Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 158: Claim Made at Midnight

No amount of stress Ruelle had endured before could measure up to this moment. Her heart paused for the briefest moment, and the edges of her vision began to blur.

King Septimus had just finished speaking, Hermes standing at his side with his head bowed in quiet obedience. Ruelle’s eyes returned to where Lucian was and she realised this was a bad time.

Not here, her mind whispered in panic.

And when Lucian took a step toward her, she took a step back. It was small but he saw it. His gaze stilled before his eyes narrowed.

Ruelle swallowed. She hadn’t meant to step back. Her body had reacted before she could think. She noticed something shift behind his eyes and she knew she shouldn’t have.

She tried to think of how to fix it—when suddenly Edward stepped in front of her, blocking everyone behind him.

"What are you doing here? I’ve been waiting by the carriage this whole time—" He stopped mid-sentence, frowning. "And you were here?"

Ruelle hadn’t moved, her features frozen.

The prince didn’t think about it. He simply reached out, catching her hand and said, "Come, there’s much to be done," and he pulled her away before she could react.

And though Ruelle looked calm on the surface, internally she was freaking out.

Everything felt out of place, but it wasn’t the king that stayed with her. It was the look in Lucian’s eyes. She told herself she would speak to him later, when she returned to the room. The bidding was only tomorrow and—

"Quick. Get in," Edward said, standing next to the carriage.

Ruelle gathered her skirt and stepped. She barely had time to settle before Edward climbed in after her, shutting the door with a firm click. But the carriage did not move.

"Look," the prince whispered. She followed his line of sight and caught one of the royal carriages had already begun to move, rolling past the gates of Sexton. Soon another followed behind it after a few seconds.

"Father sure likes to keep an eye. Let them go ahead. We will have our time without being watched," Edward let out a breath as he muttered.

"I don’t know if this is a good idea," Ruelle muttered, remembering the last time he had been stabbed. She gave him a look and stated, "You’re worse than me."

Edward rolled his eyes with a soft huff. He said, "Don’t say that. I just wasn’t careful last time. This time, I’ve planned it properly, ha." After a pause, he added, "You looked terrified back there and I thought it will help you too. Father must have frightened you the last time you met him."

She could use some time away from King Septimus. It felt as though he followed without moving, present no matter where she turned. Then, as if something crossed her mind, she asked,

"Even if you lose him now, won’t he just find you again? With his abilities... like the mist?"

Edward laughed under his breath, clearly pleased with himself. He said,

"My mother gave me this," he said, lifting his hand and wiggling his fingers where a signet ring rested on his index finger with a black stone. He continued, "See it?" It wipes the trail of whoever wears it and people around it. Father won’t find me that easily. It was made by one of the first-generation witches," he leaned back saying it.

Ruelle’s gaze lingered on the ring. If his mother had needed something like that... she could only imagine what it had been like living under the king.

"Besides, I had a human woman and a male vampire take the other carriage. No one will question it," Edward added with a shrug.

"You put a lot of thought into it," Ruelle murmured and she received a grin from him.

Ruelle looked out through the window. The buildings of Sexton slipped behind the trees disappearing little by little until there was nothing left to see. Her hands tightened in her lap as she tried to steady her breathing. At some point along the way, she had begun to pray to not get into trouble.

They travelled for nearly an hour before the carriage slowed to a stop outside an inn. Edward reached into his coat and pulled out a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles, setting them carefully on the bridge of his nose. He asked her,

"Well? How do I look?"

"I can barely recognise you," Ruelle replied with a flat tone.

Edward ran a hand through his hair, pleased. "That good?" and he laughed.

Once they stepped inside the inn, Ruelle noticed it was empty. The air held a faint warmth, the kind that lingered even without a crowd. A man appeared almost at once, bowing quickly. The man then took their orders in a hurry before disappearing back inside, leaving them alone.

As Ruelle looked out the window, she heard Edward say,

"Don’t worry about my father right now... or anything else. Just—" he paused as if searching for the right words, "let these few hours be yours and mine. I want you to feel better."

"I am not worried," Ruelle lied.

Edward frowned and pointed, "You’ve sighed six times since we left Sexton."

She didn’t say anything for a moment before she said, "I’m surprised you know a place like this."

"Pfft, what do you take me for? Of course I know this place—and every other one. I—" he stopped when she gave him a look. "...Alright. I didn’t," he admitted, almost too quickly. "Hermes brought food from here once. He was eating it in the castle and it smelled incredible. So I wanted to see it for myself."

He then leaned forward slightly, and asking, "What about you? Do you have places you like to go to? Or... somewhere you’ve wanted to visit?"

I was always in the village my family lived in. Helping my family. But there were moments when my sister and I would run errands. And if we could, we’d stop to

brows drew together and he muttered,

small laugh, replying, "It

At the same time, warm dishes were brought to the table one by one, the faint scent rising between them. He then went on,

make me feel bad for refusing you?" Ruelle asked, her

a look of

then gestured toward the table, already moving. He said, "Come on. At least

food was rich and warm. Far better than anything she had tasted in a long while. But even after she was full, the table was still crowded with untouched

place," he said lightly, pushing himself to his feet. He reached into his coat and dropped a small

all of this?" she asked noticing

full," he pointed out.

she turned toward the innkeeper and asked, "Could

face and he asked, "What for? It is going to get cold. We

outside with Edward close behind. She adjusted her hold on it before glancing at him. She asked him,

almost as if the suggestion was ridiculous. He responded, "Why would I? I’ve never carried anything in my life. I’ll have the coachman

he could reach for the parcel, she moved it away and replied, "No. You

to argue or not. But then

carry things? What is this little

only smiled faintly and suggested, "What do you think of

walking side by side through the quieter streets of town. The cold had driven most people indoors. Shop doors

ahead. She reached out to

jerking her head toward something down

on them,

"You want children?"

by surprise. She

the look of uncertainty flicker across his face, she asked,

a short, offended laugh. "They’re barely taller than

as he reached their side, suddenly unsure what to do with

children took it hesitantly and bowed. Edward gave a stiff nod, his ears tinging faintly pink before he turned and made his way

had Hermes do that. Or one of the

it feel... nicer?" Ruelle asked looking at him. "When

over his shoulder, watching the children open the parcel, their hands moving

under his breath, he said, "...a little,

but her shoe slipped against the hardened snow ground. A small gasp escaped her before she could steady herself, but Edward caught her at once, his hand firm

slowly forming, "At this rate,

my weak ankles," Ruelle

before he began, almost thoughtfully, "You

into something quieter and he watched that shift

about it," he went on, slower now, as if piecing his thoughts together. "Why you would look like that when you have every reason not to...and I wondered if

"Do you?" he asked.

it out loud... but in the past week, Lucian had begun to occupy her thoughts more than he should have. The lines he had

who was watching, sighed under his breath, the disappointment

it is," Edward murmured, the words

back, unsure if she should give the name. And just

far as I can tell... you’re

until they were on the road again. When it finally came to a stop, Ruelle stepped down and looked up to catch sight of a tall and

stood by the entrance and bowed as they

carved and chandeliers hung overhead, their light catching on the polished floor. They handed over their coats and

a high dome rose above them, with rows of seats set in a curve. At the far

It was a theatre.

the stairs. There was a hint of satisfaction in his

private galleries and took a seat without hesitation. She murmured, "This

fixed on the stage. For a brief moment, the weight she carried seemed to loosen. She didn’t think about the king. Or the guards. Or what waited for her and

lost in it, the prince wasn’t looking

first surprise and then a frown before a quiet smile settled on her lips. And it was the most beautiful one, more than his. There was a softness to her. Not fragile

had only been interested in her. A human who had caught his attention. But somewhere along the way, that had shifted without him noticing. Now, he found himself watching for her reactions. Not

faint bitterness settled in his chest and his lips

who it was... who had caught her attention. Maybe someone extraordinary, he thought

her attention. Her gaze left the stage as she looked at

must be bored. We

stay a while longer,"

her attention drifting

her instead, as though keeping her here would

the play as he had already heard of

could find something to eat," he added, pulling out his pocket watch and glancing at it. "Though it’s rather late

lightly and replied, "I’ll skip it.

small nod. They rose from their