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?"

Helping my family. But there were moments when my sister and I would run errands. And if we could, we’d stop

together and he

small laugh, replying,

by one, the faint scent rising between them. He then went on, "I was going to take you back to the fair but I think I have a better place in mind. Though I

feel bad for refusing you?" Ruelle asked,

with a look of disbelief. He corrected,"Edward. Just

gestured toward the table, already moving. He said, "Come on. At least let me try before

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

place," he said lightly, pushing himself to his feet. He reached into

she

her gaze briefly before shrugging, unconcerned. "You’re full," he pointed

Without waiting for him, she turned toward the innkeeper and asked, "Could you

look of confusion on his face and he asked, "What for? It is going to get cold. We can go always come back to eat

Ruelle took the parcel from the innkeeper and stepped outside with Edward close behind. She adjusted her hold

the suggestion was ridiculous. He responded, "Why would I? I’ve never carried anything in my life.

moved it

pause as Edward frowned. He looked like he was deciding whether to

things? What is this little parcel going

smiled faintly and suggested, "What do you

streets of town. The cold had driven most people indoors.

while, looking ahead. She reached out to tug on

jerking her head toward something down the

street. Their coats hung loose on them, worn thin and patched over so

"You want children?"

question catching her by surprise.

look of uncertainty flicker across his face,

a short, offended

their side, suddenly unsure what to

gave a stiff nod, his ears tinging faintly pink before he turned and made his way back. When he reached her side again, he fixed his

could have had Hermes do that.

doesn’t it feel... nicer?" Ruelle asked looking at him.

the parcel, their hands moving quickly, as if afraid it might be

under his breath, he

ground. A small gasp escaped her before she could steady herself, but

down at her, a grin slowly forming, "At this rate, I think

are my weak ankles," Ruelle gave him a small

"You

something quieter and he watched

if piecing his thoughts together. "Why you would look like that when you have

"Do you?" he asked.

more than he should have. The lines he had once kept between them had started to blur. And each time

the disappointment quiet and his face tightening

that’s how it is," Edward murmured, the words quieter than before. He questioned

took a step back, unsure if she should give the name. And

few hours. And as far as I can tell... you’re not spoken for yet," he said with a

road again. When it finally came to a stop, Ruelle stepped down and looked up

the entrance and bowed as they

eyes moved without pause. The walls were carved and chandeliers hung overhead, their light catching on the

set in a curve. At the far end was a stage, where actors moved across it, going over their lines, while a pianist sat

It was a theatre.

stairs. There was a hint of satisfaction in his voice before he asked, "Do you want to see it from

private galleries

found herself leaning forward without realising it, her attention 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 she

the prince wasn’t looking at the stage

shift from 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 but unguarded in a

first he 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 wanting them

settled in his chest

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

attention. Her

bored.

longer," Edward replied with a

drifting back to the

instead, as though keeping her here

time, Edward spent his time explaining about the play as he had already heard of it. When the actors began to pack their things, Edward let her

a little longer if you want or we could find something to eat," he added, pulling out his pocket watch and

head lightly and replied, "I’ll skip it. I’m

small nod. They rose from