Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 88: Be a smart cookie!

A quiet breeze moved across the balcony but Ruelle barely felt it as she was too shocked to feel anything.

Her gaze shifted towards the prince's attendant. And he must have sensed it because his weary eyes lifted and met hers. Then he inclined his head a fraction, a quiet gesture of condolence like a fellow offering sympathy at a burial. As if to say he too was only another lamb trapped in the prince's world. And as quickly as it appeared, it vanished.

Before the situation could spiral further, Ruelle took a deep breath and addressed, "I would like to speak alone with you."

"Yes. Of course," Ezekiel nodded, already stepping forward and relieved that she wanted to discuss it. He turned to the prince and politely informed him, "Your Highness, Ruelle and I will discuss—"

"I meant with His Highness," Ruelle clarified politely.

Ezekiel froze mid-breath. Did she decide to be the prince's mistress?! Rage shot up his spine as he turned to her with a look of disbelief in his eyes.

"You heard her." Edward snapped his fingers with a pleased expression. "Both of you are dismissed so we can discuss our arrangement once she's my mistress. Also take the guards along with you, Hermes."

Once they left Ruelle and the prince alone, Edward leaned back in his plush seat. He closed his eyes and remarked, "You must have resisted because you were overwhelmed by the idea of standing beside me. I knew you were a smart cookie—"

"I do not want to be your mistress," Ruelle interrupted quietly.

Edward's eyes flew open. "What?!" He glared at her, as if insulted. "It seems like you do not want to be a smart cookie."

replied honestly. "Forgive

cookie. You clearly said it wrong," he insisted. "Try this. 'Thank you, Edward, for graciously

her lips as both of them stared

You are halfway there," Edward nodded

not wish to be your mistress," her words came

She could feel the prince's stare burning a hole into the side of her head. It was an

his face, which

you broken?" he demanded, baffled to his very soul. "I am saying one thing and you keep answering with something entirely different. You clearly need a physician's assistance. Hermes!" He

herself. "I keep hearing things that

the response

you," as if he was doing her a favour. "Something is

is possible," Ruelle agreed

She disagreed when she should have agreed,

woman in your position would have expressed gratitude by now. They would die over the

looked at her again, with an incredulous expression. He stated the obvious, "Sexton is going to have you chosen anyway. All the humans signed their compliance and you belong to Sexton now, property of the institution. Shouldn't you reconsider

was at a loss for words. What did he mean by 'signed as their property? Because she hadn't signed

here are bound to the contract. I know that the human male's first or second time drawn blood is used for

reconsider my decision.

in Sexton," Ruelle reasoned softly. She didn't want the privilege he was offering and was more than