Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 119: Sound of a Ticking Heart

In the Slaters’ drawing room, a low fire burned in the fireplace, its gentle crackle swallowed by the rustle of fabrics laid upon the table.

"What do you think about this, milady?" the merchant asked, his hands clasped respectfully as Lady Irina examined the quality of the silk.

"Hm," the vampiress hummed, her red eyes gliding over the material before she remarked, "I suppose it will turn beautiful if we pair it with the translucent chiffon along the neckline and the ends of the sleeves." Her gaze softened as it fell upon the little Ruelle in her arms. "What do you think, darling?"

Right now, Ruelle sat upon the vampiress’s lap, her small hands still on the sides of her skirts, her feet dangling above the carpet. One of Lady Irina’s arms rested carefully around the young girl’s waist and the unfamiliar closeness made Ruelle sit unmoving.

"The young miss seems quite overwhelmed by the number of fabrics," the merchant stated with a polite smile.

But the truth was that no one had ever held Ruelle like this until now. She did not know where to place her hands or if she was allowed to lean.

Lady Irina glanced down at the child’s careful posture, a quiet chuckle slipping past her lips. She remarked,

"You must be feeling weary sitting so long. I promise we shall not keep you long."

Mrs. Belmont, who sat on the plush chair, spoke, "Ruelle appreciates it as much as I do, milady, for taking the time to arrange the merchant for us." She took a sip from the teacup she held between her fingers.

The vampiress smiled before leaning forward and asking Ruelle, "Is there anything you like here? You may choose anything you wish."

"Anything?" Ruelle looked uncertain and the vampiress nodded. The girl’s gaze drifted across the table of colours and her eyes then paused upon a velvety dark red fabric, rich and deep like something meant for another world. She pointed. "That one?"

Mrs. Belmont’s eyes followed her daughter’s choice, and her eyebrows furrowed. She said,

"That will not suit you, dear. It feels rather... grown-up. More appropriate for someone like Lady Irina herself," she offered the compliment to the lady with grace.

"No red..." Ruelle’s eyes lowered at once, as though she had failed in the single task entrusted to her.

"It is a striking choice which will draw attention," Lady Irina said with a hint of pride in her voice. Ruelle glanced up towards the vampiress, who continued, "Perhaps not for today, but for the future, when you are grown. And I think your mother will agree it shall suit you beautifully then." She lifted her gaze toward the human woman with gentle insistence, asking, "Is that not so, Mrs. Belmont?"

"Of course," came the stiff response from Mrs. Belmont.

For the smallest moment, Mrs. Belmont wondered whether Harold had made a mistake in choosing Ruelle instead of Caroline for the alliance.

The family they were bound to was of old pureblood lineage. Lords among their kind and unlike the vampiresses she had encountered before, Lady Irina seemed almost eager to lavish such attention upon the Ruelle.

"Maude, send it over to the tailor with the rest of them later so that it is ready," Lady Irina ordered the housekeeper. She turned to the merchant and pointed. "Let us have this one and the one beneath the green you showed earlier too."

"Yes, milady." The merchant bowed, swiftly setting the chosen fabrics aside.

And while Mrs. Belmont busied herself selecting fabrics for her own gowns, Lucian quietly stepped into the room.

"I am glad you are here," Lady Irina said and caught the faint scent of damp soil from her son. "I was just about to send Maude to fetch you. How were your lessons?"

"Good," came the curt response from Lucian, his expression unbothered by the display of fabrics.

Belmont tried to engage with the young boy by offering, "Lucian, you should

He

smiled. "I

"Why?" he asked.

it is only proper

this time Mrs.

Belmont would turn flustered, "Lucian, Mrs. Belmont only wished for

arrived at the door and bowed deeply, informing, "Lady Francoise and Lady Simone are

Irina replied, before turning to Mrs. Belmont with an easy smile. "Francoise is my sister-in-law, and Lady Simone serves as governess to several young ladies from the noble households. I was thinking we might arrange for her to spend some hours with Ruelle

the teacup she just took hold of. She responded, "You trouble

As she spoke, Ruelle’s small hand found the vampiress’s fingers. "I would hate to see such promise go unshaped.

an invisible pianoforte. And Lady Irina did not interrupt her, allowing the hesitant touch to continue, the vampiress’ hand yielding

was playing with the lady’s long, elegant fingers, noticed how they intertwined and curled around hers. Giving her heart a small jolt,

me yet what you want as your late Christmas present yet," Lady Irina hummed. "Perhaps a

her fingers before

broke on her lips. "Are you

head and repeated, "Ribbon is

Perhaps," she turned to Lucian, who was

Lucian need a ribbon? Is he playing dress-up?" came

tree," Lucian replied without looking up, his tone flat. A soft snort followed, and

Lady

to drop in," said the taller of the two vampiress, her dark hair swept into an elegant knot. Her

rose at once and

were looking through what the merchant has this season. No interruption,

the pureblooded vampire children stepped out of the room, Ruelle slid quietly from Lady Irina’s lap, her

into a quieter corridor, one of the

play hide

at once, his expression

There are a hundred

should," Sawyer agreed eagerly. And then turned to Ruelle, "You will play won’t you? Angie

Lucian stared at her for a brief

young vampiress declared anyway, raising her

they placed their hands atop one another. Sawyer’s first. The other vampiress’s next. Then Angelina’s reluctant fingers were

vampiress announced, pulling away,

the corridor, turned to face the

Ruelle slipped toward the nearest open doorway, but before she could cross the threshold, Lucian caught the

between her and the space behind him. Having a human in the game was like carrying a ticking clock, one a pureblooded vampire

be right now. When he turned to her and raised

response. He then questioned, "Do you know how to hide from a vampire?" and Ruelle shook her head. "You look

him for a moment before she looked around the room. There was neither a clock nor water in sight. So

stay quiet and then parted his lips. Sounds of a ticking clock escaped from his lips and Ruelle stared at him in awe. Each tick-tock