Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 200: The Blood Between Us

Carnifex’s expression barely changed at the question and he walked to the stand, picking up the coat that hung there. He remarked, "For someone who doesn’t care about gossips, you seem rather interested in mine."

"I usually don’t," Lucian agreed. His gaze remained on Carnifex as the older vampire slipped his hands into his coat. "But Ruelle isn’t just another matter. I thought Sylvan had arranged the mansion. Then I realised it couldn’t have been prepared in only a few days and it would need to be approved by you."

At first, Lucian had dismissed it as another of Carnifex’s calculations. But the more he considered the treaty, the less it resembled politics. A treaty meant to unite two people had no need for a condition of chastity.

"Am I wrong?" Lucian asked, his eyes narrowing.

For a brief moment, the two men stared at each other. Carnifex looked like he regretted the decision of inviting him into his chambers. The Elder Minister then said,

"I am not obliged to tell you anything, Lucian. This is something between me and her. Also, I noticed that the scar on your neck hasn’t healed. Is something wrong?" He walked to the door with one hand on the handle of the door.

Lucian’s hand reached for the front of his neck and a slight smile appeared on his lips. "It is a gift," he replied.

Carnifex only frowned before he dismissed it. "Whatever it is, it is between Mira and me, or if Ruelle is my—"

"Achoo!" someone sneezed behind the door.

When the minister opened the door, Ruelle stood before him. She offered him a smile and said, "I—I was going to ask about Mother’s belongings... but... another time." Offering a bow, she turned and hurried out of there with her eyes going wide.

Carnifex’s face hardened and he glared at the pureblooded vampire in the room.

Lucian met the older vampire’s gaze without the slightest hint of remorse. He remarked, "It is better for her to know through your mouth than mine. After all, it is between you two." Without waiting for a response, he stepped past him. "I’ll see you later."

In the courtyard, Ruelle had climbed inside the carriage while her hands pressed on her lap. Her thoughts felt as though someone had scattered them across the snow. She would have considered it to be a joke or something she had imagined. But she had seen Carnifex’s face turn slightly startled.

She had only meant to ask about the mirror when she had overheard something that was not meant for her ears.

It didn’t take long for Lucian to enter the carriage and take a seat beside her. For a moment, neither of them spoke. To fill the silence once the carriage door closed, she asked, "Did they find Ezekiel in a... pile too?"

"Not yet, but if they don’t, a warrant will go out for his arrest," Lucian replied and when he knocked on the side, the carriage began to move. "Your sister is back and there are enough statements. With his disappearance it will solidify the case."

Ruelle gave a nod, even though her attention wasn’t completely there.

you want to talk about it?" Lucian

and she replied, "No. I think it is fine. Even Caroline is

his hand on hers, the warmth fading the weather that was pressing around her. Her eyes briefly glanced at her hand that disappeared behind his. He then said, "I meant about what you

eyebrows slightly

found out. She closed her eyes for a moment

a good thing you didn’t kill my father now. The actual one," she rambled while Lucian didn’t interrupt her. "How—How is it

reduce

Or if you don’t want to see Carnifex, that can be arranged." Lucian tucked a

some sort of bad luck when it comes to having a father," Ruelle

Lucian answered and it

her head against his shoulder, she asked, "If you think about it... they had an

Because if he had... she couldn’t imagine him raising another

deny her assumption.

never had children in their marriage, but no one knows if it was due to choice or circumstance. From what he said,

forget the look that had crossed Carnifex’s face. She was curious to know his

is biologically my father, then shouldn’t I have turned into a vampiress?" Ruelle asked as she pulled

that question. He noticed her

for a witch, because it depends on which lineage is stronger. There are abnormalities, but only

slightly against the uneven ground with the neighing of the horses as it continued

that, now that Carnifex and Peyton knew, it wouldn’t be too

and she said, "Maybe that is

here," Lucian hummed while he briefly glanced at

why he looks old. I thought that was my mother’s type," and she saw

will always have me," Lucian promised her and she interlinked her fingers

that had been said before rang in her mind and she replied, "And

the vampiress sat beside Claude, Ruelle allowed herself to

that mean that her mother had his heart? To spend a lifetime beside one person while loving another... Ruelle couldn’t imagine it. She wasn’t even sure she would

in her mind, Lucian lifted her hand and brushed his lips against her fingers. The simple gesture drew her back, warmth spreading through her hand until it reached somewhere

forest, far away from it, in the witch’s cottage, the witch said, "I need something that belongs to the

handkerchief that belonged to Ruelle. One that he had taken several months ago from her house. The witch took it in her hand and threw it into the pot of the cauldron, where a fire

looked frail with the amount