Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 209: Invitation To The Night

When it was time to leave the Elder Minister’s mansion, they gathered beside the waiting carriage. Carnifex informed them,

"I’ll see what else I can find about the Mirror Portal. Until then, it would be best not to let word of the fragment spread. There are people who would go to great lengths to find something like that."

Ruelle nodded. "I won’t." She was about to turn towards the carriage when Carnifex called her name.

"Ruelle," just when she turned, Carnifex stepped forward and hugged her. For a heartbeat, she was rigid. Not out of discomfort, but because she didn’t know how to be held by this man.

When Carnifex released her, Ruelle’s hands remained awkwardly at her sides for a moment. There was something in his expression that made her think he wanted to say more, but whatever the words were, they never came to his lips.

They climbed inside the carriage finally and left the mansion behind. Ruelle now leaned back against the seat, the tension in her shoulders eased with every mile away from the mansion. Turning to Lucian, she asked,

"Could we head to see the seamstress? I need to give him something to sew into the wedding gown."

Lucian knocked twice on the carriage wall. "Head to Noah’s shop," he ordered.

"Yes, Master Lucian," Claude’s voice came from outside, followed by the flick of reins and the clatter of hooves against cobblestone.

As her fingers traced idle patterns against the fabric of her skirt, she said, "Lady Amelia was surprisingly nice."

"She’s known to be an amiable lady in society." After a pause, he asked, "Were you worried she was going to chew you out?"

A small, reluctant smile tugged at Ruelle’s lips. She had prepared herself for her father’s wife to treat her with indifference, perhaps even quiet resentment. Instead, Lady Amelia had been surprisingly thoughtful.

"Carnifex and his wife have maintained neutrality for years. It’s why the lands haven’t tipped into chaos. And Lady Amelia was my mother’s friend," Lucian let her know. At this, her eyebrows rose in surprise, while he continued, "When my mother left the castle she went to live with my aunt—Maxine’s mother. Lady Amelia’s family were their neighbours."

"It feels like a small world," Ruelle murmured as everyone seemed to know someone.

The steady rattle of carriage wheels filled the silence as they travelled, accompanied by the sound of horses’ hooves against the road. She was watching the streets blur past the window when Lucian spoke again.

"I know you prefer dealing with things yourself rather than letting anyone know you’re in trouble," his dark red eyes were fixed on her when she turned to look at him. "But before you start experimenting, I want you to know which kinds take from you. And which don’t."

She immediately understood that this was about what Carnifex had explained about her mother exhausting her life force. Wanting to ease whatever worry had taken root in his mind, Ruelle reached for his hand. She replied,

"I’ll be careful. I won’t do anything that puts me in danger."

Lucian’s fingers closed around hers. "I mean it, Ruelle." The intensity with which he looked at her made her smile fade. He continued, "Many witches don’t live past thirty."

Ruelle’s eyebrows drew together. She replied, "I don’t think that’s true. The witch I met in Aunt Imogen’s town must have been fifty or sixty."

"And do you know what she did to live that long?" Ruelle fell quiet. He asked, "Would you be willing to sacrifice other people’s lives if it meant extending your own? Because I wouldn’t object if you did."

There wasn’t even the slightest hesitation in his expression. Ruelle searched his face, half expecting something there to soften the meaning of his words. If the choice were between her life and that of a stranger, Lucian already knew whose he would choose.

Ruelle swallowed. "I... no. I couldn’t do that."

Lucian’s eyes dropped to their joined hands. His thumb traced the line of her knuckles, slow and deliberate, as if memorising the shape of them. He replied,

"Then don’t touch magic that requires something you aren’t willing to give. Magic doesn’t create something from nothing. If you force the world to give you what it wouldn’t naturally give, it takes something in return."

The thought of her mother’s slow decline settled in Ruelle’s chest like a stone. A future already rewritten before she’d even drawn her first breath. Her fingers twitched against Lucian’s, the pressure of his grip a silent, unyielding anchor.

"I’ll learn before I use anything," she said, voice steady.

Lucian didn’t move but the fingers around hers finally eased, just enough for her to realize how tightly he’d been holding her. Not painfully. Not even possessively. Just... inescapably. As though some part of him feared she might disappear if he loosened his hold.

The realisation sent a strange, warm pulse through her veins.

"Perhaps the witch I borrowed the books from might know something about it," she offered, forcing her voice lighter. "She was helpful last time. I could take Hailey with me—"

"Why?"

Ruelle turned toward him. Lucian’s dark red eyes were fixed on her, unreadable as ever, but the space between them had shrunk. When had he leaned in? Her gaze flickered, traitorous, from his eyes to the cruel curve of his mouth.

Just for a second. Just long enough to forget what she’d been saying.

"Why Hailey?" he repeated, slower this time.

Oh, that was what he’d asked, Ruelle realised. A laugh bubbled up in her throat, nervous and bright.

"I thought you’d be busy," she replied before she could stop them. "You’ve had so much to take care of lately. I didn’t want to trouble you." She amended, "We could go together."

A quiet hum of approval left Lucian, and then he finally leaned back.

Ruelle turned to the carriage window so fast it should’ve been comical. Her eyelids fluttered shut. When she opened them again, the world outside was a blur of green. Her gaze flicked to the window’s dim reflection—her own face, flushed and wide-eyed and then to him.

Lucian was devastating. Even in the dim carriage, with little more than pale daylight catching the sharp planes of his face and the way his black strands of hair wavered, Ruelle found it difficult to look at him for too long without becoming painfully aware of herself.

She didn’t realise her fingers had tightened around his until his grip firmed in response.

his lips. He kissed the back of her hand tender enough to make Ruelle’s heart flutter as though

occupying your

answer slipped out before Ruelle could

Lucian turned it slightly in his grasp. His lips brushed against one of

have given disappeared entirely. The faintest hint of amusement touched Lucian’s eyes, as

were saying?" he

him, her thoughts now in considerably worse condition than

"How unfortunate."

carriage rolled over cobblestones. The carriage came to a stop in front

be right there," Lucian said, his voice a

"Ruelle!"

was no sign of her cousin. Her eyes briefly searched

you

g—" Edward’s words broke off abruptly when Hailey’s foot connected

and His Highness decided to bring me here." A place which was

Ruelle. "I saw the Slaters’ carriage, then recognised the coachman. I knew you had to be somewhere nearby." His eyes moved towards the shop. "Did you come

to hand in something,"

a maid instead of coming all

had almost reached the door when something made her slow. She glanced over her shoulder and the carriage remained where

door, she caught a glimpse of Lucian still seated inside, one arm resting casually beside him. Their eyes nearly met before the carriage door

steps faltered.

from view. He said, "You and Lucian left so abruptly. I even

snapping back to the prince.

to the mansion, it should be ready to serve." He pushed the door farther open and held it when Ruelle

around her as she entered, chasing away the chill that had followed them from the street. Her attention was soon drawn towards the seamstress who stepped into her view and she went to talk to

Ruelle, Hailey raised her eyebrows

at the look. "I

the doorway he still held open. "You do know

I know when my feelings aren’t reciprocated. You could learn something from

snapped

had spent together in the Slaters’ mansion, Edward had discovered precisely why she had wanted to come into town. She had originally hoped Mr. Hawksley would accompany her, only for him to say that he needed to rest. Edward, upon discovering her failed plans, had apparently decided that this

a quiet glare in his direction, only for the prince to raise his eyebrows "Did you just

small bow. "Of course not,

it disappeared into the back room. It didn’t take long for the seamstress to

towards the entrance. The bell above the door tinkled and her head turned almost immediately to check if Lucian had returned. But instead, it was a woman who brought a brief gust of cold air with her. She wore a fitted black dress beneath a dark coat, the neckline cut low

face, feeling faintly embarrassed, and she met the woman’s

"Good afternoon."

the woman was speaking to Noah, but he was occupied on the other side of the shop. The woman’s attention was unmistakably fixed on her. Seeing it would be

her gaze shifted to the prince

know who the woman was, simply stared at the

theatre that you visited a few days ago. We couldn’t help but think what a lovely couple you two made

she complimented the woman, "It was a

again, and Ruelle noticed Lucian step inside with his coat hanging on his shoulders. His gaze found her almost

replied, remembering the evening he had watched Ruelle enjoy the rehearsal. "We ended up getting back to

performances are considerably more interesting than the rehearsals

what was practised," Edward said with a thoughtful expression, where the

couples," the woman added with

Ruelle’s attention drift past her shoulder. Curious,

pleasant surprise. It has been some time since we last had the

his

you simply must bring your bride

met her," Lucian

surprise. She looked from Lucian to Ruelle before her eyes widened

realised. His Highness and she had spent the afternoon together at

gaze, a faint flush creeping into her cheeks. Somehow, it felt as though she had done

"It’s an understandable mistake. Miss Ruelle has a habit of putting people at ease. It’s one of her more dangerous qualities. Pair her

Ruelle? The way Lucian addressed even though calmly felt a little out

fleeting worry that she might have offended

still faintly embarrassed as she remembered the time she had tried to avoid Lucian, glanced at Lucian. When their eyes

theatre for the first time thanks to me,"

hardly qualifies as seeing

Lucian, Ruelle proposed,

She said, "As it is only performed once a week and the tickets usually sell out rather quickly, I would be delighted to reserve a private gallery

During her previous visit with Edward, they had remained on the lower floor, both too weary after the day’s events to climb another

to a theatre before," excitement brightened Hailey’s face. "We should definitely go! It would make a

had been quietly pinning the fabric against Hailey’s shoulder,

he murmured, which went unheard by most of them. It was more suited

His Majesty may require your presence. We did not inform him of our visiting the Slaters’ Mansion

He spoke to the woman, "We’ll need seven tickets." He glanced across the

drifted briefly towards Ruelle and Hailey,

would I," Hermes said,

well. I shall reserve the best seats in the gallery." She bowed her head into a graceful curtsy before adding with a playful smile, "I only hope you’ll reward us generously afterwards... or perhaps beforehand." With that, she walked to the assistant