Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 86: Twenty days

Heat crept up Ruelle's neck and she shook her head too quickly.

"No. That is not—I do not…" Her words tangled between her tongue and worry. "I am not saving anything for him."

Did Lucian think she spoke with the prince to climb the social ladder? Someone desperate enough to cling to royalty?

"I wasn't trying to do anything like that," she went on despite him never asking. "Things just happened this morning. His hair was stuck in glue, he couldn't see, and I used oil—"

"Belmont."

The single word was enough to bring her words to a halt. His lips pressed into a thin line. Not in displeasure. He stated, "I wasn't accusing you. You don't have to explain yourself to me."

Ruelle's cheeks looked flushed as his intense gaze fixed itself on her. Yet, something quiet sat in her chest, tight and unspoken. The fear that had crawled in last night refused to disappear.

Against the music and the chatter, her lips moved, and though she didn't say it aloud, Lucian caught it. For a moment, something unreadable flickered across his expression.

'Are you… angry at me?' She didn't want him to resent her.

"Why is it that the first place your mind goes is self-blame?" Lucian's voice dropped a fraction, steady and unbearably calm. He raised his hand slightly between them. "Don't see yourself so poorly."

On the other side of the room, Prince Edward craned his neck and spotted Ruelle standing before Lord Slater's younger son. From his view, Lucian wore a severe expression as ever, while Ruelle had turned red. Edward's brows drew together.

"Instructor," he called out in earnest concern, gesturing dramatically for the vampiress to come to him quickly. "I think my partner is being scolded. She looks like she's about to cry."

"Prince Edward," the instructor replied flatly, giving him an exasperated look, "there are already several students crying. Perhaps Your Highness would like to arrange handkerchiefs for the entire class next time?"

"Of course, I can. Wait—are you being sarcastic?" Edward asked narrowing his eyes, but the instructor had already begun to walk towards a pair of students in the back, where one was limping. He turned to his attendant, "Hermes!"

"Yes, Prince?" The attendant bowed his head.

Edward raised his hand, drawing a line on his neck. He ordered, "See it be done."

The attendant reminded him, "Your Highness, the King has pardoned instructors and students, unless it is—"

"Do you want to die?"

"…me included." The attendant cleared his throat.

With the music filling the ballroom, Ruelle realised she had been standing quietly.

Before the ballroom instructor would notice them standing still, Ruelle lifted her hand and placed it into Lucian's. His palm was warm against hers, his fingers naturally folding around her hand.

like silk draping around them. Since she had no prior experience in this dance,

voice murmured, low enough it was

not to step on you," she whispered

her before he

him before he

Follow me," he said at

achy. Ruelle's fingers tightened around Lucian's shoulder slightly

loud or overwhelming. It was steady, drawing her into a rhythm she didn't know she had the ability to follow. She stepped back as he advanced, then

the hall filling with chatter, laughter and tension, she found

last evening. For

me for that. It should never have happened to you in the first

she said

She murmured, "Maybe if people knew the Crown Prince and

behave better," Lucian said quietly. "They just get better

nodded faintly, as though she already knew and she sighed. She murmured more to herself, "Sometimes I wonder if things will

do you want to change?" Lucian's tone turned

smiled and added, "Hailey said I finally have a shot in it

her. He

thought of Lucian moving with music. Lucian Slater belonged to the quiet shadows, to a world where warmth didn't dare exist unless he allowed it.

twirled her again, quicker this time. The world rushed in a blur of light, velvet walls

in guidance, her heartbeat stumbling as her body moved instinctively to his lead. And when he leaned forward and she bent back beneath his hold, the movement drew him into her world and stole the air from it. Her eyes

strands of hair that fell freely on his forehead were a perfect blend of untamed and carefully styled, suggesting both wildness and refinement. With his face hovering above hers, she traced

her and she rested

step carrying a sense of grace and latent power. Despite the rough edges that his appearance suggested, there was a certain elegance in the way he carried himself,

your stride is," he remarked in a nonchalant voice. "The

morning, the restlessness in her

will keep that in mind,"

music carried them into the next sequence. Somewhere

spiral their way, Lucian's hand tightened at Ruelle's waist and he drew her aside smoothly. The sudden movement had Ruelle's breath hitch, her fingers tightening around his sleeve

voice came through and she exclaimed,

music quietly softened. One of the humans hissed, leaning forward with a

"You"—she pointed her finger toward two final-year vampires—"take him to the infirmary," her gaze then moved to

marbles? Or do you enjoy

to pair with Lucian, she had positioned herself where she could hear what he and the lowly

leaned too far, only to end up dragging the poor human partner with her. And like stacked cards, the human was the start of the

wasn't me," she snapped too quickly, quick to place the blame elsewhere. "He

didn't mean to,"

"Go sit on the bench. You look like you are

tilting high. "We should reshuffle. It isn't as though we'll be dancing with the same people during the