Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 27: Respect the scarf!

As Ruelle approached, Alanna’s gaze landed on her, the vampiress’s lips curling into a malicious smile. Her lackeys stood on either side of the vampiress, who asked mockingly,

"And what do we have here? Come to apologise? Hoping to grovel your way into our good graces?" She let out a small, dismissive laugh, her eyes glittering with the promise of humiliation.

Ruelle had walked here out of pure rush of adrenaline, but now that she stood before the vampiress, the memory of the bullying flashed in her mind. The thudding in her chest echoed in her ears, but she forced to stay calm. Her hands clenched tightly at her sides, the knuckles white from the pressure.

Don’t show fear. You can’t show fear, Ruelle said to herself before saying, "That scarf is mine. Where did you get it?"

For a moment, Alanna simply stared, as though the question itself was beneath her. Then, with a slow and intentional motion, she ran her fingers over the soft fabric.

"This?" she drawled languidly, yet mocking. "I don’t think so. It is a gift I received." Her eyebrows arched in feigned curiosity, daring Ruelle to continue.

June. It was as if the girl continued to fall to new lows she couldn’t imagine one could, thought Ruelle to herself.

Alanna’s smile widened as she took a step forward, closing the distance between them ever so slightly. The crowd around them had grown quiet, watching, waiting. "You’re not about to make a scene, are you? It would be such a pity to see you humiliate yourself here, of all places."

"I don’t think you would want everyone here to know that an Elite such as yourself resorts to stealing from a mere Groundling, Ruelle replied, and she noticed for a split second, the confidence in Alanna’s eyes flickered, her expression hardening into something darker, sharper.

word rolling off her tongue with contempt. "Such harsh accusations. It’s hardly worth stealing, don’t you think? But, if you must know, I bought it. Paid

around them shifted, some whispering among themselves. Alanna was an Elite vampire—but Ruelle had struck a nerve, one the Elite wasn’t

poured hours of hardwork and time into it. She said, "It’s strange that

strike. She remarked, "Aren’t you bold today. I could make you disappear with a flick of my wrist, and no one

mean to disrespect you. But if you want to hold someone accountable, maybe it should be the person who gave you something that wasn’t theirs

feigned innocence. Ruelle glanced at her briefly, then back to Alanna. "Unless, you are perfectly

turned and walked away, her pace calm, measured. Each step felt like a victory, her soft-spoken words echoing in the silence she left behind. Beside her, Hailey rushed to catch up, wide-eyed

too? I

back of

Ruelle returned to her room. She pushed the door open, noticing June already

mind. But as she turned, the door to the bathroom creaked open, and from within, Alanna emerged, her eyes

from the scarf," Alanna said, her voice low and taunting. "So I thought I’d come by

back, her eyes darting to the

the fear

the small space. "Oh, I can go

lot to say earlier," the vampiress murmured, suddenly shoving Ruelle hard. The impact sent her crashing to the floor, pain

gasped, pushing herself to her feet, but Alanna was already advancing, knocking everything off her desk with a