Claimed by the Prince of Darkness-Chapter 113: An Innocent Misunderstanding

When Ruelle felt the sting of Lucian’s teeth on her neck, her fingers curled faintly into the sheets beneath her and her eyes closed on instinct. The place where he bit throbbed with warmth and not pain exactly. Like a heat that bloomed and slowly began to spread beneath her skin.

Her hand rose without thinking, trembling as she touched the spot. But it was dry and she saw no blood. He didn’t drink from her? Nothing about this situation was making sense to her.

Lucian reached for a strand of her hair where it lay against her collarbone and drew it slowly through his fingers. The touch was careful, almost reverent but the look in his eyes was anything but that.

Ruelle gulped, her throat tight before she managed to speak, "W–why did you bite me?"

"Why... shouldn’t I?" Lucian murmured.

Was he asking or telling her??

Somewhere in the back of Ruelle’s mind, alarm bells began to ring. She should move, she thought to herself.

But the moment the thought began to form, he leaned closer and her breath caught helplessly in her throat and her body went still beneath the weight of his presence.

"Did something happen in the ball?" she whispered, her voice barely there. "You don’t seem yourself..."

For a second, his eyes shifted to something deeper, like something behind them had finally stepped forward instead of holding back.

And right now, Ruelle wasn’t sure if she should fear or lean into the look in his eyes.

"I’ve never been more myself than I am right now," he said with his voice low and unguarded. "You have a talent for finding trouble, always testing my restraint. Watching other people touch you when I’ve taken such care not to touch you myself. Do you know what that does to a man who’s trying to behave?"

Lucian watched her stare back at him, wide-eyed. A week ago when he had opened the door, he had found her standing on the chair with her skirt tied up, revealing her ankles without guard.

He had turned away not from the sight, but from the quiet, unwelcome image that had flashed in his mind— of fastening something around her dainty ankles.

His fingers now loosened on her hair, letting the strands slip through. His voice lowering near her ear as he asked,

"Tell me, Ruelle... would you rather I locked the door or burn everything outside it?"

"B-burn?" Ruelle stuttered, her eyes swirling in haziness when she felt his cool breath on her ear. "Why burn?"

"So you don’t mind being locked?"

He pulled back just enough for their eyes to meet. Ruelle’s thoughts ceased at the sight of a smile ghosting over his lips.

Lucian was possessed!

Before she could say another word, his eyes slowly slid shut. The next moment, his body tipped forward, like the tension had been cut loose all at once and his forehead came to rest against her shoulder.

"Lucian?" she called, worry slipping into her voice.

Ruelle turned carefully, catching sight of his closed eyes and the slow rise and fall of his chest. "Did you fall...asleep?" She blinked, especially after what he did! Or did the ghost leave?

She had never seen him asleep before at least not this close. His hair was slightly dishevelled now, nothing like how it had looked earlier when she’d danced with him. The usual frown and sharpness in his eyes were gone.

Flustered, she tried to move and awkwardly rolled to her side, slipping out from under his weight. Her heart was still racing for reasons that had nothing to do with fear anymore.

She sat on the couch for five whole seconds before springing back up again. The memory of his lips against her skin sent a fresh wave of warmth through her, right down to her toes. Blood rushed right back into her cheeks.

No. No. Stop thinking about it, Ruelle!

"I need air," she muttered to herself, pressing her hands against her burning cheeks.

Opening the door, she felt the icy air greet her and she picked the first and closest thing her hand could grab, which was the grey coat. She slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her.

It was only after two minutes she realised she hadn’t changed her gown.

Far from where Ruelle walked the quiet corridor, in the next building, Dane stepped into the staff room and paused at the sight of stacked wooden boxes against the wall. Gemma Gilbert stood nearby with a liquor bottle in hand and her sleeves rolled.

"What’s all this?" Dane asked, nudging a box with the tip of his shoe. "Planning to quit Sexton?"

Gemma snorted in response. "I’m moving these to my place to make some room here." Reaching into a cupboard, she pulled out two glasses and poured the burnt-amber liquor into them.

"Thanks," Dane murmured, taking one glass from her.

Gemma took a sip, closing her eyes briefly before she remembered and gossiped, "Minister Griswold threw a fit tonight about Mortis sending him a vampiress instead of the human he asked for."

Dane let out a quiet chuckle and murmured, "I can imagine." He swirled the drink lazily, adding, "Still... surprising Mortis had a slip-up."

"It wasn’t Mortis. The minister gave the wrong name," Gemma said, tipping her head back against the shelf.

Dane hummed, faint amusement flickering in his eyes.

He leaned toward one of the boxes and pulled out a worn book, flipping through the pages and asked, "What’s a potion manual doing with you?"

"They are charm potions and some breakers," Gemma replied absentmindedly, watching Dane flip through the pages.

Dane chuckled in amusement and questioned, "How strange to use gloaim-salt to create a love potion, considering where they are derived from. So is it one-time use and the person stays in love forever?"

"You’d have to keep dosing the person for it to last. The ones on that side of the book only work for a short while. Afterward, the effects wear off and there’s usually a bit of memory haze for a few hours." Gemma answered as she shifted in her seat. "And gloaim-salt wouldn’t be used for a love draught anyway. Anyone who has paid attention in class knows that."

"What’s with Veilbreaker?" Dane read aloud.

"It does the opposite of inhibitors," she replied, downing the glass and pouring another drink for herself.

"Well, then I should definitely stay away from it," Dane joked while reading the ingredients the potion was made from.

The following morning, the corridors were yet to fill with most of the students sleeping in their beds.

Ruelle hadn’t dared return to her room last night. She was too flustered and had spent the night at Hailey’s instead. Blake hadn’t come back, so there had been space.

Now, standing in front of her own room’s door, she guessed Lucian to be out, as he usually didn’t sleep-in this late. But when she stepped inside the room, she caught him sitting on the edge of the bed, elbows braced on his knees, his head bowed into his hands.

The last thing Lucian remembered was standing in the grand hall. Now he’d woken with a splitting headache. When he heard the door open, he slowly raised his head. He caught Ruelles’ gown from yesterday and the grey coat draped around her shoulders.

"G–Good morning," she greeted with a quick smile before moving past him. She quickly walked to the open cupboard and picked up her clothes with her back to him.

Lucian watched her in silence, noticing her acting suspiciously.

Ruelle was far too aware of Lucian’s presence when she reached for the basin. Her mind was too occupied to look at the mirror and she splashed the cool water over her face and changed into fresh clothes in a rush.

When she stepped out from behind the divider and moved to walk past him, she caught Lucian’s narrowed eyes and he looked angry.

Why was he angry? She should have been the one to be upset, as he had bitten her!

But the way he was looking at her right now reminded her of last night and the look in his eyes was too intense. When he pushed himself off the bed, her heart stuttered.

"The—"

"Ah—I didn’t get to eat last night. I should go before the food is cleared," she blurted, before hurrying out of the room with her heart pounding all the way down the corridor.

On Ruelle’s way to the dining hall, some students stared at her but she was too preoccupied with her own thoughts to notice it. The same thing happened when she stepped inside the hall. Eyes lingered a second too long before darting away.

She reached the table and sat down, immediately reaching for food.

When Hailey and Kevin joined her, Kevin looked at her for half a second, ready to greet her, but his face turned pale and he dropped his gaze before sitting down without meeting her eyes again, shifting slightly in his seat like he didn’t know where to look while also looking dejected.

"Do you have somewhere to go, Ruelle?" Hailey asked carefully, watching her friend eat much too fast. "You’re going to make yourself sick..."

"Haha, no. I am just hungry," Ruelle replied, waving it off and taking another quick bite.

When Ruelle caught Lucian stepping inside the hall, it was as if he carried a dark cloud that was ready to strike anyone. But when he sat down, she felt that heavy stare even though she tried not to look at him.

Sensing other students’ eyes on her, she looked up and asked her friends, confused,

"Why do people look like they haven’t seen me before?" before lifting another spoonful.

"That," Hailey stalled, eyes flicking toward Ruelle’s shoulder. "It’s your neck."

"What?" Ruelle frowned and beside her, Kevin once again shifted in his seat.

"Your neck, Rue..." Hailey whispered, tapping her own neck while staring at the dark bruise blooming there.

Ruelle blinked once before it finally hit her. She stood so fast that her spoon clattered. She blurted, "I’ll see you in class," already turning away.

As she hurried off, whispers followed.

"I can’t believe Prince Edward already did that..."

"The prince hasn’t been seen since last night. It must have been a long night..."

"How lucky to have the prince’s attention." The murmurs drifted, spreading like smoke and reached the Elites’ table.

Ruelle didn’t stop until she reached the nearest restroom and thankfully it was empty. She rushed to the mirror and froze. There on her neck was a dark, unmistakable bruise, left behind by Lucian’s bite.

She squeezed her eyes shut and let out a muffled groan, "I could just die now..."

Returning to her room, Ruelle grabbed the scarf she had forgotten earlier and wrapped it around her neck, making sure the fabric covered the mark.

For a brief moment, she stood still. She could just stay inside and skip class, she thought. But for how long? Taking a deep breath, she stepped back into the corridor and muttered under her breath,

"I can do this. I can do this."

She was halfway to her class when she saw Lucian, walking from the opposite end with a few of his friends beside him, who were busy talking but his eyes met hers.

Suddenly, she felt as if she had a school of fish in her stomach.

Without thinking, she turned on her heel and started walking the way she came, as if she had suddenly remembered something urgent. And Lucian, who caught this, a faint muscle ticked near his temple and his gaze sharpened slightly, annoyed.

After half an hour, the students of the final year were seated in the potions class.

Lucian held a test tube between his fingers, but all he could see was the dark bruise. She hadn’t bothered to hide it this morning and it seemed like she had spent the entire night with Edward.

Edward hadn’t come to class and the urge to knock—the test tube cracked in his hand before breaking into pieces.

"It seems you’re energised from yesterday’s celebration. Did you have a good time?" the instructor joked. But the look Lucian gave in return was enough to make the instructor clear his throat and say, "Looks like a hill..." he glanced at the pile of shattered glass next to the pureblooded vampire.

At the back of the classroom, Alanna sat with her arms crossed, gaze drifting toward Lucian like it always did. Only today, there was no dreamy softness in her eyes. It was filled with frustration and regret.

The servant had done exactly as she was told and Lucian had drunk the love potion.

But her opportunity had slipped right through her hands.

All that waiting for the right moment had been thrown down the drain because of that creepy geezer! She was going to get back at him! Her fingers curled slightly against the edge of the desk. Should she make another batch of the potion? But what if the opportunity never came?

What Alanna didn’t realise was that it wasn’t just the potion that she had gotten wrong. But that if she had been the one standing in front of Lucian last night, she would have wished to have never met him.

Far away from all the classes, Mr. Mortis wore a grim expression on his face now, while Minister Griswold sat before him in the office.

"First you sent me the woman when you knew she was a vampiress, and now you say you aren’t going to get the Groundlings here?!" Minister Griswold demanded in anger.

"Firstly, I did try to mention it two days ago, but you seemed insistent on knowing her connections. Secondly, Minister. The classes are in session and you will need to wait until it is over. They will be called here later," Mr. Mortis answered with his fingers interlinked with each other.

The minister huffed in disbelief and stated, "The groundlings here are going to end up being someone’s mistress, maid or slave. It won’t matter if they miss one class."

"Sexton follows a decorum, Minister, something Mr. Oak likes," Mr. Mortis looked at the man through his glasses.

"And you expect me to wait?" Minister Griswold stood up on his feet and then pointing to his cheek. "Do you see this handprint on my face? I have never been slapped! I can’t even punish her because she comes from a well-established family."

"I am surprised you weren’t aware about it," Mr. Mortis pursed his lips.

Minister Griswold wanted the human brought to him. The one who had dared lie to his face and make a spectacle of him. He intended to remind her, slowly and thoroughly, what it meant to cross a man in his position. He took a deep breath and then said,

"If you can’t bring them here, I will go there."

Mr. Mortis’s grim expression deepened. He then replied, "Alright. My attendant will lead you there."

Back in the potion class, another test tube shattered between Lucian’s fingers as his thoughts continued.

Zhenya had been stationed outside Sexton with an instruction he didn’t have to utter. The wolf would tear anyone who would approach Ruelle with ill intentions. The wolf would never fail.

Unless she was taken to another place, which was guarded by the prince’s command. The glass dug into his palm but he didn’t feel it.

Lucian slowly opened his palm. Thin shards of glass were buried deep in his skin. One by one, he pulled them out, the tiny cuts widening as dark blood welled.

At the same time, the haze that had clung to his mind began to break. The memory struck all at once, which wasn’t blurred but whole.

And when he realised it, his hand came up and covered his eyes.

Across the table, Sawyer slowly lowered the vial in his hand, catching Lucian, who had covered his face and noticed the blood dripping on the floor. He leaned towards his twin who sat beside him.

"...Angie," he muttered under his breath, not taking his eyes off Lucian, "I think Lucian is going to break down. Angie!"

Angelina turned to look at Lucian with an expressionless face. The rumours had spread like a wildfire because this was about the prince, which indirectly drew attention to Ruelle.

For a moment, Lucian didn’t move but then his shoulders began to shake. A low sound slipped through his fingers, which was a laugh.

"Looks like he’s losing his mind now," Sawyer murmured with a frown.

"It seems so," Angelina replied with a straight face.

Lucian’s laughter died and his eyes narrowed slightly, remembering how Ruelle had turned around at the sight of him.

Then, without a word, he rose from his seat and walked out of the classroom.

On the other side of the same building, in the first-year classroom, Ruelle had given up pretending to follow the lesson, as the instructor was nicer than most of the other instructors. Her cheek rested against the cool wood of her desk, eyes half-lidded as the instructor’s voice blurred into background noise.

The scarf hadn’t been of much help as most of them had already seen her neck. The irony was that the scarf was given to her by the person who was responsible for the attention she was receiving today.

It wasn’t like bruises on humans were uncommon in Sexton. No one usually cared enough to stare. Right now everyone believed it was Edward, but they had the wrong person, she thought to herself.

When the classroom suddenly went quiet, Ruelle wondered what happened. She noticed the shadow falling across her desk. Lifting her head, her gaze moved up the sharp line of a dark coat and met Lucian’s eyes.

Ruelle’s eyes widened.

Lucian briefly turned his face to the side, as if addressing the instructor, "I’d like a word with her." Then he turned to Ruelle. "Follow me."