Claimed by the Prince of Darkness novel Chapter 133

Chapter 133: A Moment Too Close

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Ruelle watched as Lucian drew her leg closer and rested her heel against his knee. His fingers worked the buckle loose before he slid the shoe carefully from her foot.

Her eyes lingered on him.

The seriousness on Lucian’s face had none of the temper he had carried back in the den. The darkness in his eyes that had worried her was gone, replaced now with quiet patience.

Lucian set her foot back on the floor. Then, without looking up, his hand reached for the other.

The firelight from the hearth flickered across his features as he worked, the warm glow catching in the dark strands of his hair and along the sharp line of his jaw. His movements were precise and unhurried, as though the small task before him required all of his attention.

Something about the quiet care of it squeezed painfully at her heart.

Ruelle felt a small jolt run through her when Lucian’s fingers pressed lightly against her ankle. When he looked up, the steadiness in his gaze made her breath catch.

"I thought we discussed this at noon. About you and carriages," Lucian murmured. He then set her foot back on the ground. "Come to me if something like today happens again. I will take care of everything."

Ruelle gave a nod before replying, "Okay." After a pause, she asked softly, "But there will be repercussions for what happened in the den... won’t there?"

"Perhaps," Lucian replied, his tone unconcerned. The calm in his voice eased the tightness in her chest. "But nothing worth worrying about."

Lucian rose and drew the small side table closer to them.

He crossed to the cupboard, retrieving a bottle of liquor along with cotton and a clean cloth. He pulled his drawer and picked up something before he poured a glass of water. Stirring it, he returned to sit in front of her on the bed.

He handed it to her. "Drink this."

Once she was done drinking, he placed the glass aside and said,

"Don’t move. I need to open the back of the dress."

A blush rose quickly to her cheeks and her gaze drifted away. She asked in a whisper, "Isn’t it going to be uncomfortable for you to work with the wound like this?"

"Hardly," Lucian answered, drawing her a little closer with one hand while the other held the dagger. She heard the fabric tear softly behind her and cool air touched her skin. He then instructed her, "Put your arms around me."

Ruelle moved back slightly to look at him, perplexed. "Are you asking for a hug?" she joked.

"I am." Lucian’s expression remained perfectly straight. "It seemed reasonable after dragging you out of that den. Arms around."

Her brown eyes met his red ones, his expression still serious. Slowly, she lifted her hands and wrapped her arms around his torso. As she did, she caught the faint scent of wild pine and something clean and earthy.

The moment his hand reached the wooden piece lodged in her back, she flinched as if her soul had nearly left her body. Her heart began to race with fear.

"I’m going to pull it out," Lucian informed her, his other hand settling against her lower back to keep her from moving. "I’ll count. Take a deep breath."

"I know you are going to take it out—"

"One."

Before she could finish her words, Lucian pulled the wooden piece cleanly from her back, and for a second the room froze.

A painful scream tore from Ruelle’s lips as the excruciating pain shot through her body. Tears filled her eyes as she clutched onto him, her fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt. Soon blood began to spill from her open wound.

Lucian didn’t move. His eyes turned slightly cold at her words and the cloth in his hand pressed a little firmer against her back before easing again. He proposed, "Jinxy trains some of the Elites after the regular hours. I can put in a word." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

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