Claimed by the Prince of Darkness novel Chapter 179

Chapter 179: When the Tree Bloomed

After several seconds, the voices and the images in her mind faded as Ruelle stared into Lucian’s eyes.

It would be a lie to say that she hadn’t quietly agonised since Peyton’s revelation. Even though Lucian had told her his heart belonged to her, she had questioned how he could choose her. How he could mark her when she was tied to one of the deepest losses of his life.

Yet standing beneath the tree grown from a single apple seed she had once given him, Ruelle realised she had only understood a fraction of his feelings.

Around them, the world seemed to grow strangely quiet. Snow drifted between the branches above, while the wind tugged lightly at their hair.

She felt her throat tighten.

"Why?" she finally asked. "Why didn’t you tell me?" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

For a moment, Lucian said nothing, and snow settled silently upon the dark strands of his hair. His expression barely changed, yet something softened in his eyes.

"I was waiting," the words left Lucian, as though he had been carrying them for a very long time.

Ruelle felt something tighten painfully in her chest. Her emotions rose all at once, too large to keep contained and her eyes stung. At the same time, small green leaves began to emerge amongst the snow-covered branches, spreading quietly through the tree as though waking from a long sleep. She hated that she had forgotten things, and he had been left waiting.

When she realised her feet were moving, she was already crossing the distance between them.

Lucian’s eyes followed her quietly.

One step. Then another.

Before Ruelle could stop herself, she flung her arms around him with force. Surprise flickered across his face.

For a brief moment, she felt his arm tighten around her waist and then the world tilted. Their feet tangled almost immediately and they stumbled backwards, collapsing into the snow not far from the apple tree.

Cold powder scattered around them. Her face pressed against his chest as she wrapped her arms around him and held on.

The earlier surprise faded from Lucian’s face and slowly, his arms came around her. One settled across her back while the other slid beneath her shoulders, drawing her closer against him as though there had never been another place she belonged.

Lucian lowered his face into her hair and closed his eyes.

Several minutes passed without either of them moving.

Slowly, the frantic beating of Ruelle’s heart began to settle down and so did the effects of the liquor she had consumed. Aware of the fact that she was practically sprawled across Lucian in the snow, heat rushed to her face. She finally lifted her head. As she shifted, he pushed himself upright as well. One of his arms remained loosely around her waist, preventing her from slipping on the snow-covered ground and keeping her on his lap.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

"Did the cake turn out too sweet?" Ruelle asked softly as she stared into his eyes. For a flickering moment, his expression revealed displeasure before it disappeared.

Lucian simply stared at her before he glanced at her hands.

"It was the best cake I’ve had," he answered and relief washed over Ruelle’s features. But then she felt him catch her hand that had the cut and ask, "Why didn’t you follow through with your plans?"

Ruelle’s eyes slightly widened. Did Maude tell him?

"Your family came all this way to celebrate with you. And... seeing everyone together made me happy. It was important," a small smile touched her lips. "Besides, if things had followed their original course, I doubt we would be sitting here like this."

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