Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 80: Where mercy ends and begins

Ruelle's heart continued to beat loudly in her chest as she met Lucian's dark red eyes that were too calm in contrast to the man groaning behind her. To think she had earlier hoped not to run into a dangerous vampire, forgetting that the ones she had grown accustomed to sat far higher on the ladder of predators.

And though deep down she had already known, her lips still parted, trembling as she said, "T–There's an injured man."

"I know," came the cool and collected voice of Lucian. His gaze shifted past her briefly, assessing something behind her, while her own eyes drifted away from his lethal face and noticed the drops of blood splattered on his collar and sleeves, along with his gloves.

She then heard him exhale slowly, the sound restrained rather than weary. He asked her, "Weren't you supposed to head home?"

Ruelle found it difficult to pay attention to him with the person behind her bleeding and groaning in pain.

"I—the tailor wanted to take my measurements and I stayed behind," she explained, her voice unsteady. "Mr. S said you would collect me…"

Lucian's hand suddenly shot towards her, pulling her in his direction. Her breath hitched briefly as they switched positions. He remarked dryly, "My brother appears to believe I possess a talent for sensing where you wander."

When Ruelle looked down, she caught the man trying to crawl closer than she had noticed earlier. She swallowed and asked, forcing the words past the tightness in her throat,

"Why did you do that to him?"

There was no reason to ask if he had done it when the signs were clear. Ruelle had seen Lucian fight before. She knew well enough that if he wished, he could have ended the man's life instantly. Instead, he had chosen something cruel, something that would last a lifetime.

"Because he earned it," Lucian replied, his tone detached. When he turned away from her, there was a faint tension in the line of his shoulders as though he hadn't imagined her to witness this scene.

He crouched before the bleeding human with controlled ease.

The man screamed when Lucian bent two of the man's fingers backwards. The sound was sharp and ugly, making Ruelle flinch. There was no one to witness the man's pain except for the two of them.

"Did winning the hunt make you think you were suddenly invincible," Lucian asked calmly, "that you thought this was a clever hour to wander through town?" His question was not rude but it carried a tinge of displeasure in it.

"No…" Ruelle winced as another finger snapped. "I was looking for you. I thought you were there."

Lucian didn't answer but for a fraction of a second, the pressure on the man's hand eased as though her words had intruded where they weren't meant to before he broke the last finger.

The man collapsed into incoherent sounds. All that time, Ruelle stood frozen, realising that making Lucian an enemy was a fate worse than death. She then mustered courage, asking softly,

"Why?"

When Lucian finally straightened, he turned to her with his gaze searching her face. He caught the fear dancing in her eyes, her lips trembling. His lips set in a thin line.

"Why?" he repeated, his head tilting slightly. "Are you wondering whether you should be afraid to sleep under the same roof as the bloodthirsty monster who hunts down humans?"

her head and tried to hold her voice, "You must have had a reason… and technically, we all sleep under the same roof at

brief silence, "Over the years, some of the pureblooded households have been erased entirely because of people like him. Killing people who have nothing to do with what they

into the dark alley which was covered in shadows. And then it hit her. There

that answer

beneath her skin didn't stop. She had never seen anything like this before

his mother

had never faded. Humans now shrank from vampires, while some vampires despised humans in return because it was told that the humans were the ones who had started it in an attempt

he said, already turning

"What about him…?"

remove what's left. You don't need

if he wanted to be

a carriage that passed by them, with the sound of its wheels fading after a few seconds. Ruelle kept her gaze fixed ahead, aware

Carcas's shop and informed her, "I need to

covered, lanterns dimmed. Mr. Carcas, who pushed the counter drawer

"Your order is ready." He retrieved a small, neatly wrapped parcel from the side table and handed it to Lucian. The pureblooded vampire looked at it briefly. The shopkeeper stated, "The colour and

a small leather pouch, placing it into Mr. Carcas' waiting palm. The soft jingle of coins

"Thank you," Lucian said.

with a respectful bow. Then his attention shifted to Ruelle and he bowed his head. "Miss Belmont, have

returned the bow, her eyes briefly flicking to the

shop. Lucian paused briefly behind her, pulling off his bloodied gloves and dropping them into the bin by the wall before he followed

lamp post, with the lantern

brown eyes finally moved to look at him where his face was mostly hidden by shadow and she heard

look unwell," his voice didn't raise

the side of her face. She murmured, "It

Instead, he extended the small package towards

drew together as

thought he was serious until he added, "My brother has given his share. I am giving mine for upholding the

to…" Ruelle said, as a gown was already in preparation for her. "If you hadn't helped

look crossing his

"What happened to gifts turning

a moment before replying, "They do. Which

package lighter than she

turning his gaze

to feel something soft. She then pulled out a dark, woollen scarf. The wool's texture was finer than she had ever possessed, as if it was made to last many years. On a closer

wishing for something warm and here it was in her hands. She looked back

I will take good care