Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 60: When Eyes Turned to Her

She hadn’t hurt herself. At least, not enough to bleed like this. Nor had she crushed some fish under her feet. Perhaps the riverbed beneath her stirred something murky? Ruelle’s thoughts flickered wildly, grasping at logic, but the deeper side of her mind told her it was something else.

Most of the other women began inching away. Not with panic, but with a quiet unease, skirts gathered in hands, eyes darting to the water as if it might touch them. A ripple of separation formed, and Ruelle stood at its centre.

The blood oozed a metallic scent into the air, primarily attracting the attention of the Halflings. They stepped closer to the bank, their predatory instincts flickering in their eyes.

A loud voice spoke through the hush.

"Well, well, well. How thoughtful—you’ve turned the river into your personal washbasin. Some of us were actually enjoying it," Alanna remarked mockingly, confirming the suspicion.

The vampiress had returned from the hunt after falling flat on her face thanks to the horse that threw her on the ground. But people didn’t need to know that. She instead stood proudly, giving a disdainful look at the lowly human. "How unpleasant."

The truth dawned on Ruelle. It was her time. One that marked the irreversible shift into womanhood.

And now, under the scrutiny of dozens of eyes, she wished nothing more than to disappear beneath the surface of the water and let the river swallow her whole. She couldn’t move. Her hands gripped the sides of her skirt, knuckles pale, heart pounding in her throat.

"How mortifying," someone murmured with judgement. "She must be dim-witted not to keep track of her own time. Why step into the water at all?"

"Perhaps she wanted the attention," stated a Halfling vampiress, who was more than pleased to drag Ruelle through dirt.

The men who had been stealing glances at Ruelle earlier, thinking about introducing themselves, now wore flushed faces of awkward embarrassment. Even Kevin, drenched and carefree moments ago, now appeared frozen—jaw slack, eyes wide.

Hailey noticed how everyone around them behaved. She was just about to step forward, to reach out to her friend, when a sharp splash of water cut through the silence.

She didn’t want to risk seeing people leave the river as if she were spreading a contagious illness. For the briefest second, her eyes squeezed

spare her from the embarrassment. However, when she finally lifted her gaze, she

man before her had raven-black hair and eyes the colour of aged wine, shadowed and unreadable,

her mind

The wool grazed her bare elbow, startling her

through, low

with her words lodged

but not cruelly. He pulled her from

fell over the crowd. Whispers slithered through the onlookers. Their expressions were a mixture of shock and awe. Alanna’s jaw clenched. Her fingers curled at her sides, nails nearly pressing into her palm. Her lip lifted in a sneer, and her flared nostrils quivered with restrained outrage. Why was he rescuing her?! She was a lowly, worthless human. He didn’t have to involve himself with that

heavy to her skin. She could feel Lucian’s presence beside her was silent and unyielding.

led her towards his horse. Her legs felt unsteady right now, but she pressed into each step—fear,

the scent of the saddle’s leather mingling with the chill in the air. His hand left her arm gently, but she still felt the imprint

softly. She hesitated, her wet dress trailing behind her, until his shadow fell over

resist not voicing out her opinions. "You don’t need to lower yourself for a human like her. It is dirty

prickling beneath her skin at Alanna’s

tone remained calm as he spoke, "Perhaps you should brush the mud from your skirt—after

them. Was Lucian defending

her lips before saying, "But

it’s natural," his voice dropped to an icy murmur.

A few of the watching students stifled smiles. Some even chuckled softly

she placed her hand in his. A tremor of fear and trust passed through her. He lifted her with ease and set her on the horse before swinging into his

moment they vanished from view, the forest buzzed back. One of them said, "I thought Lucian despised humans," someone whispered, barely