Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 54: A Pinprick of Fear

The dining hall doors groaned as they swung shut behind Ruelle and Hailey, swallowing the lingering chatter within.

The rain from the previous evening had not stopped. It pattered softly against the stone pathways, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and candle wax from the candle holders lining the walls. The cold clung to her skin, slipping beneath her sweater as she pulled it tighter around herself.

As they turned the corner, she caught movement of a blurry figure lingering at the forest’s edge. But the next second the figure vanished. Her steps faltered. Had she imagined it? It was probably the shadows playing tricks at night.

"—if I fail the Cultural Studies test tomorrow, I swear, I’ll throw myself into the lake," Hailey declared dramatically, flinging her arms up. "Mr. Lundy has it out for me. I just know it."

Ruelle hummed absentmindedly in agreement, her gaze lingering on the spot where the figure had vanished.

"Are you even listening to me?"

She turned to find Hailey squinting at her in suspicion, arms now crossed.

"You are making that face again," her friend accused.

Ruelle blinked. "What face?"

"The one where it looks like your soul has left your body to go on a very long journey."

A small laugh left Ruelle. "Not too far," she assured her, before adding, "Mr. Lundy wants everyone to fail tomorrow. Fewer students make for lighter grading. I’ll keep the boat ready for us."

She forced a smile at Hailey’s teasing, but her thoughts were already slipping elsewhere—back to last night’s conversation.

My mother was murdered by humans.

She had replayed those words too many times, trying to understand. How could a lord’s wife be murdered?

Lucian was not a person who wore grief the way others did. He did not let it weigh his shoulders or tremble in his voice. Instead, it had hardened into something else entirely. His hatred was not a wound that bled—it was a scar that would never fade.

And right now, it was justified.

Yet something about it unsettled her.

She barely noticed when they wandered past the main building until Hailey looped their arms together and tugged her forward.

"I miss home more than usual today," Hailey murmured, her voice quieter now. "And to think we still have another week before we can return."

Ruelle tilted her head slightly. "You sound like you haven’t written to them in a while."

"Oh, I have," Hailey sighed. "But I haven’t received a response so far. It is just that every time it rains, we huddle before the fireplace. Mother would massage my head, and I’d fall asleep right there."

A faint smile touched Ruelle’s lips. "That sounds... peaceful."

"It is." Hailey’s expression softened. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, she asked, "What about you, Ruelle? Looking forward to going home?"

The question was light, but there was something careful about the way Hailey said it.

Ruelle didn’t answer immediately. Her gaze flickered down to the cobblestones, then back up. She smiled.

"Of course. I haven’t seen them since Caroline got married. Ezekiel mentioned a family dinner."

"Oh, I see..." Hailey nodded, but Ruelle caught the flicker of doubt in her expression.

could ask more, a commotion ahead caught

gaze and saw servants carrying furniture—heavy, expensive-looking pieces. Chairs,

a room," Ruelle murmured, watching as a servant carefully

stepped closer, they overheard two servants

spotless. The prince will be arriving in less than two weeks, and there shouldn’t

the prince coming here

to make sure everything is to the prince’s liking before

conversation faded as the servants disappeared inside. Hailey let out a slow breath. "Did you hear that? The

her eyebrows

be in the

lightly," Ruelle chuckled before quickly looking at the corridor to make sure there wasn’t any Elite to

you blame me? He is a prince. Can you imagine

person, I assume," Ruelle hummed

her chest. "I am sure he

the truth was, she was curious too. What business did a prince have at Sexton? And why did it feel like the entire academy was preparing for something far bigger than a simple royal visit? Was he coming here to see how the establishment was run?

chance you have caught a glimpse of him in the past?" Hailey asked curiously, forgetting they had to get

her head. She then said, "My family hasn’t mingled with the Elites, less

only imagine the women going crazy over this news! Just think about it. The competition is going to be bad. Once the prince arrives, all the girls will want to earn his

doubt he’ll be interested in any of

and seduction. Of course, he’d want a wife—or at least

should study harder for tomorrow’s test. I can only guess the prince would want someone who is well versed with the

right. I should focus. Marrying a prince would be quite the accomplishment." Then,

about me?" Ruelle asked

the

think I am

prince won’t look your way?" Before Ruelle could refuse, Hailey grabbed her arm. "Say it! Say you’ll capture the

laughed, shaking her off. "I will absolutely

the conversation, she felt the air

the corridor ahead. It was Lucian,

Ruelle immediately straightened.

an evening stroll?" Blake asked as they neared them with a polite

Ruelle," Sawyer waved at

were around. Ruelle offered them a bow, while being aware of Lucian’s

quickly hurried out of there. "I mean your roommate,"

She knew Lucian could be... difficult for someone looking from outside. But she had grown used to him and his brooding silences. That didn’t mean she was used to

you think they heard us?" Hailey

They don’t care about where

me," her friend

rooms were which was mostly quiet. Ruelle exhaled, the coolness of the night brushing against her

"Ruelle! Hailey!"

stillness, pulling them both from their

sound, they saw Kevin making his way towards them from the opposite hallway. The dim lighting couldn’t quite hide the slight stiffness in his movements,

until he was close enough that Ruelle caught

inquired, while Ruelle’s eyes

bit..."

and Elite vampiress’s help in the evening, and she almost drained me," he gave

with worry. "Are you

still tender from the vampiress’s fangs stuck in there. "It’ll just... take some getting