Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 109: Errands Before the Ball

When the weekend arrived, only a handful of Groundlings took the carriage to visit their families, as though stepping away might cause them to miss the long-awaited Winter’s Ball.

But Ruelle had accompanied Hailey to Hushford town.

Right now, Hailey stood before the tall mirror in seamstress Madame Beaucroft’s shop, turning as the skirts of her newly stitched gown fanned softly around her legs. She asked brightly,

"How do I look, Ruelle?"

Ruelle smiled without needing to pretend. Seeing Hailey glow warmed something gentle inside her chest. "Like a princess," she said truthfully. "Do you have shoes to match?"

"I do have shoes," Hailey lifted the front of her gown, revealing the scuffed shoes.

"You need new shoes," Madame Beaucroft declared, as she made adjustments to the gown.

"Then perhaps you will offer me a discount, Madame?" Hailey asked, flashing a sheepish smile. The older woman gave her a pointed look.

"You bargained my price down to half and begged me to finish this dress in two weeks instead of a month. If I give any more discount, I might as well hang a sign outside that reads’robbed’."

Hailey laughed, undeterred. "I did promise that once I find my prince charming at the ball, I shall repay you double and make your shop famous."

Ruelle watched Hailey disappear behind the wooden divider to change, while she stayed seated next to the window. Outside, the street had taken on winter’s edge. People passed bundled in wool and scarves.

It felt quiet here, away from people. This was what she had needed after the long week at Sexton. From behind the wooden divider, Hailey’s voice floated out, light and teasing.

"I thought Edward was going to come with us. Not to badmouth him, but he makes my heart pound like I’m being chased."

Ruelle laughed softly, her fingers subconsciously touching the scarf around her neck. She admitted, "He does wear his thoughts on his sleeve."

The first few days she had spent time with Edward, she had felt the same. That breathless sense of being cornered by attention that was too bright.

"Ruelle..." Hailey stepped out from behind the divider, now in her usual clothes, while Madame Beaucroft carried the gown away for final alterations. "Did you think about what he said?"

Ruelle knew at once what Hailey meant. She nodded, though the motion felt heavier than it should have. "I don’t want to be his mistress." She hesitated, then asked quietly, "Do you think that makes me foolish?"

Hailey tilted her head, wearing a deep, thoughtful look. She responded, "Honestly, my mother would call it foolish. He is the prince. But if it isn’t what you want, you should take advantage before Gemma brings the earrings..."

Ruelle nodded. "If I ever do agree to the prince’s terms," she said with a small, earnest nod, "I’ll ask him to release you from your contract."

Hailey laughed and replied, "Or you can just hire me as your lady-in-waiting. I would very much like to be paid for gossiping and eating for free."

When the gown was finally wrapped and handed over, they stepped out of the shop. The cold struck sharper now, slipping beneath their sleeves and collars making them tremble.

Ruelle turned left, and Hailey immediately caught her arm, tugging her the other way. "The local carriage stop is that way."

"I know," Ruelle replied, her smile turning a little secretive. "There’s somewhere I want to go first." Before Hailey could protest, she was already pulling her friend along. Soon they stopped in front of a shop with a painted sign that read Fallow & Sons.

A small bell chimed as they stepped inside.

"Look who it is!" the shop owner exclaimed, looking up from his workbench with raised brows. "I suppose it is too soon to ask if you’ve come back to work for me?"

The familiar scent of leather and polish wrapped around Ruelle like an old memory. She offered a polite bow.

"Good morning, Mr. Holis. Unfortunately, no. But my friend is looking for shoes for the ball. Might you have a pair that was returned?" she asked hopefully.

"With the season of winter, you would be surprised how many are made and sent," Holis replied. "One moment."

When he disappeared behind the curtain at the back, Hailey leaned closer at once. "Ruelle, how are we going to pay for this?"

Ruelle slipped her hand into her dress pocket and took out a gold coin. She said quietly,

on carriage fare. I’ll return

Slater?" Hailey blinked, as

toward the display rack. Her fingers brushed over smooth leather

in surprise, it was because everyone was terrified of

up a shoe in her hand. "Dane has boots similar to

Lucian Slater wasn’t loud like Prince Edward. He didn’t smile, he glared hard as if everyone were a pest that needed to be

Ruelle," Holis announced as he returned, an assistant

watched her friend blush when the assistant complimented her feet. At the back, the doorbell chimed

"Ah, Mr.

Dane had come to buy more shoes, but when she turned, she found Lucian standing at the entrance instead. He had one hand still resting on the door handle,

his voice low and dry with sarcasm, "Of all places, you

gown made here. It is cheap here,"

on Hailey, and the young

the shopkeeper.

his assistant. The shopkeeper lowered his voice and asked, "Has there been

belonged to a student from Sexton," Lucian

attention snapped toward him.

Ruelle asked in shock before

a small

but was truly dead...her stomach tightened at the thought of it. If she

who could have

adding, "Don’t wander after this and head straight back to Sexton." It sounded less of a suggestion and more of a command. His gaze drifted to her hair and lingered a fraction too

Ruelle tried to pass the gold coin to Mr. Holis quietly, he lifted

gold coin. It seems like you won’t

neck. She could feel Lucian’s gaze on

for this at the moment," Holis continued, before handing over the coin. "I will write it down and you can settle

you," Ruelle responded

Ruelle and Hailey offered a bow each to Mr. Holis and Lucian before stepping out of the shop. They

her skirt when the rumble of wheels reached them. She watched the local carriage roll toward the stop

a few passengers started

uttered, "Isn’t that Harold Belmont’s daughter?" as

another man added, stepping closer. His breath carried the stink of cheap liquor. "Where is

tightened around Ruelle’s sleeve as she

don’t know where my father is," Ruelle stated, keeping her voice even. "...I have nothing

spent it on all of you. If he isn’t there,

never gave me the money. Take it from him," Ruelle replied, taking a step back and trying to get into the carriage, but the men blocked their path. The carriage

man said, jerking his chin who

man’s hands reached towards her, Ruelle slapped it hard enough

and one of them

moved to her hair, her fingers finding the pencil she had twisted into her braid that morning. She yanked it

sharp end of the pencil pierced into the man’s forearm. He howled, jerking

stabbed clutched his arm, face

air and the one cursing dropped to the ground like a stack of potatoes. She noticed the man

anyone who finds trouble as easily as you do," a voice said far behind her, which was low and

a stone in his hand. When he came to stand

turned black with no traces of red in them. But they looked empty. Like something looking out through him rather than him looking out at the

rigid beside

shaking his fallen accomplice. "Jackel,

his eyes fleetingly moved to her hand, "to get in the carriage and

up the stone next." The game of

black tendrils slip out of his body. At first, she thought it was

up a bigger stone. He was about to strike Lucian when the pureblooded vampire

ordered, "Claude. Take these

asked Ruelle in a dry tone, "Do you need me to

before. She reluctantly followed the coachman with Hailey right behind her. They got inside the