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 pick a

the woman. He replied, "These are

smiled. "I meant you could

"Why?" he asked.

is only proper that she grow accustomed

this time Mrs.

voice slipped in before Mrs. Belmont would turn flustered, "Lucian, Mrs. Belmont only wished for you to

time, a servant arrived at the door and bowed

governess to several young ladies from the noble households. I was thinking we might arrange for her to

Belmont’s fingers tightened slightly around the teacup she just took hold of. She responded, "You trouble yourself for nothing, Lady Irina. There is still

hand found the vampiress’s fingers. "I would hate to see such promise go unshaped. We wives may not take

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

the lady’s long, elegant fingers, noticed how they intertwined and curled around hers. Giving her heart a small jolt, she looked up to find Lady Irina looking at

haven’t told me yet what you want as your late Christmas present yet," Lady Irina hummed. "Perhaps a

her fingers before

was taken aback before a smile broke on her lips. "Are you sure? You

shook her head and repeated, "Ribbon

place in the town where they make excellent ribbons. Perhaps," she turned to Lucian,

he playing dress-up?" came a young boy’s voice

tone flat. A soft snort followed, and two vampiresses

Irina," Lady Simone

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

rose at once and

through what the merchant

Irina’s lap, her small shoes making no sound against the carpet as she

into a quieter

play hide and

replied at once, his expression tightening into a

fun to hide in the Slaters’ Mansion. There are a hundred places no one

turned to Ruelle, "You will

nodded and Lucian stared at her

is decided!" the young vampiress declared anyway, raising her hands with

another. Sawyer’s first. The other vampiress’s next. Then Angelina’s reluctant fingers were on

away, "Sawyer, you are

hide!" Sawyer ran to the end of the corridor, turned to face the

cross the threshold, Lucian caught the back of her coat and pulled her silently in the opposite

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

right now. When he turned to her and raised his eyebrows, she asked,

don’t have to seek," came Lucian’s response. He then questioned, "Do you know how to hide from a vampire?" and Ruelle shook her head. "You look for the closest thing that

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

to tell her to 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 was synced with