Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 211: The Third Carriage

"His Highness hasn’t returned, but the Ravencrofts are here," Maude continued to report at the entrance, to which Lucian gave a nod. "They are in the drawing room."

Ruelle rested her hand over Lucian’s and instinctively leaned closer, lowering her voice as though sharing a secret. She said, "I’ll go and see my cousin."

Lucian nodded. But before she could step away, he caught her gently by the wrist and pressed a kiss against her temple. Warmth rushed to her cheeks. Her eyes quickly fell on Maude, who looked ahead, as though she had witnessed nothing at all.

"I’ll see you in the drawing room," Lucian said.

Ruelle smiled before making her way through the mansion.

The long corridors had grown quieter with the approaching evening. Lamps and lanterns had already been lit along the walls, their golden glow stretching across the polished wooden panels while the last traces of daylight filtered through the tall windows. As she passed one of them, she paused for a brief moment. The heavy clouds that had followed them throughout the weeks had begun to thin, allowing ribbons of pale blue to emerge once more.

She then continued to walk in the direction of Lachlan’s room. The door wasn’t completely shut and she pushed the door open.

"Cousin Lachlan, why didn’t you go with Hai—"

The rest of the sentence disappeared. A box was left scattered on the ground and her cousin was sitting on the floor, but not alone.

One hand of his had twisted tightly into the front of Dane’s shirt and so were Brother Dane’s hands on her cousin’s. Though Dane laid flat on his back with all the composure of someone merely taking an afternoon nap.

For one long, quiet moment, they simply stared at Ruelle, who stood at the door.

"...We were sparring," Lachlan said too quickly.

Ruelle blinked. His face was unusually red and Brother Dane looked amused.

"Indeed," said the pureblooded vampire smoothly as they let go of each other’s shirts. Once Lachlan stood up while glaring at the man, Dane rose with an effortless grace despite the faint redness colouring one cheek. "I’ll leave you two to catch up." His smile widened ever so slightly as he walked past Ruelle.

Only when she saw Dane disappear at the corner of the corridor did she look back at Lachlan, whose lip had a cut and this had her frown. She asked him,

"Do you and Brother Dane not get along?"

Lachlan finally looked at her. The concern in her expression had him quickly respond, "Of course not."

"I know you don’t think highly of vampires," Ruelle continued gently, "but the Slaters are good people. And Brother Dane is as important as you are to me. He looked after me when I first came to Sexton."

Only because it benefited his younger brother, Lachlan thought to himself. That one wasn’t a fox but a hyena. His jaw tightened at the memory that flashed uninvited into his mind, which had occurred a moment before she had arrived.

Managing a smile, Lachlan replied, "You’re worrying over nothing. Everything is fine between us. It is common for men to spar with each other. It is how you get to know each other."

Ruelle still didn’t look entirely convinced.

watching the doorway for another moment, she let out a quiet sigh before crouching to gather the things scattered across the

expect one of you to get hurt?" Ruelle asked him before getting up and placing it on

like herbs,"

grown numb at the smell and she decided to change her clothes before greeting the other people

you went to visit

nodded with a

"How did it go?"

me kindly." But her smile faltered and she added, "I also learnt things I

his eyes before he had finally spoken. The quiet guilt of a father who had watched eighteen years pass from afar. Without realising it, her fingers tightened slightly against the

aisle?" She turned to him. "He is your father.

her head and replied, "That place belongs to you. It has only been two days since Father and I truly came to know one another. But you’ve always been my family." Her eyes lowered to her hands resting neatly

Lachlan let her know, his words gentle. He then chuckled and said, "I’m not saying I wish to give up the honour. But if you ever change your

at his words and said, "Thank you for being considerate,

had dropped by the Slater mansion to take another round of reports of what had occurred in the

there a reason for what both of you were doing in a witch’s house, Mr. Slater?" one of the officers

a walk when the person invited

Ruelle didn’t have to answer much with Lucian, Lord Azriel and Prince Edward there.

and Ruelle curled next to Lucian and fell

moved briskly through the corridors with neatly folded garments, polished shoes and trays carrying refreshments, their footsteps echoing across the floors before disappearing up the grand staircase. Although it appeared as though the household was getting the young women prepared

polished black exteriors catching the warm glow of the lanterns that had already been lit around the estate. Coachmen adjusted the

tonight." Hailey couldn’t conceal her excitement. "Not to mention being in the company of the high-standing society. Tonight is the night, Ruelle. I

to attend it, I guess. If it is showcased only once a week," Ruelle answered, watching Hailey’s hair being done by

than that." After a pause, she teased, "Have you decided not to court my cousin and

though the witch had tried to cause harm, her predictions hadn’t been false, thought Ruelle to

but somehow the time is just not matching. Maybe I can ask to be seated next to him in the private gallery today?" she wore a thoughtful expression. "Can

Ruelle raised her

have it arranged with a snap of his fingers," Hailey snapped her

will ask him to help you out." She had pushed her cousin to attend the theatre so that he could spend some time with the

with us?" Hailey asked, to

spoken to Caroline, as her sister seemed to avoid her

offered her a bow. The vampiress informed, "Miss Ruelle, Master Lucian is waiting for you. Your carriage has

the theatre," Hailey urged her with a

as she reached the stairs, she found herself

Because Lucian was there.

it seemed to drink the light around him. Only the crisp white of his inner shirt broke the monotony. His hair,

he turned. The moment their eyes met, Ruelle’s breath was caught in her chest. As she descended, the maroon

on her neck, the faint flush on her cheeks. For a heartbeat, the world narrowed to that look alone, the way his fingers twitched at his side,

long fingers slightly curled, palm upturned, and her