Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 29: Roommate Options

Music Recommendation: Postcards - Alexandre Desplat

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Not just an Elite, but a man as a roommate.

"Lady Blake... a man and a woman cannot share a room," Ruelle frowned, her voice faltering at the scandalous implication. "That—that is improper. It’s—"

"Scandalous?" Blake finished for her, raising an eyebrow as though the very idea amused her. "In your society, yes. But Sexton isn’t exactly bound by such rules. There have been exceptions for those with special arrangements, especially when they are requested by an Elite."

Ruelle’s face flushed with heat as her friend shifted uncomfortably beside her.

Her mind spun with thoughts of societal rules, of decency, and reputations that were so carefully built, yet could so easily crumble. In her world, unmarried men and women did not share living quarters. Ever. If word got out, it wouldn’t just be her reputation on the line—it could ruin everything.

"I—I can’t," Ruelle stammered.

"You shouldn’t trouble yourself with the thought. It’s not as if he would agree to it either," Blake said matter-of-factly, shrugging off her robe and tossed it over a chair. "He’d rather burn down the room than let a human live with him."

Hailey, still wide-eyed, asked curiously, "Who are you talking about, milady?"

"Lucian Slater," Blake replied calmly.

Ruelle’s heart seemed to stop for a moment as the realisation sank in. Her pulse quickened; she hadn’t forgotten his cold gaze on her. The dark-haired Elite, who had already dismissed her as insignificant, the one who had looked at her with barely concealed contempt.

"If you’re hoping for a different roommate, you’ll have to check with the office," Blake added, eyeing Ruelle with a trace of pity. "But don’t get your hopes up."

Ruelle nodded weakly, her pulse quickening as dread settled over her. She knew the odds were slim. In a faint voice, she said, "I’ll check with the office."

"I’ll come with you," Hailey offered, but Ruelle quickly shook her head.

"No, Hailey. Stay here." Ruelle’s eyes darted nervously to the shadows cast by the flickering lanterns in the hallway. "I don’t want you getting caught up in this if Alanna finds you with me."

Blake’s presence was enough to keep Alanna at bay for now, and Ruelle didn’t want to endanger her friend. She offered a grateful bow to the vampiress. "Thank you for listening to us, Lady Blake."

Without another word, Ruelle slipped into the vast, cold corridors of Sexton. The sound of her footsteps echoed off the cold stone walls, and the faint, wavering light of the lanterns did little to chase away the creeping unease growing in the pit of her stomach.

shoulder, her skin prickling with the sensation of being watched. The few Elites that crossed her

worn door of the administration office. It creaked ominously as it opened, and inside, Mr. Mortis sat hunched over his desk, his skeletal fingers flipping through a stack of old

Mr. Mortis," Ruelle greeted him with

as parchment. "You aren’t here to request to leave Sexton again, I hope. Two students tried that and found

from the chill of his words, Ruelle quickly replied, "No, I’m not here to leave. I... I wanted to

switch rooms? We don’t have any vacancies among the

clarified, her

question, he turned towards one of the filing cabinets. Pulling out a parchment, he laid it on the desk before her, and Ruelle stepped closer. She skimmed through the names, her breath catching in her throat as picked up

five names—and all

process the implications, a familiar voice broke the silence. "Looking

hair gleaming under the lantern’s light, his lips curved in that sly smile she had

greeted quickly, bowing

of mischief. His eyes slid down

along. She stole something of mine and gave it to an Elite vampiress who now... might be looking

were only mildly entertaining. He took the parchment from her hand, scanning the names with

The last one... his roommate didn’t leave the room the same way he entered. Volunteered, he said." His lips quirked up in amusement

Ruelle’s stomach churned.

to dress up his human roommates." Dane smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "And lastly, Cedric Thorn.

felt her heart race, each name bringing her a step closer to a nightmare. None of these options seemed safe–they all

Elites—all dangerous vampires. She

murmur as his eyes flicked to the last

faltered, and she asked, "Lucian? Hasn’t he... killed people before? It isn’t a good

taking her concern seriously. "Well, if someone deserves it, it’s not really murder, is it?" His tone was teasing, but something cold lurked beneath his words. "No one will bother you with him around. Sleep

before she could, Dane turned

wait—" Ruelle hesitated, panic bubbling up in her

her forward as he led her deeper into the

but her thoughts racing. The corridors grew quieter, the flickering lights dimmer. When they

here," he said, his voice soft, almost

lanterns above. He knocked twice, and the door creaked open. And though she couldn’t see him, she could imagine Lucian’s mood. She strained

grinned infuriatingly wide and began, "A

Lucian’s response

against the doorframe, his grin widening as though Lucian’s annoyance only fuelled

don’t care what you were going to say. The answer is no." Lucian’s voice was sharp. It was the kind of voice that made others flinch and the temperature drop. He knew

Lucian. The instructor for Interspecies Coexistence might be less than