Claimed by the Prince of Darkness novel Chapter 162

Chapter 162: Fall Of The Youngest

Ruelle’s footsteps slowed when she caught sight of her parents in the corridor. Her feet froze. It had been three weeks since they had last seen each other.

Her father stood slightly crouched and rigid, his grey hair perfectly combed but he didn’t seem to be carrying a cane and he didn’t carry the same arrogance of pride he usually did. He wore a look of disgust, one that had followed Ruelle through every moment of her childhood.

’Why are you so useless?’

’I think you should leave. Leave this house and do not come back.’

Though she had tried not thinking about it, remembering that day still made her heart and bones ache. Her parents stood there looking at her as if she were a stranger.

On the other hand, Mr. Belmont froze at the sight of the pureblooded vampire and his face twisted in hidden fury. What was he doing here? And Ruelle, what was she thinking, standing there beside him?!

"Why are you still here instead of the main hall?" An instructor’s impatient voice came through the corridor as he approached the Belmont couple. "The bidding began forty minutes ago. Follow me. What’s the student’s name?" he questioned as they were led away.

The older couple nodded at the instructor, already turning to follow, but not without glancing over their shoulders with a look of disgust.

Ruelle’s body turned rigid even though she knew she was safe in Sexton. That she wasn’t alone like in the past, but her body only knew the old fears, the old ways of surviving. She felt the corners of her eyes beginning to darken and then—

Cool hands came to rest on her cheeks.

"Breathe, Ruelle," Lucian’s voice was steady like an anchor in the storm of her unravelling. Her lips parted and air rushed back. "That’s it."

His words steadied her.

"I thought I wouldn’t be affected by them," Ruelle confessed, managing a small smile which only faltered. Her fingernails dug into her palms to keep her voice even. "After everything... But I feel an uneasy. I—"

"Emotions doesn’t work the way we want. You spent years learning how to endure your family. That doesn’t disappear because you’ve stepped away," Lucian responded, his gaze dropped to her hands. "It’s not weakness, Ruelle. It’s a bad memory."

Without a word, he let go of her face and found her fists. His fingers were gentle but insistent as he uncurled hers, revealing the small crescents her nails had carved into her skin. He said,

"They’ve hurt you before. They won’t again." He then looked up to see her and asked, "Do you want to sit out of the auction?"

With them standing this close, Lucian could feel everything. Every emotion that crashed through her like waves against cliffs.

Ruelle shook her head and answered, "No. Let us go attend the bid. They are here for Caroline... and they will leave." For years, she had swallowed the pain like medicine. But she wanted to do better.

"As you wish," Lucian said, and they headed towards the main hall.

Once they stepped inside the place, Ruelle was first hit by the sheer number of people. There were groundlings’ parents clustered at the back and some pressed at the walls.

Lucian led her towards the front where the Elites were seated. There were two empty seats next to Sawyer and Blake.

Just when Ruelle was about to sit, she risked a glance and caught her parents staring at her. But then she realised they weren’t watching her, but Lucian. The look on their faces was clear, as if demanding what she was doing with him.

Ignore it, Ruelle’s mind whispered and she sat down next to Lucian.

"Glad to see both of you sitting together, and that you aren’t with the prince, Ruelle," Sawyer remarked as he leaned forward to meet Ruelle’s eyes. "Lucian was going to light up the entire place. Hell, we almost got lit up like early Christmas."

Lucian turned his gaze on his cousin with a quiet warning in his eyes.

"What? It’s true," Sawyer said with a hint of amusement in his voice as he glanced toward Blake. "Isn’t it?"

"I’d like to leave without trouble," Blake said with a quiet sigh.

Lucian’s gaze shifted to Blake. "You’re still leaving?"

Blake had decided she would leave once their year in Sexton ended and take a position under the queen who lived in the East Land. She doubted her mother would ever change her mind, and there was little point in staying where she was constantly being pushed.

She smiled at Lucian’s question before replying,

"I thought a change of place might do me some good. It isn’t too far. I’ll return when the time feels right."

While the vampires continued their quiet conversations, and the next groundling had yet to be brought to the dais, Ezekiel sat not far from Ruelle, his gaze fixed on her.

Yesterday, when he had learned that Ruelle had left Sexton with the prince, he had followed the carriage, only to realise it carried someone else. Where had they gone? What had they done? The questions had not left him since.

"You missed a rather interesting bid ten minutes ago. You should have been here for it, Ruelle," Sawyer said, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"What happened?" Ruelle asked before adding, "About Kevin and Hailey. Did their bidding get over?"

Sawyer nodded, replying, "Indeed. Both of them were bought by King Septimus."

’Don’t panic if I don’t bid first. We need to build the momentum, okay? And make sure no one goes higher than me.’

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