Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 115: Under Whose Protection

Ruelle’s heart was racing so loudly she was certain Lucian could hear it, and that only made her more conscious.

"I thought you were going to be mindful..." came her soft words.

"I am," Lucian answered in a composed voice. It was then that Ruelle understood that the calm in his voice was not the same as gentleness.

If Lucian didn’t do or say what he did, Ruelle wouldn’t have paid attention to the way his fingers where his palm rested against the wooden door held a faint tension. His sleeve was drawn back just enough to reveal the subtle lines of veins beneath his skin.

When his hand moved, her eyes followed without meaning to. Only after turning did she realise how close Lucian stood and her back pressed against the wood. Her lips trembled as she uttered, "I—I am trying to make sense of it..."

Lucian’s eyes hadn’t left Ruelle since they had arrived here. He knew she had never looked at him that way and that some things were worth waiting for.

"I won’t rush you, Ruelle," he said quietly and he saw brown eyes look up to meet his gaze. A breath passed between them before he added, "But I won’t be retreating either."

Ruelle swallowed at his words. She reminded him, "I am a human."

Lucian tilted his head briefly before he raised his eyebrow, "I know. Did you take Griswold’s words to heart about my knowledge?"

"No, that’s not what I meant," Ruelle clarified with a nervous smile. She placed her hand on her chest to emphasise, "I mean, I am a human and you don’t like humans."

"I guess strawberries on you made quite the impression," Lucian murmured.

For a moment, Ruelle blinked. Hailey’s strawberries... She answered back, "If you want strawberries—it is being served in the dining hall."

"Are you sure about it?" Lucian asked her. He stepped closer, his hand settling over hers where it rested on the doorknob. His voice lowered. "Be careful what you offer so lightly...I don’t know how to take it halfway."

At the same time, the tower bell rang, signalling the end of classes. The corridors outside began to fill with voices and footsteps, life moving on as if nothing had changed while Ruelle stood there, staring back at Lucian.

She felt his hand move clockwise over hers where it rested on the doorknob. The movement was slow, almost guiding, until the latch gave a soft click.

"You must be hungry. Go ahead," Lucian said, his voice calm. "I will leave in a while."

To Ruelle, it might have felt like he was done talking to her and letting her go. But it was a false space, as if she had been given the choice when the concept didn’t exist. But she didn’t need to know that, the pureblooded vampire thought.

"Okay..." Ruelle murmured.

Her gaze lowered as she opened the door, slipping into the corridor quickly. She hurried through the passing students, placing her hands on her warm cheeks.

On the way, her shoulder bumped harshly with Caroline, who gave her a stare as she walked past her. It seemed that her sister had resorted to passive aggression towards her while she hung around with Halflings.

When Ruelle reached her classroom to retrieve her belongings, she spotted Hailey and Kevin near the door. Before her friends could speak, she asked, a little too quickly,

Did he have

"Not really. I thought he was here to pick one of us, but it looked like he was searching for someone.

that came up in my mind. Alanna’s name. I didn’t want him looking for me."

it is good then that Lucian came to get you," Hailey’s lips pressed into

was asking where I had left them," Ruelle murmured, feeling terrible that

the explanation without further thought, though Ruelle felt Kevin’s gaze linger on her

something happen?" Ruelle asked

head to lunch.

lips. "I won’t lie, that

light pat on the back.

once and he had stepped into her classroom. She didn’t want to test him to

you notice six humans didn’t show up to class this morning?" Hailey asked as they

his voice was quiet. "It’ll keep happening. There’s a probability that Ruelle won’t be here in a week

jabbed her elbow into

with Prince Edward.

senior told my roommate that Mr. Henley has been offering his

difficult," Hailey sighed. "I mean giving

Ruelle noticed at once that

carried that morning was gone. Though he did not smile as openly as Sawyer, who sat beside him mid-laughter, he

felt her looking, his gaze moved to her and she looked

blueberry muffins!" Hailey exclaimed in delight. "And they are warm and

"Ruelle!"

strode in through the doors, his usual charm replaced with a

to talk," the prince

asked carefully. Everyone seemed to want a piece of her today, she thought. The Winter’s Ball had been

gesturing toward the exit.

herself and started to make her way out. Across the hall, Lucian wore the same calm

prince’s rigid shoulders. He stood with his back facing her, one hand braced against the stone wall as if trying to control

asked, "What

in his expression was gone, replaced with something far too serious for

"Ruelle, I am sorry."

Huh?

him drag his hand through his hair as if struggling with his pride. He took a moment

you left, I was in a bad mood. I had planned everything perfectly, like rowing you to the middle, lighting a lantern together and making it memorable." His jaw tightened. "Instead I made a

to listen

tried to stop me but I may have chased him with a knife. You must have come to check on me...

the