Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 113: An Innocent Misunderstanding

When Ruelle felt the sting of Lucian’s teeth on her neck, her fingers curled faintly into the sheets beneath her and her eyes closed on instinct. The place where he bit throbbed with warmth and not pain exactly. Like a heat that bloomed and slowly began to spread beneath her skin.

Her hand rose without thinking, trembling as she touched the spot. But it was dry and she saw no blood. He didn’t drink from her? Nothing about this situation was making sense to her.

Lucian reached for a strand of her hair where it lay against her collarbone and drew it slowly through his fingers. The touch was careful, almost reverent but the look in his eyes was anything but that.

Ruelle gulped, her throat tight before she managed to speak, "W–why did you bite me?"

"Why... shouldn’t I?" Lucian murmured.

Was he asking or telling her??

Somewhere in the back of Ruelle’s mind, alarm bells began to ring. She should move, she thought to herself.

But the moment the thought began to form, he leaned closer and her breath caught helplessly in her throat and her body went still beneath the weight of his presence.

"Did something happen in the ball?" she whispered, her voice barely there. "You don’t seem yourself..."

For a second, his eyes shifted to something deeper, like something behind them had finally stepped forward instead of holding back.

And right now, Ruelle wasn’t sure if she should fear or lean into the look in his eyes.

"I’ve never been more myself than I am right now," he said with his voice low and unguarded. "You have a talent for finding trouble, always testing my restraint. Watching other people touch you when I’ve taken such care not to touch you myself. Do you know what that does to a man who’s trying to behave?"

Lucian watched her stare back at him, wide-eyed. A week ago when he had opened the door, he had found her standing on the chair with her skirt tied up, revealing her ankles without guard.

He had turned away not from the sight, but from the quiet, unwelcome image that had flashed in his mind— of fastening something around her dainty ankles.

His fingers now loosened on her hair, letting the strands slip through. His voice lowering near her ear as he asked,

"Tell me, Ruelle... would you rather I locked the door or burn everything outside it?"

"B-burn?" Ruelle stuttered, her eyes swirling in haziness when she felt his cool breath on her ear. "Why burn?"

"So you don’t mind being locked?"

He pulled back just enough for their eyes to meet. Ruelle’s thoughts ceased at the sight of a smile ghosting over his lips.

Lucian was possessed!

Before she could say another word, his eyes slowly slid shut. The next moment, his body tipped forward, like the tension had been cut loose all at once and his forehead came to rest against her shoulder.

"Lucian?" she called, worry slipping into her voice.

Ruelle turned carefully, catching sight of his closed eyes and the slow rise and fall of his chest. "Did you fall...asleep?" She blinked, especially after what he did! Or did the ghost leave?

She had never seen him asleep before at least not this close. His hair was slightly dishevelled now, nothing like how it had looked earlier when she’d danced with him. The usual frown and sharpness in his eyes were gone.

Flustered, she tried to move and awkwardly rolled to her side, slipping out from under his weight. Her heart was still racing for reasons that had nothing to do with fear anymore.

She sat on the couch for five whole seconds before springing back up again. The memory of his lips against her skin sent a fresh wave of warmth through her, right down to her toes. Blood rushed right back into her cheeks.

No. No. Stop thinking about it, Ruelle!

"I need air," she muttered to herself, pressing her hands against her burning cheeks.

Opening the door, she felt the icy air greet her and she picked the first and closest thing her hand could grab, which was the grey coat. She slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her.

It was only after two minutes she realised she hadn’t changed her gown.

from where Ruelle walked the quiet corridor, in the next building, Dane stepped into the staff room and paused at the sight of stacked wooden boxes against the wall. Gemma Gilbert stood nearby

nudging a box with the tip of his shoe. "Planning to quit

some room here." Reaching into a cupboard, she pulled out two glasses and poured the burnt-amber

taking one

her eyes briefly before she remembered and gossiped, "Minister Griswold threw

out a quiet chuckle and murmured, "I can imagine." He swirled the drink

wasn’t Mortis. The minister gave the wrong name," Gemma said, tipping her head back

faint amusement flickering in his

a worn book, flipping through the pages and asked, "What’s a

are charm potions and some breakers," Gemma replied

strange to use gloaim-salt to create a love potion, considering where they are derived from. So is it one-time use and the person stays

only work for a short while. Afterward, the effects wear off and there’s usually a bit of memory haze for

Veilbreaker?" Dane

downing the glass

from it," Dane joked while reading the ingredients

corridors were yet to fill with most

flustered and had spent the night at Hailey’s instead. Blake hadn’t

he usually didn’t sleep-in this late. But when she stepped inside the room, she

a splitting headache. When he heard the door open, he slowly raised his head. He caught Ruelles’ gown from yesterday and the

before moving past him. She quickly walked

in silence, noticing her acting

far too aware of Lucian’s presence when she reached for the basin. Her mind was too occupied to look at the mirror and she splashed the cool water over her face

to walk past him, she caught Lucian’s narrowed eyes

angry? She should have been the one to be

now reminded her of last night and the look in his eyes was too intense. When he pushed himself off the bed,

"The—"

last night. I should go before the food is cleared," she blurted, before hurrying out

some students stared at her but she was too preoccupied with her own thoughts to notice it. The same thing happened when she stepped inside the hall. Eyes lingered a second too long before darting

the table and sat down, immediately reaching for

his face turned pale and he dropped his gaze before sitting down without meeting her eyes again, shifting slightly in his seat like he didn’t know where

have somewhere to go, Ruelle?" Hailey asked carefully, watching her friend eat much

hungry," Ruelle replied, waving

that was ready to strike anyone. But when he sat down, she felt that heavy stare even though

students’ eyes on her, she looked

they haven’t seen me before?" before

Hailey stalled, eyes flicking toward Ruelle’s

Kevin once again

whispered, tapping her own neck while staring at the dark

stood so fast that her spoon clattered. She blurted, "I’ll see you in

she hurried off,

Prince

prince hasn’t been seen since last night. It must have been

to have the prince’s attention." The murmurs drifted, spreading

and thankfully it was empty. She rushed to the mirror

and let out a muffled groan, "I could

forgotten earlier and wrapped it around her neck, making sure

she stood still. She could just stay inside and skip class, she thought. But for how long?

do this. I can do

opposite end with a few of

as if she had a school of fish in her

came, as if she had suddenly remembered something urgent.

half an hour, the students of the final year were seated in the

his fingers, but all he could see was the dark bruise. She hadn’t bothered to hide it this morning and it seemed like she had

to knock—the test tube cracked in his hand before breaking

the instructor joked. But the look Lucian gave in return was enough to make the instructor clear his throat and say, "Looks like a hill..." he glanced at the pile of shattered glass next to

like it always did. Only today, there