Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 56: The Weight of Small Things

Ruelle could still feel the dull throb and heat emanating from her ear—and it wasn’t from the needle. It was from where Lucian’s fang had sunk in.

Her fingers hesitantly brushed against the spot, feeling the faint, lingering warmth. It wasn’t painful, yet something about it felt... different. Like a whisper of something foreign beneath her skin, something that didn’t quite belong to her.

Outside, the rain drummed softly against the windowpane, a steady rhythm against the cold stone walls.

She hadn’t expected him to bite her. Had it been necessary? To scare her, maybe. A flush crept up her neck, and she forced herself to shake the thought away. It wasn’t a big deal. Vampires bit people all the time. Still, she found herself watching him as he stood.

Clearing her throat, she murmured, "Thank you."

Lucian barely glanced at her.

"Don’t mention it," his tone was so nonchalant that for a brief moment, she wondered if it had even happened at all.

The candle on the chair flickered as he moved away, his presence still heavy in the air.

Ruelle exhaled and turned towards the long mirror. Opening the small velvet box, she studied the earrings her instructor had given her.

Tiny diamonds. Small enough to be unassuming, yet still undeniably expensive for someone like her. How generous though, she thought to herself. For all that Sexton demanded from humans, its generosity in return felt almost calculated.

Would they even be allowed to keep them after the assignment was assessed? Or was this another reminder of their place—something to give, something to take away? She sighed internally. It didn’t matter.

She reached up, guiding the first earring toward her ear—

"Don’t."

The word sliced through the silence of the room, sharp enough to make her fingers still mid-air. She blinked, her gaze snapping toward Lucian in the mirror. Slowly, she turned to face him fully.

"...What?" Ruelle asked him.

Lucian leaned back slightly in his chair, stretching his long legs out in front of him, his posture impossibly unbothered. His dark eyes flickered briefly to her ear before settling back on her reflection.

"The piercing is fresh," he said, his tone casual, as if discussing the weather. "It could get infected."

Ruelle blinked, thrown off by the unexpected concern. No, that wasn’t the right word. For a moment, she almost nodded in agreement. It was true—some of the other students had been dealing with bruised, swollen piercings. Some had even had infections.

"But I need to wear them for the test," she pointed out.

Lucian, whose fingers had reached for a book near him, paused. He didn’t look at her. Instead, he let the silence stretch between them, before he finally asked, "And?"

Ruelle frowned slightly. "And... everyone else is wearing theirs."

exhale, before swivelling in his

he flatly said, "Isn’t it

the earring in her palm. The insult crawled under her skin,

disbelief sitting

knew

heard me," Lucian

There was mockery woven beneath every syllable. Like she wasn’t even worth a proper insult. Not worthy. Not good enough. Her nails dug into her palm,

to force it down. She demanded, "So then why did

if mildly amused. She saw him lean back

piercing

you had a chance?" He taunted her, with his gaze flicking up to hers. "Now where

Ruelle thought to herself. The worst part was that he said it so smoothly, that she couldn’t even tell if it was a lie. Or if he

to his words. Feeling hurt, which she tried to hide while her voice

she turned on her heel and stormed toward the door so that she could

hallways are particularly safe this time

I wouldn’t want to give you another satisfaction," Ruelle muttered before stepping out of the

of humiliation didn’t disappear. Lucian’s words shouldn’t have hurt, because he didn’t know her. But those words had been

a Belmont," her father’s voice echoed in the back of her head. "A

breath coming unsteady. Her eyes prickled, but she fought the familiar

thought Lucian was

she expected kindness from him. She wasn’t foolish enough to think that. But after he had helped her most of the times, some part of her had believed that maybe, just maybe he wasn’t like

weight of the week’s tests had finally lifted, Ruelle returned to

endless pages of

actually look lovely," she hummed, tilting her head this way and that, watching the tiny diamonds catch the light. "Though, it was awful

on the couch and asked, "Why would you tell her to go slow? That’s the worst thing you could

easing into the pain would help!" Hailey flailed dramatically, then sighed, flicking a loose curl over her shoulder. "But all I

shaking her head. "I guess there’s no easy way

maybe we have it easier," Hailey continued to speak while Ruelle had stepped towards her desk. "You know, I heard some of the students are going down to the river tomorrow. It’s supposed to

Ruelle acknowledged as her fingers brushed over the parchment, books,

"I still can’t believe they gave us diamonds. Even if they’re

Her stomach tensed slightly. It should be here. She was certain she had

no, it has to

observed, her voice

box," Ruelle admitted loudly

take it with you this morning?" Hailey

shook her

"Are you sure?"

mind. "I’m going