Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 114: What I Touch, I Keep

The last thing Ruelle had expected was for Lucian to walk into her class and ask her to step outside. But then again, she hadn’t expected him to bite her either.

Maybe classrooms weren’t as safe as she had once thought.

As Lucian turned and stepped out of the room, she felt several eyes land on her, which were half curious and half carried a look of pity, as if she were a lamb being led to be beheaded.

Rising from her seat with stiff legs, she stepped out into the corridor. Glancing back toward the door of the classroom, she took ten hurried steps before walking straight into Lucian’s back, his broad frame swallowing her from view. For a second, all she saw was dark fabric and felt the solid heat of him through it.

She was going to apologise, when she heard someone else’s voice—

"Lucian Slater," came the mock concern of a man. "Struggling, are we? First-year lessons must be more your level. Best master the basics before involving yourself in work meant for adults. Or, if you need help, you can ask me."

The person’s voice stirred an uneasy familiarity in Ruelle’s memory, even though she couldn’t see who it was.

Lucian stared at Minister Griswold, who walked to where he was with Mr. Mortis’ attendant. He agreed calmly,

"I am struggling with something."

When Ruelle shifted out of reflex, Lucian’s hand reached back and clasped around her wrist. "If Sexton ever introduces levels below first year, Minister, I’ll be sure to recommend you for placement."

her face as he was

moment, a sneer threatened

drifted just past Lucian’s shoulder before continuing. "The human Dane brought to Slater Mansion. Who was she? She was about this tall." He gestured vaguely. "Though I can’t seem to remember the colour of her

stiffened and the realisation made

several women to the mansion," Lucian replied, his tone almost bored. "You’ll

Said her name was Alanna Beckett," Ruelle heard the minister’s words, fury creeping into his voice. "But Alanna Beckett

end the conversation and stepped forward,

slight shift of stance.

see the minister disappear into the classroom. Her stomach dropped. If the instructor told him she had

down the corridor. They passed two doors, then three. At the fourth, he pushed it open, guiding her inside the empty room

meet his aloof eyes. She was embarrassed about a lot of things and she waited for him to reprimand her about how tiring it was to keep her out of trouble. She tried to

didn’t do anything to the minister," she murmured, before saying, "That night

quietly, his gaze holding hers. "Don’t speak about another man when you’re standing this close to me." After a pause, he

dissolved, overtaken by the far more consuming awareness

stumbled in her

neck. "I thought it might have something to do with what happened last night. Because of what I did,"

know what had pushed the aloof Lucian to say such things and

and the grumbling voice of the minister. Once the footsteps faded, she cleared her throat and tried to

too," she added. "It was just a b–bite. These