Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 167: Stolen Art

"To avoid what happened before, I have arranged more staff here until the wedding," the elder minister said, just as the sound of carriage wheels came to a halt outside the mansion.

Ruelle’s attention briefly flickered towards the window.

The minister continued, "I hope you will accept it, Lord Azriel. After all, this is an important step."

"That is understandable," Lord Azriel replied, rising from the couch with the fluid grace of nobility. The minister followed, before they headed to the door—

"Make it two weeks. The wedding."

The elder minister paused and looked back at Lucian. His expression did not change and he replied,

"I only offered more time, as arrangements must be made and the matter announced."

"It is too long," Lucian returned.

"A short wait rarely harms a union," the minister replied with his eyebrows slightly raised.

"Restriction tends to make temptation far more... appealing," Dane chipped in with a sly smile, his eyes flicking to Ruelle’s neck briefly.

"Then it is for the best that Peyton oversees Miss Belmont. The consequences of breaching the treaty are already well understood," Minister Carnifex answered. "Given what such bonds entail, let us settle for twenty days."

The minister then turned to look at Ruelle as if assessing her. He informed, "I will have the midwife sent early tomorrow to the Slaters’ mansion. Good day."

Ruelle’s cheeks flushed slightly as she offered a polite bow.

Lord Azriel and the minister left the room, their footsteps fading.

"Twenty days is quite short to arrange a wedding, brother," Dane hummed, sitting one leg crossed over the chair while idly turning a toffee between his fingers. "Not to mention, from what I’ve heard, wedding gowns take longer than that. A month and a half, at the very least."

"There is already a gown, if time is the concern," Ruelle said as she remembered it. "It has not been used and it should still be at the tailor’s shop..." her voice trailed off when she caught Lucian staring at her unblinkingly.

"You won’t be wearing it," Lucian said, his fingers pressing lightly against the armrest before easing again.

knew any tailor who could prepare the gown on such short

you in something that was meant for someone else," Lucian remarked and Ruelle’s heart skipped a beat. His fingers closed over hers, firm enough

stared at Lucian for a moment before she nodded. She replied, "I will ask the tailor to give it to someone so that it can be used." They could drop by Brackenwell tomorrow. Someone who wouldn’t

man while Lucian had stayed single. She wondered how he had

the sheer weight of his gaze. The knowledge that this man, corrupted heart and dangerous and impossibly striking, wanted

their throat

Ms. Belmont and

spark laid too near to dry hay. Ruelle noticed a

woman’s chastity was under threat with a simple hold of

had gone sharp. And despite the words,

felt the emptiness where his warm hand

who doesn’t bear a mark, you seem to be unnecessarily strict, Peyton," Dane commented with a hint of amusement. He uncrossed his legs, standing from

to convenience, Mr. Slater. Your reassurance is unnecessary," her voice mechanical. She turned her attention back to Ruelle. "Now if I could know where Miss Belmont’s room is so that I could be assigned

added, "Also preferably not in the same corridor as his." She glanced at

Lucian’s eyes narrowed.

Lucian and she wouldn’t be sharing the room for the next few

a treaty condition to comply." A muscle worked beneath Lucian’s

unfazed. She replied, "Mr. Slater, you seem to be under a misunderstanding with the thought that we are keeping your beloved away from you. The soul bond will begin to cement in the next few

hand on Lucian’s hand before he could break the woman’s ribs. His gaze seemed to

take a look at

as Ruelle got up and made her way towards the

at Lucian

in the corridor

room was more than she could imagine. High ceilings with windows that let one view the garden

let her know as the woman stepped away from the bath. "Your trunk isn’t here

nodded, managing a smile. "Thank you."

eyes found

me

"I have, Miss."

meant she had met Lucian’s mother too. It was a shame... that she couldn’t remember anything. She wondered why

"I see," Ruelle murmured.

a bow before stepping out of the room, closing