Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 51: Climbing without threads

The weight of the borrowed boots on Ruelle’s feet tugged at her steps, the oversized leather strange as she focused on walking steadily. It wasn’t until a gentle pressure on her arm that she noticed Ezekiel’s hand resting there lightly.

"Mr. Henley," Ruelle said softly, while pulling the mask from her face. She glanced down at the faint outline of his hand against her sleeve, her tone edged with polite warmth. "I think it’s alright now. There’s no one around to notice."

Ezekiel turned his gaze to her, pausing briefly before murmuring, "Of course."

He withdrew his hand slowly, his fingertips brushing her sleeve as though reluctant to part, lingering just a fraction too long. As they continued to walk, Ezekiel couldn’t help but stare at her. Something about her appearance reminded him of her scent that night he had hugged her, the hesitant warmth of her presence. The memory burned like a brand.

"They don’t suit you, you know," Ezekiel said casually, his voice breaking the quiet.

"What doesn’t?" Ruelle asked, her voice soft but curious.

"The boots," he said, his lips curving into an almost-smile. "You should leave them here. No one will fault you."

Ruelle glanced down at the oversized boots. They were awkward and heavy, a stark contrast to her delicate frame. Still, she shook her head lightly, her tone thoughtful. "I can’t. Leaving them behind would be rude when I need to return them to Lucian."

Ezekiel’s expression didn’t falter, but his eyes darkened, the shift so subtle it could have been imagined. "How selfless of him," he murmured, his tone low.

As they rounded a corner, and Ruelle’s gaze caught movement ahead. Kevin and Hailey stood at the far end of the corridor, their faces pale but relieved upon seeing her. Kevin met Ruelle’s eyes, his glance flicking briefly to Ezekiel before returning to her, a silent question lingering in his gaze. She gave him the faintest nod. Without a word, the pair disappeared from sight.

Ezekiel’s gaze followed hers. "Is everything alright?" he asked.

"No," Ruelle said quickly, her smile returning, soft and reassuring. "It’s nothing."

"Ruelle, as your guardian here, I feel it’s my responsibility to ask... Did someone force you to attend the soiree? Was it Lucian?"

Ruelle blinked at the question, her brows drawing together. "No," she replied, her tone firm but confused. "It wasn’t like that. My friends and I wanted to go. It was our idea."

Ezekiel exhaled softly, his disappointment evident despite the faint smile on his lips. "Your parents wouldn’t approve of such things," he said, his voice steady but tinged with reproach. "If they knew..."

"My parents sent me here knowing I’d be surrounded by vampires," Ruelle interrupted gently, her polite tone holding an edge of weariness. "A small soiree shouldn’t be a surprise to them. They would probably be glad that I’m making connections."

Ezekiel’s expression softened as they walked, though his tone carried a calculated weight. "You know, Ruelle," he began, glancing ahead as if speaking carefully, "it’s admirable how you’ve managed so far because I was truly worried. But it’s easy to forget just how dangerous things can get here."

"Are you talking about... tonight’s incident?" Ruelle asked, with her footsteps faltering for a moment.

"In part," Ezekiel replied, a faint sigh escaping his lips. "But I was thinking more broadly. The Elite students. For instance your roommate." He let the words hang in the air, watching for her reaction out of the corner of his eye.

Ruelle tilted her head, unsure where he was going with this. "Lucian?"

Ezekiel’s smile thinned, and he said, "Lucian, and others like him. They’re powerful, Ruelle. Too powerful. When I was a student here, the Elites didn’t think twice about putting people like me in our place. Humiliation was their currency. Even now, as a faculty member, their sense of superiority hasn’t wavered."

"Did something happen when you were here?" Ruelled frowned.

Ezekiel gave a short, humorless laugh. "Let’s just say I learned quickly that no matter how hard I worked, how much I tried to blend in, I was always... beneath them. You can’t trust people who believe they’re inherently better than you."

"Lucian hasn’t—" Ruelle stopped herself, unsure how to finish. Lucian hadn’t done anything to make her feel unwelcome, but Ezekiel’s words planted a small thorn of doubt. Lucian Slater was, after all, an Elite.

"Perhaps not yet," Ezekiel said smoothly, catching her hesitation.

"I don’t think he’s like that," Ruelle replied, though her voice lacked the certainty she wanted to convey.

Ezekiel’s gaze lingered on her, his tone soft but deliberate. "Someone like Lucian walking barefoot through the cold for a Groundling? It’s not in his nature, Ruelle. Elites act for their own reasons, never for charity."

think he

never wanted a roommate, especially not a human one. Did something happen

worn thin, Belmont. Don’t test

because my brother left you to share my room, I have no intention of rescuing you every time you decide to stumble

concern sounded genuine, and his words echoed the warnings when she’d first come to Sexton. Still, moving rooms felt like an overreaction for what happened tonight. She shook her

you, but I think for now I would like to stay here." There were people like Alanna, who were still after

reach his eyes and

faint smile softening the sharp intensity of his gaze, "they’ve returned from their vacation. They mentioned wanting to have dinner together

doorframe. "Maybe next weekend," she said finally. "I

The tests." His gaze dropped to her ears. "You’ve not completed the piercing requirement yet. I could help—it’d only take a moment. I have something that numbs the

quickly. "I’ll manage,

"Fairness aside, you’re important to me, Ruelle. Your safety

unsure how to respond. "Thank

corrected gently. "We’re past formalities,

hesitated before

he let it fall to his side, his smile fading into something unreadable. "As you

slipping inside

in the faculty hall was heavy with unspoken tension. The sharp, clipped tones of the instructors reverberated through the

waste of investment and resources. They were part

Elites—one dead, the other barely clinging to life," another added, his tone sharp with frustration. "This will

the slightly

air seemed to grow colder in his presence. "I want

Mortis replied with a small bow.

has expressed his intent to send

leave one by one, the headmaster finally stepped out. Mr. Oak’s presence seemed to command the hallway itself, his sharp gaze landing on Lucian like a hawk

layered with authority. "Your father must be very proud. It is not every day one

necessary," Lucian replied evenly, meeting

expose the faintest glint of his fangs. "It is rare

slightly, accepting the compliment without offering much in return.

matter that requires oversight. Some resources—potions, for example—are being accessed too freely. Without supervision, they risk being

curving his lips. "An interesting observation. I’ll

lingering even after he disappeared down the corridor. Dane, who had stepped out of

resources, or is

eyes narrowed. "Drop

sound. "Ah, always so cold,

her fingers gripping the edge of her notes. She scanned the same sentence for the third time, but the words refused to sink in.

was seated at his own desk with rays

than a passing obligation. Yet here he was, engrossed in a thick book, his dark red

like him, it was obvious that he had

power, floating effortlessly through life. Yet

didn’t just excel.

of a second, she quickly returned to her own work, her cheeks warming with embarrassment. He wasn’t just different—he was disciplined in a way that made her painfully aware of

rustle of pages and the scratch

allowed herself to admit. Vampires like Lucian weren’t just predators—they

filled into the hall, and took their seats.

was a back page?" he asked

her brow furrowed. "Yes, the essay

sheet, her fingers brushing against its edges. Something felt off. Her heart sank as she noticed the faint resistance between the pages. Gritting her teeth,

scattered voices among the students caught her

at it! My pages were stuck together too," one of