Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 32: Wildfire at the tables

At the other side of the Elites’ table, Lucian sipped his tea, his expression unreadable, seemingly unaffected by the growing commotion around him. Though the room buzzed with whispered gossip and students began casting furtive glances in his direction, he appeared seemingly uninterested in the growing whispers and speculation.

"Seems like everyone’s heard about your new roommate," Blake remarked casually, her tone light as she glanced around at the curious students.

Lucian gave no outward sign of acknowledgement, his face as impassive as ever.

Sawyer, seated beside Blake, clicked his tongue in exaggerated disappointment. He complained, "Of course, the one year I decide to have a roommate is the year I shouldn’t have one. So, does this mean... humans are o—Ow!" he yelped as Blake kicked him under the table.

Blake shot him a warning look.

"I was just asking!" Sawyer protested, rubbing his chin, though he quickly leaned back in his chair with a dramatic sigh. "But seriously, a human in Lucian’s room? It’s shocking."

No one had expected for Lucian to room with a human, and it would be a lie if Blake said she wasn’t shocked. She said, "Poor girl. I heard from my roommate that she worked hard for weeks to finish that scarf, and then it was stolen by Alanna. That’s how she ended up in this mess."

"Oh, the scarf! I remember it. I didn’t know Alanna was poor. Guess she should be sitting at the Groundlings’ table," Sawyer said in a thoughtful voice. "I would have thought they were fighting over Lucian’s attention. They always do."

"I wonder if she’s going to fail by not making it to the library on time," Blake remarked, before completely switching the subject.

As Blake and Sawyer continued their conversation, Lucian’s expression remained blank. But as he raised his cup to his lips, his eyes slowly flicked towards Alanna, catching the sight of the scarf around her neck.

sitting at the table with the staff of Sexton, picked

darkened, his jaw tightening as a rush of possessive jealousy surged through him. To

as students buried themselves in preparation for the upcoming week of tests.

speaking animatedly as usual, her

for another one. I can ask Tess if you want," Hailey

at Hailey’s bandaged

a thing ha ha," Hailey laughed. She said, "I mean, it

they nearly collided with someone rounding the corner of

bright and courteous as she dipped into a polite bow, Ruelle following her

expression, for a moment, remained unreadable as his light red eyes fell upon the two women. There was nothing inherently’good’ about the morning for him, but as always, he masked his true thoughts behind a well-practiced, charming

"It’s fortunate I ran into the two of you. The previous assignment books are in my

more than happy to

brief crack in his perfect demeanor. It was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that same disarming

kind of you, Ms. Elliot," before gesturing for them to follow

lowered to a quieter tone, meant only for Ruelle’s ears, "You need to be

incident with Alanna, the night she had accidentally stabbed the vampiress in self-defence. She stiffened, guilt tightening in her chest. "It wasn’t meant to happen,"

response, though he kept his expression concerned. He said almost comfortingly, "It’s not too late to fix things.

moment, Ruelle blinked in

with feigned concern. "I can arrange something more appropriate. There’s a spare room in Sexton you could take in the staff’s quarters. Something