Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

"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.

After watching the doorway for another moment, she let out a quiet sigh before crouching to gather the things scattered across the floor. One by one, she placed the fallen books back into the box and her cousin helped her with it.

"Did you two expect one of you to get hurt?" Ruelle asked him before getting up and placing it on the table.

"You smell like herbs," Lachlan changed the subject.

Ruelle raised her sleeve to her nose and he was right. She must have grown numb at the smell and she decided to change her clothes before greeting the other people in the mansion.

"I heard you went to visit the Elder Minister."

"I did," Ruelle nodded with a thoughtful expression.

"How did it go?"

She smiled faintly. "They welcomed me kindly." But her smile faltered and she added, "I also learnt things I wish I hadn't."

Carnifex's expression resurfaced in her mind. The hesitation in 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 edge of the table.

Lachlan then asked her, "Do you want him to walk you down the aisle?" She turned to him. "He is your father. Traditionally, that place belongs to him."

She shook 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 in her lap.

"I will always be your family, Ruelle," 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 mind, I won't feel bad."

Ruelle smiled at his words and said, "Thank you for being considerate, Brother Lachlan."

By the hour of dinner, some of the officials had dropped by the Slater mansion to take another round of reports of what had occurred in the witch's house.

"Was there a reason for what both of you were doing in a witch's house, Mr. Slater?" one of the officers questioned with a look of suspicion.

"My fiance wanted to visit the town, as her aunt lives there. We were taking a walk when the person invited us, saying she knew her aunt," Lucian lied with a straight face.

Thankfully, Ruelle didn't have to answer much with Lucian, Lord Azriel and Prince Edward there. Prince Edward did most of the chasing away.

The rest of the night passed quietly, and Ruelle curled next to Lucian and fell asleep.

The following evening, the Slaters' Mansion had taken on a livelier atmosphere than usual. Servants 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 to look pretty, most of the servants were centred around Prince Edward.

Outside the mansion in the courtyard, three carriages stood waiting side by side beneath the fading evening sky, their polished black exteriors catching the warm glow of the lanterns that had already been lit around the estate. Coachmen adjusted the harnesses, while the horses exhaled fog.

"I wonder what play we are going to watch 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 am telling you," she said, placing her fingers on her temple as if she could see the future.

"There are many people who are going to attend it, I guess. If it is showcased only once a week," Ruelle answered, watching Hailey's hair being done by a maid. Her own hair was half-pinned in a cascade, while a few deliberate strands were left loose to frame her face.

Ruelle continued to speak, "The one Edward and I saw was quite interesting. With the music and light, it will be better than that." After a pause, she teased, "Have you decided not to court my cousin and wait for the charming man the witch said?"

Even though the witch had tried to cause harm, her predictions hadn't been false, thought Ruelle to herself.

Hailey sighed at the question. She answered, "I am trying, 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 you make it happen?"

"Me?" Ruelle raised her eyebrows.

"Yes! Ask Lucian's help and he will have it arranged with a snap of his fingers," Hailey snapped her fingers to emphasise it.

Ruelle laughed at her friend's words before nodding. "Okay, I 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 others. And also be friends with Brother Dane. "It would be nice if everyone got along," she murmured.

"Talking about getting along, Caroline is attending with us?" Hailey asked, to which Ruelle nodded.

"She is." She hadn't spoken to Caroline, as her sister seemed to avoid her and didn't speak much.

Someone knocked on the door and when they turned, Ruelle caught sight of Maude, who offered her a bow. The vampiress informed, "Miss Ruelle, Master Lucian is waiting for you. Your carriage has been prepared."

"Go on. I will catch you at the theatre," Hailey urged her with a wide smile.

And just as she reached the stairs, she found herself hesitating.

Because Lucian was there.

He stood at the foot of the stairs, clad in a black vest and coat so dark it seemed to drink the light around him. Only the crisp white of his inner shirt broke the monotony. His hair, usually left slightly wild, had been combed back in a way that made him look every inch the nobleman who was sharp, untouchable and dangerous.

And sensing her, he turned. The moment their eyes met, Ruelle's breath was caught in her chest. As she descended, the maroon gown she wore trailed behind her.

Lucian's expression barely gave away, but his gaze raked over her from head to toe. His dark eyes lingered 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, as if resisting the urge to reach out and take.

Before Ruelle reached the last step of the stairs, Lucian's hand extended. His long fingers slightly curled, palm upturned, and her heart stuttered. She slid her fingers into his, and the moment their skin touched, a spark ran up her arm.

Lucian's grip tightened, just for a second, before his thumb brushed over her knuckles, a gesture so subtle no one else would notice.

"If you keep looking at me like that, we may not make it to the carriage waiting outside," a ghost of a smile touched his lips. "Come," he led her away from there.

When they stepped outside the mansion, Ruelle caught sight of Brother Dane, who wore a red shirt over his coat, leaning against the carriage. Next to the third carriage, Lachlan stood and he smiled at her.

"You look beautiful, Ruelle," Lachlan complimented her.

"You as well," Ruelle smiled at her cousin, who had looked like he belonged in this place. She then said, "Take care of Hailey. She will be riding with you and Brother Dane."

"I will," her cousin responded.

"Lucian," Dane spoke to his brother with a saint-like smile. "You and Ruelle should go ahead."

Ruelle climbed inside the carriage, followed by Lucian, before the vehicle was finally pulled away from the mansion.

Edward arrived next with Hermes walking a respectful step behind him. A few moments later came Caroline and Hailey, followed by Sawyer, Angelina and Oliver, who exchanged a few quiet words amongst themselves as they approached.

Edward swept his gaze over the small crowd before abruptly pointing at Caroline. "You there," he declared. "You're riding with us. That way I can keep an eye on you."

Caroline blinked in surprise. She then reasoned, "Your Highness... I cannot travel with you unless a maid or another young lady accompanies me."

"Simple enough," Dane said lightly before Edward could answer. "Angelina can ride with you." Angelina slowly looked at her cousin, her expression perfectly blank. "What could possibly make someone feel safer than being surrounded by pureblooded vampires?"

Caroline's shoulders visibly stiffened. She replied, "I think I would much rather have Hailey accompany me."

Hailey's face fell as she had spent the better part of the afternoon planning how to casually find herself in Lachlan's carriage. She turned to Caroline and smiled, "You think they are going to suck you dry? I will," she muttered the last words under her breath.

Dane remained outside the carriage with his arms loosely crossed, the faintest trace of amusement still lingering on his face. As Oliver climbed inside ahead of Angelina, she paused at the carriage step and turned to look at her cousin.

"Your claws are showing," her voice remained as flat as ever.

Dane's smile only deepened. "Is it?"

Angelina didn't bother responding. She stepped inside the carriage where Lachlan had already gotten in, leaving Dane standing there for another heartbeat before he followed after her. Moments later, the coachman flicked the reins, and the carriage rolled out through the mansion gates.

Sawyer clapped his hands together and remarked, "One shilling, in you go."

Hailey's eye twitched. Of all the nicknames...for it to have stuck to her. She silently ground her teeth before climbing into the carriage, Caroline following close behind her. Sawyer stepped into the prince's carriage as though none of it concerned him.

Nearly fifteen minutes into the journey, the steady rhythm of wheels against the road abruptly changed for the third carriage that had left the mansion last.

A loud crack echoed beneath the third carriage, followed by a violent jolt that forced the coachman to pull on the reins. The carriage moved to one side before coming to a halt in the middle of the road.

"Sire, the carriage has broken down," the coachman informed.