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 were spreading a contagious illness. For the briefest second, her eyes squeezed shut. Then came the sound of water shifting, lapping softly. A whisper of movement grew nearer until the shadow of a

to spare her from the embarrassment. However, when

aged wine, shadowed and unreadable, locking with

her mind whispered

startling her with its warmth. It carried the scent of old smoke, wild pine, and the

broke through, low

speak with her words lodged in

another word, his black-gloved hand closed firmly over her arm, but not cruelly. He pulled her from the

clenched. Her fingers curled at her sides, nails nearly pressing into her palm. Her lip

skin. She could feel Lucian’s presence beside her was silent and unyielding. His gloved hand still firm on her arm, anchoring her

reached the bank, he didn’t release her arm. Instead, he led her towards his horse. Her legs felt unsteady right now, but she pressed into each step—fear, mortification, and something deep in her chest urging her to

the scent of the saddle’s leather mingling with the chill in the air. His

hesitated, her wet dress trailing behind her, until his shadow fell over her again. His gaze flicked to hers—brooding, unreadable, but

Alanna’s voice echoed, unable to resist not voicing out her opinions. "You don’t need to lower yourself

heat prickling beneath her skin at Alanna’s

spoke, "Perhaps you should

them. Was Lucian

lips before saying, "But she with

you to know it’s natural," his voice dropped to an

Alanna’s scorn drained leaving her cheeks bright scarlet. A few of the watching

offer her his gloved hand. Hesitantly 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 own saddle. Soon he nudged the horse forward, leading her away from

them said,