the carriage, but there was no room for pride here. She couldn’t risk being alone in the forest, not with wolves howling through the woods. Swallowing the awkwardness she felt, she carefully settled into the empty seat. The carriage rattled softly as it began

asked her, "What were

the vampiress beside her cut in with a dry, sarcastic

for vampires. Else she would be carrying stakes." The young woman’s eyes held a dull amusement as they set on Ruelle, who tried

comment and remarked, "Don’t mind my sister. She’s got a terrible sense of humour, but she’s harmless. Mostly." Noticing the surprise on Ruelle’s