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.

the young boy by offering,

stared at the woman. He replied, "These are women’s

smiled. "I

"Why?" he asked.

is only proper

questioned, and this time Mrs. Belmont’s smile

Belmont would turn flustered, "Lucian, Mrs.

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

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

responded, "You trouble yourself for nothing, Lady

Ruelle’s small hand found the vampiress’s fingers. "I

the vampiress’s fingers in a playful rhythm, as though practising notes upon an invisible pianoforte. And Lady Irina did not interrupt her, allowing the hesitant touch

curled around hers. Giving her heart a small jolt, she looked up to find Lady Irina

as your late Christmas present yet," Lady Irina hummed.

fiddled with her fingers before whispering,

a smile broke on her lips. "Are you sure? You don’t

head and repeated, "Ribbon is

Perhaps," she turned to Lucian, who was listening to them and continued, "Lucian might like to

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

to tie you to a tree," Lucian replied without looking up, his tone flat. A soft snort followed, and two vampiresses entered the drawing

Irina," Lady Simone

were passing by after attending Mrs. Robeles’ soiree and thought to drop in," said the taller of the two vampiress, her dark hair swept into an elegant knot. Her gaze moved across the room, pausing briefly on Mrs. Belmont. "But it seems we are interrupting."

at once and offered

through what the merchant has this season. No

of the room, Ruelle slid quietly from Lady Irina’s lap, her small shoes making no

from the adults into a quieter corridor, one of the young vampiresses clapped her hands

play hide and

once, his expression tightening into a

on her hips. "It is much more fun to hide in the Slaters’ Mansion. There are a hundred places no one would ever

to Ruelle, "You

nodded and Lucian stared at her

is decided!" the young vampiress declared anyway, raising her hands with triumphant certainty. "Stack

hands atop one another. Sawyer’s first. The other vampiress’s next. Then Angelina’s reluctant fingers were on top of it, then Ruelle’s and Lucian placed his hand

pulling away,

the corridor, turned to face the

once. Ruelle slipped toward the nearest open doorway, but before she could cross the threshold, Lucian caught the back of her coat and pulled

a tall cabinet which was behind the chimney, positioning himself between her and the space behind him. Having a human in the game was like carrying a ticking clock,

pureblooded vampire had turned his ears to pick up where Sawyer could be right now. When he turned to her and raised his eyebrows, she asked, "Why

and Ruelle shook her head. "You look for the closest thing

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

lips. Sounds of a ticking clock escaped from his lips and