Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Masquerade Mishaps

Invitation?!

Behind her mask, Ruelle’s mind raced. Hailey, who had been so bubbly and confident moments ago, now stood frozen beside her, her shoulders stiff with tension. Kevin’s hand twitched nervously at his side, his breath shallow and barely audible.

The silence stretched, and no one moved.

’Well, if you change your mind, don’t be shy to ask for an invite,’ Sawyer’s words echoed in the back of Ruelle’s mind.

Her heart thudded, adrenaline rushing through her veins as the taller of the two guards stepped forward. The faint scrape of his boots against the stone floor felt unnaturally loud. If anyone found out they were impersonating vampires, it would be a disaster.

Ruelle’s nails dug into her palms, grounding her as a reckless and absurd idea took hold. She forced calmness into her movements as she stepped forward.

"Invitations?" Ruelle repeated with a drawl, as if the very word were beneath her. Tilting her chin just enough to appear both arrogant and dismissive, she let out a sharp exhale, the kind one might use when dealing with particularly insubordinate staff. "I should have known. My father always complains about this—every time he’s come here, he mentions the manor’s tardiness. You must be new not to recognise the distinguished D’Arvelles."

Behind her, Kevin made a small noise of confusion, but Hailey quickly elbowed him, silencing any protest. Ruelle felt the guard’s gaze drilling into her. Her pulse pounded in her ears, but she kept her face confident.

"I don’t need an invitation. Unless, of course, you have something against my family?" she continued, meeting the taller guard’s gaze with a glare. "Or perhaps you would prefer I tell my father about your... tardiness in recognising the pureblooded vampire lineage?"

The taller guard hesitated, his scepticism lingering. Ruelle caught the slight flicker of doubt in his gaze, her fingers trembling for a fleeting moment before she clasped them behind her back.

"Perhaps there’s been a mistake," the taller guard muttered.

"Oh, no mistake," Ruelle interjected, her voice now sickly sweet, tinged with menace. "Unless, of course, you count the mistake of wasting my time. My siblings and I," she gestured lazily toward Hailey and Kevin, "have travelled all evening. And this—this is how we are greeted? Celia, Ren, have you ever seen such incompetence?"

"Never! I’ve never seen anything like it. Completely disgraceful," Hailey declared, her voice a little too high-pitched.

The shorter guard cast a nervous glance at his partner before stepping aside, his face pale as he muttered, "Our apologies, milady. Welcome to Chateau Noir."

Ruelle swept past them without so much as a glance, her midnight blue gown whispering against the cold stone floor. The heavy oak doors groaned shut behind them, muffling the low murmur of the guards. Hailey and Kevin followed closely, their footsteps muted against the cavernous corridor.

In the corridor, the candles flickered atop iron stands, their light pooling on the polished stone floor as the vaulted corridor stretched ahead like a cathedral. The cool air carried the tang of melted wax and ancient stone, weaving with the muted strains of distant music.

The moment the guards were out of sight, Kevin let out a ragged exhale that shattered the oppressive silence.

"D’Arvelles? Since when are we the D’Arvelles?" He whispered, his voice tight with disbelief.

"Since a minute ago," Ruelle replied, her tone calm, though her heart still hammered against her ribs. She glanced at a towering window draped with heavy velvet curtains. Beyond the etched glass, the night loomed, vast and impenetrable.

Hailey glanced nervously over her shoulder. "I thought I was going to faint there. They never mentioned anything about invitations!" she whispered, adjusting the ties on her mask. "You were incredible, Ruelle. Terrifying, but incredible."

Kevin let out a shaky laugh. "Incredible? It was like a ghost possessed her."

Ruelle allowed herself a small, nervous smile, though it was hidden behind her mask. Her earlier confidence felt like a thin veneer over her fear. "Let’s just hope we don’t run into anyone who actually knows the D’Arvelles," she murmured quietly.

"We’re definitely tonight’s appetiser," Kevin muttered, tugging at his collar.

"Celia," Hailey said, testing her fake name with a grin. "I like it. Very elegant."

"Let’s keep moving," Ruelle urged softly, her voice calm despite the knot tightening in her stomach.

a pair of grand doors loomed ahead, their dark wood carved with intricate, curling patterns of roses and serpents. The hum of voices and clinking glasses grew louder, mingling with the music as it

her throat. The doors stood as an invitation and a warning, their carved roses and serpents seeming to whisper promises

crimson hues of the roses that adorned every corner. The faint strains of

floor. The dress hugged her frame like an heirloom, its intricate beading catching the flicker of candlelight. She felt the weight of countless gazes on her, dissecting, assessing, prying. Her heart thudded, but she kept

grace of the vampires

the only one who feels like a

aren’t alone," Ruelle replied, her voice carrying an edge. She could feel the weight of too many gazes

corner, where a figure caught her attention.

Lucian.

a ruler holding court. The dark wine in his glass swirled slowly

like polished rubies, their laughter melodic yet clear. Male vampires with aristocratic sneers exchanged words in low tones, clearly trying to gain Lucian’s favor. He listened with an air

him. The faint curl of his lips bordered with cruel amusement, the kind that whispered he could

her mask, through her

passed. Lucian’s gaze slid away, his expression unchanging, his attention returning to the

out a

coming over here?" Kevin’s tense whisper jolted Ruelle back to

"Who?" Hailey’s voice wavered.

a voice dripped with honeyed malice sliced through the hum of the

tightened as her gaze landed on Alanna. The vampiress moved with predatory grace, her ruby lips curving into a

notice your grand entrance," Alanna said, her tone smooth and honeyed. Her gaze swept over Ruelle’s midnight-blue gown, lingering on the intricate beading and rich fabric. "That

gown clung to her like a fragile lie, its elegance drawing exactly the kind of attention she wanted to avoid. She forced herself to breathe

Ruelle said softly, her tone laced with just enough arrogance to

the corner of her lips curling. She remarked, "How curious—I’ve never seen you before. And I

jaw twitched, his body coiled as though preparing to intervene. They were balancing on a knife’s edge, and one wrong move could

gaze, Ruelle replied, "That’s because we have never met before. I don’t frequent your kind’s

her words gave them an edge. For a moment, Alanna’s expression darkened, her ruby eyes narrowing. She recovered quickly, her practiced smile sliding back into place. "Your kind? How intriguing.

replied smoothly, his voice carrying the perfect blend of

surprise. Her smile deepened, but it carried no warmth. "How unexpected. I was

discretion. We simply prefer to avoid unnecessary spectacle," Ruelle

faltering ever so slightly. She murmured, "How intriguing. Strange, though—I’ve attended countless court gatherings and never once heard of the

I am sure

a maid appeared with

softly, her voice trembling just enough to

tray with carelessness. The wine glasses toppled, crimson liquid splattering across the maid’s apron and face.

light and cruel. "How clumsy. Humans truly

knees, hurriedly gathering the fallen glasses. Alanna nudged one with the tip of

her to step forward, to pull the maid to her feet and wipe away the stain of humiliation, but the weight of their fragile facade anchored her in place. Her chest burned with the effort to restrain

Ruelle, her smirk widening. "Don’t you agree? Humans are so... graceless. Tiresome,

and answered, "Grace isn’t defined by one’s station, milady. It’s defined

tone brittle. "But I find it curious—your insistence on defending such lowly creatures.

nature. Or do you believe cruelty

of sips from her glass. Kevin’s jaw twitched, his eyes darting to the

has been... enlightening," Alanna said with a practiced smile. "Until

replied, her voice even but

her minions trailing behind like shadows. As the tension in the air eased, Kevin let out a low whistle, leaning towards Ruelle and he said, "That was...

still pounding in her chest. She prayed the vampiress wouldn’t delve too deeply into the fabricated existence of the D’Arvelles. A prickle of unease brushed the back of her neck. Somewhere in the crowd, she felt the weight of

absolutely loving this,

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