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.

approached, drawing closer to where she stood on the edge of

smoothly, revealing a familiar face framed by dirty blond hair and a grin. It was Sawyer, who said, "If it isn’t the lovely Miss Belmont, stranded in the middle of nowhere. Need

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

coachman, "Edmond, be a dear and pick up Miss Belmont’s luggage, won’t

the coachman, a pale vampire with a sullen expression, barely moved at first. Sawyer turned and muttered something that she couldn’t quite catch.

Sawyer’s voice was cheerful as always, waving her towards

The plush velvet seats and the warmth of the interior were a welcome contrast to the biting cold outside, but as she

the vampiress—with dirty blonde hair cascading over her shoulders—the person who had

it was the dark-haired passenger sitting diagonally from her

dark red eyes were fixed on the passing trees outside the window, his expression unreadable. His demeanour was cold and distant, as though

no room for pride here. She couldn’t risk being alone in the forest, not with wolves howling through the woods. Swallowing

his curiosity and asked her, "What were

opened her mouth to answer, but the vampiress beside her

stakes." The young woman’s eyes held a dull amusement as they set

terrible sense of humour, but she’s harmless. Mostly."