Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 203: A Mother’s Blessing

Once Ruelle arrived at the Slaters’ mansion with others, Edward was led away to his room by Maude, while she and Lucian paid a visit to her stepmother and Caroline. Her stepmother looked no better than she did this morning, while Caroline looked like she could finally walk without throwing up.

Returning to their room, Ruelle removed the black dress she had worn to the funeral. Pulling a fresh dress over her shoulders, she sat down before the mirror.

The room was peaceful as if she hadn’t returned from burying a man.

Sitting in front of the mirror, she lifted the hairbrush almost absentmindedly.

One slow stroke and then another. She paused midway through brushing her hair when she remembered what Carnifex said about Lia. Sylvan could have easily pushed Lia as Ruelle and no one would have known...

The quiet sound of footsteps behind her gently pulled her away from the thought and she looked up to find Lucian standing behind her. Their eyes met in the mirror and he said, "Allow me."

Before she could answer, he took the brush from her hand.

"Did Carnifex say something to upset you?" He asked as she watched his reflection. His hand gathered a section of her hair carefully, almost as though afraid of pulling it, before drawing the brush through it in one smooth stroke.

"No... he didn’t say anything like that," Ruelle replied, slightly embarrassed that he brushed her hair far more gently than she ever did herself. She said, "It felt like he wants to make amends... or maybe I am just reading into it."

"Do you want him to make amends?" Lucian asked. The soft sound of bristles passing through her hair filled the room and she found it soothing.

"Are you going to... knock him out too if he doesn’t want to?" Ruelle teased him and she saw the smile ghost on his lips.

"I can if that is what you want." Upon Lucian’s answer, she shook her head. She saw a small smile appear on his lips. "Let me know when you want to visit him and I will send a word."

"Alright," Ruelle’s words were quiet.

Her eyes wandered back to the mirror almost on their own.

Lucian’s attention remained entirely on what he was doing. His expression hadn’t changed. There was something comforting about watching someone so composed perform something so ordinary with such care.

"You have changed me out of my clothes. Now brushed my hair," Ruelle acknowledged it out loud. "I want to do it too," came her earnest words.

"Ruelle."

Just hearing her name in his voice made something quietly flutter beneath her ribs. She noticed him looking at her through the mirror.

"Hm?"

"I want to take you somewhere."

answer escaped from her lips without much

allowing him to help her into it.

mansion, instead of walking towards the waiting carriages, Lucian led her through the gardens where the winter

weren’t leaving

unusual hour to take a

into evening, the last traces of sunlight filtering through the bare branches while the air carried the crisp bite of winter. Their footsteps crunched

the crunch their shoes made

that the woman hadn’t been informed. It had been a private moment with

them had questioned her directly, yet she had

Her house carried ingredients commonly used by witches and with Harold’s

night in the bed, Lucian had asked her if her aunt had witnessed her being

hers almost naturally. His fingers intertwined with hers so effortlessly that she

and Caroline to relocate farther south once they’re well enough to travel. That is if they

had broken her father’s hands and

a stop, Ruelle realised where

polished so carefully that even beneath the fading light its surface

the engraving

droplets of water still clung to its petals. A sign

towards the grave without another word. The wind moved quietly through the trees overhead, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and winter leaves, while the red rose resting

the headstone, his gaze lingering on the engraved name for so long that Ruelle found herself looking at it too. He lowered himself onto one knee and

thumb moved absently across the edge of the stone before becoming still again. "I thought if she had never entered this family, none

were spoken without bitterness. Almost as though enough years had

lowered her eyes as she

it all," Lucian’s voice grew softer

slight tension along his jaw. Yet somehow that quiet

it was never

of his mouth, so fleeting that had she looked away for even a second she might

of us did and I understand it now. You gave me someone worth coming home to. I think you would have liked the woman Ruelle has become. You looked forward to her becoming part of this family and I came because I

breath catch as warmth

going to marry her." His eyes never left the gravestone. "And

on the cold ground that she

guilt rose quietly before she gently pushed

here and you were kind to me. So kind that I feel guilty for not being able to thank you for it. I’ve met many people since then. But whenever I think about what a family should feel like..." her eyes drifted almost unconsciously towards

a space for her in this place, so strong that Ruelle doubted she would

the world people like Lucian. And Lord Azriel. And Brother Dane. And Maude. They’ve given me more kindness than I ever thought I

drew a