Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 204: A Gentle Suggestion

Back inside the mansion, the sound of a sharp slap echoed through one of the quieter corridors. Caroline stared at her cousin in disbelief, one hand pressed against the reddening mark on her cheek. Tears welled almost immediately, more from shock than pain, her lips trembling as she struggled to find words.

"How could you..." she whispered before her voice rose. "I’m sick."

Lachlan’s expression hadn’t changed. If anything, it had become colder as he replied, "Then perhaps you should be resting in bed instead of wandering through the house accusing your sister."

The quiet disappointment in it stung far more than if he had shouted. Caroline laughed bitterly, shaking her head. She said,

"Father died because of a witch. Everyone keeps pretending none of it matters anymore! Am I not even allowed to say what I think?"

"No," the answer came immediately and Lachlan took one slow step towards her. "You are allowed to grieve. But you are not allowed to use grief as an excuse to become cruel."

Resentment flickered across Caroline’s face and her jaw tightened. "You always take her side!"

Lachlan stared at Caroline, knowing fully well that his uncle had never treated Caroline harshly. All those things were directed at Ruelle. He sighed before saying,

"Listen to me carefully, Caroline." Lachlan’s voice lost what little patience remained. "Whether you like it or not, Ruelle is part of the Slater family now. If you continue speaking like this, you’ll invite trouble you won’t be able to survive."

Caroline’s lips trembled. For a second Lachlan genuinely thought she might apologise. Instead, she glared at him through tear-filled eyes, turned on her heel and stormed away. Her footsteps echoed down the corridor and a moment later, a door slammed.

lingered long after

silence returned did he quietly rub the bridge of

a lazy voice came from down the corridor. "Her father’s blood runs

other. The smile that tugged at the corner of his lips was small, but it deepened by

would be kinder to silence her before she becomes troublesome," the words were delivered so lightly that, for a fleeting moment, Lachlan

the irritation in his voice. "There are other ways to help people besides killing

lifted with what looked

pureblooded vampire’s lips. "And who

like secretly mixing your so-called medicine into people’s food? I knew

himself away from the wall. He

came to stand

unsettling there. It was obvious that this person wasn’t right in the head or maybe most of the pureblooded

"Whatever."

he wanted nothing more than to find a

would solve more problems. I’ve already invested in this and would

muttered, "With the way you speak. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were

a smile while the human’s eyes moved to his hand with suspicion. "If you’re serious about protecting them, keep watching them," his voice drifted back almost lazily. "You

quiet rhythm of approaching footsteps echoed through