Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 193: Return to Brackenwell

The look on her father’s face was one Ruelle had never seen before. It sat somewhere between rage and confusion, as if he had seen something that refused to make sense in his head.

When her fingers rose to her neck, she felt it sting and realised what had brought the expression. Heat rushed back into her face as she remembered Lucian’s lips moments ago. And from the way her father’s eyes sharpened there, it seemed he had realised it too.

Without a word, he turned and stormed back into the shop.

"Did you forget something?" Noah asked, one brow lifting when he saw him. But her father didn’t answer.

Ruelle followed after him, her pulse thudding louder with every step as he pushed past the waiting room and entered the corridor that led to the changing stalls. He threw open one stall after another, the doors slamming hard against the walls, but there was no one inside except dresses hanging from hooks and folded fabrics left behind.

By the time he turned back to her, the look in his eyes had grown harder. He grabbed her wrist and pain shot through her hand.

"Let go! You’re hurting me!" Ruelle cried.

The sound had brought the others. Mrs. Belmont appeared first, confusion written plainly on her face. She asked, "What is going on?" It was only moments ago everything had been calm, and now her husband looked as though he had lost his mind.

"Lucian was here!" he snapped, his eyes fixed on the mark at her neck, the fresh bruise sitting just above the soul bond. Against her pale skin, it looked impossible to miss. "Where is he?" he demanded, turning on Noah, who had just entered.

Noah blinked with a genuinely confused look. He answered, "I didn’t see him enter. He hasn’t come by in nearly a week. Though if he is here, it would save me time. I still need his fittings."

Ruelle saw her father’s jaw clench. When his eyes returned to her, his voice softened, "Was he here, Ruelle?" His grip tightened. "I won’t be angry if you tell me."

Did he think she was still a child? That she would agree because he softened his voice? Ruelle forced herself to stay calm and she asked,

"Why would he be here, Father? He must still be searching for Caroline."

Mrs. Belmont, who had only been able to find some image and reputation built here felt the humiliation of this settle over her immediately. She stepped to her husband’s side, forcing a smile, and asked him,

"Harold, what are you doing?"

Ezekiel finally let go of her wrist. His eyes were cold and he explained,

"I thought we were meant to follow the courthouse’s conditions. Ruelle and Lucian are not supposed to be acting intimate before the wedding. Look at her neck."

The words made every eye turn to her. With everyone staring at the mark on her neck, heat crawled up her skin. Forcing herself to look unaffected, she said,

"I don’t know what you are talking about, Father. The soul bond disappeared for the last two days. In the stall, I scratched the spot too hard and it appeared." Her fingers brushed the bruised skin lightly. "What does that have to do with Lucian being here? Do you think every mark on me must be because of him?"

Ruelle could see it in the way her father’s jaw worked, in the way his lips trembled with barely-contained anger.

meet her, what of it? They are to be married in a few days." Her eyes narrowed

no interest in being on the bad side of the Slaters. Turning

the commotion. We will take

on his sleeve. "I do hope Mr.

Harold’s

shop, the awkwardness followed them

all four sides. She opened her mouth to say something, but after

her skin. It made her blink. It reminded her of Sexton, of the groundlings she had seen

head

Belmont snapped, his voice sharp enough

anyone else could answer. She said to him, "You are the only one

father repeated, his

to visit Mother’s grave. It has

for a long

Of course he would.

Belmont. Her father entered last, and with them came the pureblood officer who had escorted them into the

reached the edge of Brackenwell, the

than Ruelle remembered. When the carriage stopped before the cemetery gates, she didn’t wait for anyone. She stepped down and walked through the rows of graves, her shoes pressing into the snow that the

slowed when she reached

there quietly. A mother she had only ever known through stories. And no memory of her voice or her touch. With no one near her, she bent down

beneath her palms, the hardened ground softened. Thin blades of green pushed through the frost, fragile at first before spreading around the

her shoulder, Ruelle caught her father still watching her. At the

Keep him there for as long

where her parents were and she said,

Mrs. Belmont frowned at

a poor lie but enough and she turned to Hailey.

shifted to follow,

through the village, and the guards are going with them. Come with me. I want to see what state our old house

than he liked and he

lowered his eyes and let his shoulders slacken. "I am only tired, Megan," he

seemed to soften her enough. She tightened her hold on his arm and

Ezekiel strained to listen for Ruelle’s footsteps growing distant, but being a half-blood meant his hearing only stretched so far.

guards behind them, Hailey leaned closer to

the dress you chose today?" she asked, keeping

would make me pay for it," she admitted. "But when Mrs. Belmont said the courthouse would cover it, I

I feel like your father’s hair

under her breath, "It wouldn’t

time. "Thank you. For inviting my