Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 171

Chapter 171: A Visit To The Dungeon

"I will send a word when the clothes are ready and the fittings need to be checked," Noah wiggled his fingers in farewell.

Ruelle walked between Lucian and Dane and as they walked past the shops, she doubted she could find something for Lucian here. Not because there wasn’t anything worthy but because anything in these shops would cost more than her blood. She didn’t want to buy a gift for him with the money he had given her, as it felt wrong.

Having spent more than two hours at the seamstress’s shop, the town had woken fully in that time. The number of pureblooded vampires on the streets had increased. Most of the men and women offered a bow every time they walked past the Slater brothers as if acknowledging hierarchy.

Ruelle’s eyes then fell on a man who was dragging a woman by a metal chain which was connected to the woman’s collar, who stumbled behind him, her feet bare against the cold and her face in distress. She protested,

"I am not a slave! I have been cheated!" she tried to pull away and run, "Let me—"

But the vampire’s hold only tightened and he harshly tugged the chain for the woman to almost fall. His hand came next, striking across her cheek. The woman’s lips trembled, a small sound escaping that was more animal than human.

"Another word and I will have you crawl," threatened the vampire, who didn’t look angry but bored. "Shut up and follow me."

Ruelle’s eyes hardened at the sight and her footsteps slowed down. None of the other people around looked bothered by the scene.

"Please—Please—" the bound woman sobbed.

Conflicted, Ruelle’s feet subconsciously moved in their direction.

"Don’t," Lucian said, his gaze steady. "She belongs to him now."

"Her neck looks like it is going to snap..." Ruelle pointed out, watching the pureblooded vampire harshly drag the woman.

"You know how it works," Lucian responded. "Once she’s sold and the exchange is made, unless he chooses to release her himself. Interfering won’t change that."

Knowing it didn’t make it easier to accept. This was the harsh truth of the world they lived in. Just because she had met the good ones, it didn’t mean the worse didn’t exist.

"What if something happens to the pureblooded vampire?" Ruelle’s question came soft, searching for loopholes. "Will the slave be set free then?"

"If a pureblood dies?" Lucian asked as they continued to walk. "Ownership passes to the one who killed him. If it’s a natural death, it goes to his heir."

Like inheriting land, thought Ruelle to herself.

She hadn’t realised the intensity of the situation before when Sexton was picking the failing students to end up in the bottom of the barrel, ones who would turn to slaves.

She’d been sheltered and protected, unlike the other humans. Then as if something clicked in her mind, she asked him,

"What would have happened if I failed in the subjects then?"

It wasn’t like Lucian was fond of her then, not to mention he had gambled with failing her in the assignment of seduction techniques.

"You wouldn’t have failed," Lucian answered, as if it had never been in question. "You were using my books."

"It would have been quite interesting if you had," Dane’s amused voice entered.

On another thought, Brother Dane had never said a word about not wearing the earrings. He had never warned her about the contract Sexton bound the groundlings with. Was he waiting for Lucian to make a move?

But what if Lucian’s hatred toward humans had been stronger? What if he’d simply let her fall into Sexton’s grasp rather than fight for her? Now that she thought about it, it was a miracle... that things had even turned out this way.

They came to stop before a shop that glittered even from the outside. The bell above the door chimed softly as they entered. It was a jewellery shop.

The stones and gems were placed in precise lines, each one showcased like a work of art. Rubies, the colour of fresh blood and sapphires deeper than midnight. The lanterns burned brightly despite the afternoon sun, and the stones sparkled in response.

afternoon," the owner emerged from behind a counter, his smile practised with a bow. "How may I

didn’t hear the words, her attention captured by the gems. She found herself drawn

do you think of this one?" Dane’s voice called across the shop and Lucian made his

next design when the door chimed behind her. The customer looked at the gems before he

like me to

of a pureblooded vampire in a blue coat, his eyes watching her

responded and took two more steps away from me, creating distance that he immediately tried to

they are rather lovely-looking," the man smiled as if her rejection amused

them," Ruelle said, already turning away and heading

watching them when I was walking past the shop." The man reached out to

to the room where she was and she smiled when she heard glass shatter behind her. Startled, she turned and saw Peyton holding the man down

hell?!" the man coughed while recovering from the

not touch her," Peyton didn’t budge, her fingers wrapping tighter around the man before

vampire pushed himself up from the floor. His face twisted with outrage

place your hands on me?" his words dripped

unmoved. Ruelle’s fingers found the fabric covering her neck and she slowly unwrapped

Wilder," Lucian remarked, approaching them. "You should

human was giving me the eyes and I only continued what she

interrupted the man. "I was minding my own when he

eyes fell on the intricate markings on her neck. Trying to shift the blame

she didn’t

carefully," Lucian interrupted, his tone dropping.

if chewing on words he couldn’t quite swallow. His lips pursed, white with pressure. He then apologised through gritted teeth, "Sorry

for the door. The door chimed as it closed, while

Lucian said, drawing her attention from the

hearing the glass crash and he found the

reached for something that wasn’t his. It’s been dealt with,"

man again. A month ago he broke my

see that it’s taken care of," Lucian said. He glanced at

Slater," the

him turning with something in his palms. It was a necklace made of

to you. Do

taken aback. If she actually wore that necklace around her neck, she would spend every moment terrified of losing it. She replied,

thought it was little," Dane’s response came with mock innocence. Then a grin cracked across his lips and he said, "If you don’t take it, it

a smile, the compliment coming easier than the

started, "Do

miss a beat. Her fingers found the necklace and she moved behind Ruelle. The clasp clicked and Ruelle felt

Dane tilted his head, studying the chain. He turned to Peyton,

back at him before replying,

when he touched the markings, the dark patterns faded into her skin as

choice indeed, Mr. Slater," the shopkeeper

one." Then, as if unable to resist,

attention to the exchange. Her eyes had found Lucian’s,

to restore the bond, Lucian’s fingertips brushed feather-light against her

slid slowly along her skin, tracing the line of her neck as though reacquainting himself with something

his hand didn’t stop there. It hovered, curved at the side of

she could feel the heat and the intent behind it. As though, with the slightest movement, he could close his grip

announced with a

withdrew. He stepped back, the sound of

skin, only to

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