Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 89: A door knocked too early

Though Ruelle had been clear with her words, she didn't know if the prince understood it. Before he could come to a conclusion, she lifted her hand and said,

"Let us make a pact. One we will not break. Let us be friends."

And though she smiled, the edges of her lips faltered when his eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping in.

"Why do I feel like I am being deceived?" Edward questioned.

"Possibly because you are," Ruelle murmured. "For someone like me, being friends with someone like you does come with benefits. I will not pretend otherwise. But I promise I will not use you. I would treat you same as I treat others—for who you are. And I would ask the same in return."

He frowned and stated, "But I like being treated as the centre of the universe. I like—"

"Your Highness, do you not wish to be regarded for your soul rather than your title?" Ruelle interrupted him. She noticed how his eyes lowered in thought. After a pause, she continued, "If you permit it, I would like to be your friend for life," she extended her hand further.

Something tugged at his heart, as if he had forgotten the reason why he had called her here. He hesitated before placing his hand in hers. When she pressed her thumb lightly against his, a jolt shot through him. The prince yanked his hand back at once, face flushing.

"W–what are you doing?" He demanded, as this has never happened before and he checked his thumb.

"Sealing the pact," Ruelle replied with a warm smile. "That is how it is done in my village."

Edward stared at her with an appalled expression, before saying, "Your village has questionable customs. Where I come from, we exchange land, carriages, horses..." Horror then dawned on him. He murmured to himself, "Did I just agree to be a poor woman's friend? How benevolent of me!"

Edward began to feel hungry, his stomach impatient as he glanced back at the table. The dishes had been left untouched for far too long. The roasted bird had gone cold, the sauce had turned unappetising, along with the goblet of blood that appeared stale in the prince's eyes.

"All of this needs replacing," he muttered with a click of his tongue. "Disgusting. I dismissed Hermes far too quickly," he cursed himself.

His fangs ached faintly with an unpleasant pressure at the back of his jaw. He had not eaten before coming here nor had he attended the dining hall and it led to his gaze drifting unfocused before falling on the fresh blood that stood at the railing of the balcony.

Ruelle had moved away from the table after their talk, her hands resting on the railing, while she let out a sigh. For the moment, at least, the prince had abandoned his alarming insistence. She didn't hear the prince come up next to her, his steps slow.

The blood couldn't get any fresher than this, Edward's mind whispered.

Unaware of the vampiristic instinct the night creatures carried but curbed, Ruelle failed to notice the prince's gaze settled on her pale and exposed neck.

The vampire's lips parted without conscious command and he took a step forward towards her, ready to sink his aching fangs that craved warm blood.

But in the same instant, a woollen fabric slid around Ruelle's neck from behind and she let out a startled gasp as she was tugged away from the railing, her balance broken just enough to stumble backward into a solid, cold chest.

Edward's teeth snapped shut in the empty air before he realised what he just did and turned red. His fangs retracted quickly.

Ruelle looked up before turning her head and she met Lucian's face. She didn't know if it was because of the night, but she caught his eyes that had darkened quite a bit.

to leave without the scarf," Lucian remarked, his voice barely raising while he

as she turned to him. "I wasn't planning

adjusted the scarf, covering her neck fully and

finishing the adjustment of her scarf before he added, "So do situations

the prince's eyes that he had ignored. "Your Highness," he greeted with

he hadn't just tried to bite Ruelle's neck, a look

the name aloud. "I have heard of you. You were working on one of the cases, weren't you? I have

I can work for you too," came the prompt response

him when the other person's words struck him. Did Lucian Slater mean to

involving yourself where you are not needed can have

with a slight smile. "Some things only remain intact because others choose restraint. And not everyone recognises the difference with their thoughtless

look at Ruelle after what he almost did.

their exchange, couldn't help but think how passionate these two men were about their work. She could sense the intensity with the way it was delivered. She

shake the feeling that she had stepped into something she was never meant to hear.

word or two. Sensing she was no longer needed there, she cleared her throat. She informed, "I

asked, a note of protest slipping through. "But we

replied, "It is getting late, and I still have assignments to complete. I am sure you do as well. And I think you would prefer

inform the instructors. You need not trouble yourself with such things. There is no need for you to attend classes. I will not be either,"

out a soft laugh, which was reflexive. She responded, "I do not

for a moment, as he was unfamiliar with such direct contradiction.

night," Ruelle

taking a step away from there too. He

leaving

for a moment longer

"Yes," Lucian replied.

thought I would receive that answer tomorrow," Edward muttered under his breath. He didn't like the way Lucian

there is nothing left to discuss," Lucian replied. Then with a slight tilt of his head, he added, "Unless you

if preparing to say something, when hurried

as he bowed quickly. "We need to catch up with the classes

to the parchment and his irritation

you away from achieving greatness. Good night, Your Highness," Lucian offered a

his gaze fixed on the space

footsteps faded did Hermes clear his throat and he

Edward murmured while his eyes had narrowed. "Yet he walks away as if he is the one,

Hermes blinked at it.

oldest vampire families. It is said the

eager to admire him. You should go work for him." He turned away and began

Your Highness!" Hermes

two shadows moved against the wall. Ruelle walked a few paces ahead before noticing Lucian wasn't walking next to her. She wondered if he had