Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 183: The Guardian’s Decision

Ruelle wondered what had happened three nights ago. She noticed her father’s throat bob and for a brief second he looked like he didn’t want to be here. To escape the weight of Lucian’s gaze boring into him like a blade finding flesh but then his expression hardened.

Mr. Belmont folded his arms against his chest and replied, "I already told you. I was running from the debt collector. It was in the town of Dunwich."

"What was his name? The debt collector?" Lucian’s voice remained mild, almost conversational. But there was a predator’s patience in it.

"It was Hemingway. Jack Hemingway," Mr. Belmont answered before adding, "You can ask him."

"And you were alone?" Lucian asked.

For a moment, something flickered behind Mr. Belmont’s eyes. "Of course I was alone," he replied. "Who else would be with me?"

"Those debt collectors must have been persistent. Three days on the run and you never once managed to let your wife know you were alive?" Lucian questioned. "Or if she would be looked for next."

Ruelle watched her father’s jaw tighten. He exhaled, "I was worried they would trail me somehow and harass my wife."

"It seems they were well updated with your relocation then," Lucian’s observation came smooth and he clicked his tongue quietly. "And yet you refuse the one thing that would make them stop." His gaze remained fixed on Mr. Belmont. "So how did you spend your time dodging?"

"I remember getting away from them and I must have slipped or hit my head," Mr. Belmont explained, looking down at his hands. "Because the next thing I knew, I woke up in the middle of the forest. My body was hurting quite a lot. Mostly my neck. My hands too. My chest felt like something heavy had crushed it," he then looked up at Lucian and asked, "Why did it happen?"

Ruelle felt the room grow tense.

"Perhaps they caught up with you after all," Lucian’s suggestion came like bait cast into water, waiting to see what would take the hook.

"I don’t know. It feels like my—my mind has been blank," Mr. Belmont wore a puzzled expression as if he was trying hard to remember but only failed.

Lucian stayed quiet for a second, his face deep in thought before he offered,

"You should get yourself checked in the courthouse infirmary." He noticed a brief flicker in Harold’s eyes—surprise, perhaps, or fear or the recognition of a trap being sprung. "Like I said, what matters to Ruelle matters to me. It will be free of charge and they are very skilled."

"Maybe you should, Harold," Mrs. Belmont urged out of concern. "Maybe check your head," and hearing her words, Dane coughed.

"What a dusty room," Dane muttered and when Ruelle’s eyes met his, he winked at her.

Mr. Belmont’s jaw tightened before he stood up abruptly. He questioned, "When will we find out about Caroline’s whereabouts?" the deflection swift.

"Sit. I am not done questioning." Lucian’s words were sharp. His eyes turned darker as he wasn’t happy with the way things had turned out today and his presence became heavier.

to his seat. Ruelle felt something unfamiliar stir inside

you didn’t put Caroline behind the bars,

instead asked, "You said you woke up this morning?

forest. Trees?" Mr. Belmont asked as if the pureblooded vampire was

jaw clenched

told you. A

there a road nearby or a stream or any signs of another person you might have caught?" Lucian’s questions continued with relentless precision, each one designed

appear brave and she wondered how long it would take before

Lucian asked and Mr. Belmont nodded. "It must have hurt worse

"Yes."

hands yet you were capable of walking." He then asked, "Mrs. Belmont, were these the clothes

Belmont turned to look at her husband and she shook her head.

these belong to him?" Lucian

family was going to end up behind bars. The

wood once again, like a clock ticking. He then remarked, "Did you treat yourself with new clothes when you could have gone to your relatives’ house and change? You must

caught in case the debt collectors were

knock on the door

to reveal Minister Carnifex, followed by Minister Sylvan inside the room. The atmosphere shifted immediately. Noticing the ministers, Ruelle was about to get up to offer her greetings when Lucian placed his hand on her

eyes moving through the people before it fell on Ruelle. He offered a polite smile and Ruelle returned it

chaperoning Ruelle. Didn’t want to disappoint the assistant," his eyes

to smile, his eyes carrying amusement at the fellow pureblooded vampire’s

at Ruelle, she didn’t know why, but she didn’t have a good feeling about whatever he was going to say right

thought about your current predicament," the elder minister continued to speak. "Lucian has been generous enough to close all your debt accounts and from the courthouse’s side, we would like to offer you a house. It isn’t going to be a

The last few days had been difficult for them and she was glad to hear it. Now only if Caroline could return too, she thought

for a while," Minister Carnifex informed them. So they won’t

her off’?" Lucian hit the nail on the head, as he didn’t care for

a sigh before he said, "The council wants both parties to fulfil the conditions. They

came the clipped words

mansion return, the air turning

the marriage date will be pushed forward," Minister Sylvan decided to speak and Lucian’s eyes narrowed. "A bride sleeping under the same roof as the groom is not right when she isn’t an

his eyes turning colder. "We’ve already had this discussion. You will have to let go of this condition. A minister is dead. Parchments were burned. People

be stationed around the house for their

them. The thought of it made her skin crawl. She had made her

to joke?" Lucian’s voice dropped and the temperature in the room seemed to plummet. "The guards here couldn’t keep the prisoners in and you want