Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 179

Chapter 179: When the Tree Bloomed

After several seconds, the voices and the images in her mind faded as Ruelle stared into Lucian’s eyes.

It would be a lie to say that she hadn’t quietly agonised since Peyton’s revelation. Even though Lucian had told her his heart belonged to her, she had questioned how he could choose her. How he could mark her when she was tied to one of the deepest losses of his life.

Yet standing beneath the tree grown from a single apple seed she had once given him, Ruelle realised she had only understood a fraction of his feelings.

Around them, the world seemed to grow strangely quiet. Snow drifted between the branches above, while the wind tugged lightly at their hair.

She felt her throat tighten.

"Why?" she finally asked. "Why didn’t you tell me?"

For a moment, Lucian said nothing, and snow settled silently upon the dark strands of his hair. His expression barely changed, yet something softened in his eyes.

"I was waiting," the words left Lucian, as though he had been carrying them for a very long time.

Ruelle felt something tighten painfully in her chest. Her emotions rose all at once, too large to keep contained and her eyes stung. At the same time, small green leaves began to emerge amongst the snow-covered branches, spreading quietly through the tree as though waking from a long sleep. She hated that she had forgotten things, and he had been left waiting.

When she realised her feet were moving, she was already crossing the distance between them.

Lucian’s eyes followed her quietly.

One step. Then another.

Before Ruelle could stop herself, she flung her arms around him with force. Surprise flickered across his face.

brief moment, she felt his arm tighten around her waist and then the world tilted. Their feet tangled almost immediately and they stumbled backwards, collapsing

pressed against his chest as

his arms came around her. One settled across her back while the other slid beneath her shoulders, drawing her closer against him as though there had

into her hair and

without either of them

to her face. She finally lifted her head. As she shifted, he pushed himself upright as well. One of his arms remained loosely around her waist, preventing her

moment, neither

asked softly as she stared into his eyes. For a flickering moment, his expression revealed displeasure

stared at her before he glanced at

I’ve had," he answered and relief washed over Ruelle’s features. But then she felt him catch her hand that had the cut

widened. Did Maude tell

me happy. It was important," a small smile touched her lips. "Besides, if things had followed their original course, I doubt we would be sitting

"And?"

seemed like that wasn’t the right response with the way Lucian looked at her. A soft gasp escaped from her lips when she felt his thumb brush against

if it was

palm and planned for the day. How is it not important?" Lucian’s gaze lifted from

"I just thought—"

to wait for your turn. You don’t have to do it when it comes to me." Lucian leaned closer to her and he

words left her wordless. Her mind turned to blank beneath his gaze, leaving nothing but the frantic beating of

best," and it seemed to deepen

more welcoming

Lucian’s eyes drifted to her lips, her

all the same. Without realising it, she found herself leaning closer and her eyes

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