Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 71: A Seat Among Predators

Lord Azriel's words were neither loud nor sharp. Yet they prompted quiet snickers along the table with guests relishing the joke at Ruelle's expense.

Hearing the lord address her as a gardener, Ruelle's fingers froze around her fork. Heat crept up her neck as she felt the eyes along the table, which were polite, curious and cruel. Of all the people sitting here, the Slater family had reason to despise her kind as the lord's wife had been killed by human hands. Still, she hadn't expected it.

"It seems you are collecting job offers tonight, Ruelle. First a cobbler, now a gardener," Dane drawled with a grin. He then turned to his father and asked, "Though I'm curious, Father. When did you witness Ruelle's talent of gardening?"

"She looks far too lovely to muddy her hands," Lady Maxine stated with a chuckle, who sat beside Ruelle.

Lord Azriel, who took a sip of the blood wine responded, "I could have sworn I heard a different name earlier this evening."

Ruelle's eyes widened with realisation. He had caught her pouring his expensive wine into one of his plant pots. "I—didn't mean to do that," she tried to explain and attempted a smile that only wavered at the edges.

"You shouldn't pour things when you do not know," came Lord Azriel's curt response as he set his glass down. Some of the guests wondered what he meant. "In gardens and in rooms, a misplaced pour ruins more than it feeds."

When Ruelle's eyes turned to Lucian, his eyes were already on hers. At the same time, he picked up his knife and fork, the metal catching the chandelier's light. She looked away before her gaze dropped to her reflection trembling in the water she raised to her lips.

"With respect, Father," Dane said at last, perfectly unbothered, "she's here as my guest."

"Guests from Sexton come with bonds," Azriel replied, his tone still mild. "Bringing her here today, do you intend to redeem her for yourself?"

Ruelle coughed, the water burning her throat. She dabbed at her lips with a napkin.

"Tempting," Dane murmured thoughtfully. "Some of my cousins enjoy their attachments. But my hands are rather full this season." His eyes flicked before him. "The opposite chair, however, looks bare. Perhaps my brother's evenings are freer than mine."

Lucian's knife halted mid-stroke. "Keep your amusements to yourself," he replied, not looking up. The blade resumed its work, though his knuckles had whitened against the handle. "Guests are not merchandise."

"Of course not," Dane said amused, turning his glass lazily in his fingers before meeting his brother's eyes. "You wound me, Lucian. I don't collar guests."

But by his tone and the glint in his eyes, it was hard for anyone to believe that. A ripple of chuckles was heard from the table.

"She's here under her own will. I only offered a seat not a chain. Isn't that right, Ruelle?" Dane stated as he turned to glance at Ruelle, while his smile softened.

"Yes, Mr. S," she managed a smile. As the laughter resumed, she felt like she was being watched through glass.

Beside her, Lady Maxine asked Lucian, "How are the preparations coming for your council seat? Howard said the date has been set."

Lucian looked up, a flicker of attention softening his expression. "It is," he replied. "It's going well."

The vampiress smiled, pleased.

"I cannot wait for him to join the council," Minister Gaile said not far from where they sat. "Lucian has already helped me with plenty of cases in the past two years even though he's yet to join officially."

"You are generous, Minister Gaile. I merely lent some help where I could. The credit as always belongs to the experienced ones who have carried the weight of the council far longer than I have," Lucian responded with a small smile.

"He is too modest," Minister Gaile chuckled, saying it to the people sitting around him.

Ruelle found herself studying Lucian, remembering last weekend, when he sat with a thick book in the dining room. She doubted the other elite students worked with such quiet resolve. Her gaze drifted to Sawyer, who was laughing at something one of the guests had said.

"You must be at ease, Lord Azriel," commented a gentleman farther down the table. "Considering both your sons have never given you cause for worry. It is certain they will one day surpass the legacy the Slaters have built."

"They have been responsible and independent," Lord Azriel replied, his words laced with quiet pride.

"It is good to have two sons," an older vampire nodded his head slowly. "One who will step into the council and another who will inherit the title of lordship. Both are needed to keep the walls steady. Though I had thought the eldest might have benefited more from joining the council first. But an instructor at Sexton…especially teaching humans," he shook his head as if he found it absurd.

a high chair where much is too easily overlooked, Mr. Ackerley," Lord Azriel answered in a composed tone. It was clear that in his eyes, his sons were his

lord might have regarded his son's position as an instructor as a step beneath his rank, yet Lord Azriel

agreed one of the middle-aged vampiresses, her eyes bright with curiosity. "Dane will inherit the estate and he must learn its reins. But will there

too young to think of wedding bells. And alas, there aren't many like you,

her hand. She went on, "But one needs a partner to bear and continue the lineage." Then her eyebrows furrowed in thought before she commented, "Weren't you once betrothed? Or was it

Most of them looked unaware about it, while there were a few who had already heard it as if

Azriel's voice was calm

moment, the sound

darted to Lucian, finding it strange to imagine him promised to someone. The same pureblooded vampire whose icy glare could freeze anyone. What kind of woman had been meant for him? One of their kind, no doubt. A woman of power, grace and old family lineage,

didn't seem pleased with the intruding question about the Slater family's personal affairs. Ruelle noticed the faintest tightness near his jaw, which only one who had closely watched would

"Things like marriage should be thought

is right. There's no need to be hasty about it," Lord Azriel

with a smile,

She wondered what caused the betrothal to fall apart. But soon her thoughts drifted to what time it was and her eyes moved across the room in search of

room been prepared?" Lady Maxine

his hand to

Ruelle insisted quickly. "I should head

be impolite but unsafe. You should stay the night. I promise that no one will dare

to take his jest lightly or not. She had only intended to stay for the celebration

she

look in his eyes was unmistakable, as

the silent exchange between Ruelle and Lucian. She said thoughtfully, "Dane is right. It's unsafe to travel alone at this hour, especially with the recent deaths

stay, Ruelle. It's

drawled cheerfully. "Everyone wants you to stay.

Ruelle's eyes widened and she shook her head. The vampiress

smile, but something

conversation had quietened along with the dinner almost complete, a servant bent close to Lord Azriel and whispered something in his ear. The lord gave a brief nod and rose from

I trust the rest of you will enjoy the evening," he announced

Azriel," several voices chimed

after him,

Ruelle, it was the first time she had ever seen a lord this close and she couldn't help but follow him with her gaze until he stepped away from the dining

polite farewells. The younger ones leaned back

reach out to the nearest human servant, pulling the woman onto his lap. In less than two seconds, his fangs sank

see you haven't chained your pet, Angelina," remarked a vampiress with lips painted

be on Oliver, who unlike her now stood near

and she asked,

raised their glass and said, "To tomorrow's hunt. It's always the finest at the

Slaters never disappoint," another

same animals?" a young vampire asked, lounging in his chair. "Perhaps it is time we made the sport

eyes. "And how do you

of course. Instead of animals,

his eyes before saying, "That's

is simple. Each of us sends our chosen human into the forest tomorrow morning. The rule: no killing. A

to question who would be taking part in tomorrow's hunt. But before more could be spoken, Lucian who

a waste of everyone's amusement and time." His words had everyone's heads turn in his direction. He pointed out, "Humans are slow. Clumsy. They would be caught before they even had a chance to run. You might as well drag them by a leash through the

fully

where we make it interesting. The humans will ride on horses while we will hunt on foot," Renard's smirk

their eyes

will be your kind of sport," a vampiress tried to appease