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."

steps faltering. "I think he did

lips quirked in a knowing smile. "Perhaps. But consider this—he never wanted a roommate, especially not a human one. Did

Don’t test it," Lucian’s voice echoed in her

hasn’t cost you your life yet. Just because my brother left you to share my room, I have no intention of

warnings when she’d first come to Sexton. Still, moving rooms felt like an overreaction for what happened tonight. She shook her head lightly

would like to stay here."

it didn’t quite reach his eyes and

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

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

not completed the piercing requirement yet. I could help—it’d only take a moment. I have something that

quickly. "I’ll manage,

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

slowly, unsure how to respond.

"We’re past formalities, don’t

hesitated before

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

she replied, slipping inside and

through

of investment and resources. They were part of the new recruitment

mention two Elites—one dead, the other barely clinging to life," another added, his tone

the slightly ajar door.

the air seemed to grow colder in his presence. "I want the new recruitment efforts in motion

a small bow. "I’ll start at first

remained. "We cannot afford to let the academy falter now. King Septimus has expressed his intent to send the prince to study here for a short time. When he arrives next month, I expect him to find everything in perfect order. No

the headmaster finally stepped out. Mr. Oak’s presence seemed to command

layered with authority. "Your father must be very proud. It is not every day one sees a son of Lord Azriel demonstrating such exceptional

replied evenly, meeting the headmaster’s piercing grey eyes

well," Oak replied, his smile curving just enough to expose the faintest glint of his fangs. "It is rare for someone so

head slightly, accepting the compliment without offering much in

example—are being accessed

a faint smile curving his lips.

departed, his shadow seemed to stretch unnaturally long, lingering even after he disappeared down the corridor. Dane, who had stepped out of the

for resources, or is someone special weighing on

eyes narrowed. "Drop

"Ah, always so

though her focus wavered. She sighed softly, her fingers gripping the edge of her notes. She scanned the same

seated at his own desk with rays of sunlight passing

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

it was obvious that he had it all,

creatures who thrived on privilege and power, floating effortlessly through life. Yet Lucian shattered that image. His determination was etched into every

didn’t just excel. He demanded

Lucian’s quill paused for a fraction 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

stretched, except for the faint rustle of pages and the scratch

hadn’t allowed herself to admit. Vampires like Lucian weren’t just predators—they were also competitors. And right now, she

began with the ring of the bell, signaling the start of the tests. They filled into the hall, and took their seats. Hours later, as the students

was a back page?" he asked Hailey, his

furrowed. "Yes, the essay question.

heart sank as she noticed the faint resistance between the pages. Gritting her teeth, she carefully pried them apart. Two pages—stuck together. Her breath hitched as the missed questions stared back

few scattered voices

pages were stuck together