Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 117: The Girl in the Snow

Ruelle’s gaze moved between Lucian and the bed before she quietly voiced out the thought in her mind, "It isn’t that time of the month for me yet."

Lucian turned a page as he responded, "I know," lifting his eyes to meet hers.

A small crease formed between her brows. "Then... if I take the bed, where will you sleep?" She could not imagine the couch to be comfortable enough for him.

"I haven’t decided yet," he replied. His gaze lingered just long enough for warmth to rise to her cheeks and she averted her eyes quickly, suddenly aware of the way her hands clutched the edge of her sleeve.

"I don’t think it would be proper," she murmured.

Lucian tilted his head slightly. He asked with an even voice, "Which part is improper? Me sleeping on the couch... or me sleeping in the same bed as you?"

Her breath caught at his words. A woman sharing a bed with a man before marriage was considered scandalous. Yet she was in Sexton, where they would soon be taught about such intimacies being labelled as preparation.

"You are not sleeping on the couch. Go to bed, Ruelle, or I will carry you there," his tone did not rise, yet it left no room for argument.

She picked up the blanket and then walked across the room to reach the bed. She sat carefully on the edge of the mattress and the bed springs gave a quiet sigh beneath her weight.

At the same time, she saw Lucian place his book to the side and make his way towards her. She saw him bend and pull the drawer next to the bedside before he picked up a familiar-looking brownish-red wooden box.

"You found it!" Ruelle said with a smile. It was the box that belonged to her biological mother. "When did you go and fetch it? Did they... my family say something?"

"They weren’t at the house," Lucian answered, already turning toward the couch. "I’m surprised your parents or your sister didn’t take it from you."

Ruelle’s fingers moved over the dull, chipped surface of the wooden box. A small smile lingered on her lips though it never reached her eyes as she replied softly,

"It was never valuable enough for them. Or something that could be sold for my father to use. There are just random things, but nonetheless very dear to me." She pushed the lid and stared at the contents inside it. "It is one of the few things I have of hers, apart from the chain."

Ruelle’s father had remarried within a week of her mother’s passing, where Caroline’s mother had stepped into the house while the air still smelled of mourning.

Sometimes she wondered if she had ever truly been held by the woman who gave her life... or if their time together had been so brief that even that simple warmth had slipped past her.

"Thank you for bringing it to me. I don’t know if I would have the courage to go there," Ruelle murmured the last words more to herself.

the walls that remind you?" Lucian questioned, his

voice barely above a whisper. "Sometimes I wonder now... if I wasn’t admitted to Sexton, with the debts my father piled up, he

too when they are missing... considering how often we

"The death of humans was not considered worthy enough until a while ago. Some of the

settled between them, neither looked away. The next moment, Ruelle cleared her throat and said,

ceiling for several minutes before peeking carefully to find him back

in the room which was followed by faint footsteps crossing the room. A moment later,

Ruelle fast asleep on her side with one hand loosely curled near her face. Strands of hair had

knowing the consequences." His eyes drifted to her softened expression where she slept

than it should have after she spoke about

he reached over and brushed the strands away. Careful enough

would hate that," he said quietly.

from the

Twelve years ago...

Azriel had returned from the courthouse. His wife, Lady Irina, wore a slight frown now at what he just said

swiftly. The respected family has been asked to present themselves here,"

my concern. I am just surprised they chose our family. It is no small decision," she murmured though she knew well the weight their name carried. She glanced toward him before softly adding, "Would someone closer to her age not

"I don’t believe the ministers

agree?" Lady Irina asked

her knuckles. "If that is what you

their sons. They caught the human couple trudging on the hardened snow with a little girl, who was being

down?" Lady Irina asked, her brows

sixteen years old, wearing a careless smile. He tilted his head and

and his deep red eyes settled on the small figure beside the woman, her face hidden beneath an oversized hood. As the little girl

remarked young

laughed softly under her breath. "My, my... I seem to have raised two very honest sons." She placed a gentle hand on Lucian’s shoulder while looking at Dane, "Be nice, both of

entrance, Lucian watched the human man step forward and offer a deep bow, though his shoulders remained rigid under his father’s watch.

I am Harold Belmont," the human introduced himself, his voice steady despite the cold weather. "This is my wife, Megan and

introduced his family, "My beloved wife, Lady Irina Slater.

Irina said her

you for receiving us," Mrs.

letter from the elder minister has reached you, Lord Azriel," Mr.