Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

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.

owner emerged from behind a counter, his smile

while Ruelle didn’t hear the words, her attention captured by the gems. She found herself drawn to a small sculpture near the front. It was a copy of

called across the shop and Lucian made his way to

when the door

like me to buy them for

turned to catch sight of a pureblooded vampire in a

from me, creating distance

the man smiled as if her

said, already turning away

the shop." The man reached out to catch her by

she heard glass shatter behind her. Startled,

the man coughed while

touch her," Peyton didn’t budge, her fingers wrapping tighter

from the floor. His face twisted with outrage

dare a lowly vampire place your hands on me?" his words dripped with

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

approaching them. "You should be certain before

scoffed, "This human was giving me the eyes and I only

you," Ruelle interrupted the man. "I was minding my own when

but then stopped when his eyes fell on the intricate markings on her

didn’t

next words carefully," Lucian interrupted, his tone dropping. "I

he couldn’t quite swallow. His

The door chimed as

wants to show you something," Lucian said, drawing her

thief?" the shopkeeper asked with a bewildered expression after hearing the glass crash and he found the shattered

something that wasn’t his.

broke my door! I ought to report him!" the

of," Lucian said. He glanced at Peyton,

Slater," the shopkeeper

him turning with something in his palms. It was a necklace made of solitaire diamonds. He smiled

you. Do you like

looked taken aback. If she actually wore that necklace around her neck, she would

with mock innocence. Then a grin cracked across his lips and he said, "If you don’t take it, it will

good taste," Ruelle managed a smile, the compliment coming easier than the acceptance. "Thank

Peyton and he started, "Do you want to help her wear it

woman didn’t miss a beat. Her fingers found the necklace and she moved behind Ruelle.

the soul bond," Dane tilted his head, studying the chain. He

woman stared back at him before

stepped closer. His hand reached for her neck, and when he touched the markings, the dark

indeed, Mr. Slater,"

that one." Then, as if unable to resist, he poked,

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

if it were time to restore the bond, Lucian’s fingertips brushed feather-light

neck as though reacquainting himself with something already his, her breath hitched. The

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

the heat and the intent behind it. As though, with the slightest movement, he

it," the shopkeeper announced with a slight bow, while Peyton stepped behind Ruelle to

stilled before he withdrew. He stepped back, the sound of his shoes quiet

respond to him. Warmth climbed beneath her skin, only to slip away the moment her gaze met