Claimed by the Prince of Darkness novel Chapter 243

Chapter 243: Matter of Appearances

A month passed in a quiet blur since Lucian and Ruelle had spoken their vows.

And there were no signs of pushback against the treaty. Between Lord Azriel, Elder Minister Carnifex and King Septimus’ rule, no one dared invite the wrath of these men.

Winter had begun to melt in the presence of the sun, clearing clouds from the sky.

The people had gradually settled back into their usual rhythm, yet they were not short of gossip. News had spread that the newlyweds had not returned to the capital yet, choosing instead to remain secluded at the summerhouse. The curious gossipers couldn’t help but believe that it would only be a matter of time before the Slater family would announce about an heir.

Right now in the Slaters’ summerhouse, Ruelle was blanketed in Lucian’s arms, their clothes lying scattered on the room’s floor. The late morning sun filtered lazily through the curtains.

Ruelle stirred, her bare shoulder brushing against the warm, solid plane of Lucian’s chest and his arm tightened instinctively around her waist, pulling her flush against him.

"It’s almost noon," she murmured, her fingertips tracing featherlight patterns across the back of his hand.

"Is it?" Lucian’s low voice rumbled against the nape of her neck.

The summerhouse had become their private universe. Days blurred into nights and back into days, marked by insatiable hunger for each other that showed no signs of cooling. From the garden to the library to the dining room, where servants had hurried out to give them privacy.

"Should we tell the servants not to set the table for dinner?" Ruelle asked. It was because they had barely had meals there.

"We had a proper meal two nights ago," he pointed out, his voice dropping to a husky murmur as his hand slid slowly, possessively up the bare curve of her waist.

Ruelle laughed, turning in his arms to face him. The sheets pooled around her waist as she shifted and her hair tumbled over her bare shoulders. "That was—"

"Showing my appreciation for my wife." His dark hair fell across his forehead as he gazed down at her, his eyes burning with a raw, unrestrained adoration. "It was an exquisite meal that I would like to continue having."

Her fingertips traced the lines of his face, a smile lingering on her lips as she simply admired him. She said,

"I was talking about the food. I thought I could cook something."

Lucian’s gaze remained fixed on her. "You could. But that would require you to leave this bed."

He rolled them smoothly until she was pinned gently beneath him, his weight settling over her in a way that made her thighs tighten instinctively around his hips. Leaning forward, he kissed her slow and deep, his tongue tracing the seam of her lips before she opened to him with a soft, willing sigh.

Outside, the ocean continued its endless murmur against the cliffs, while the sun climbed higher over the northern coast.

Far beyond the quiet summerhouse, that same sunlight stretched across the land where the courthouse and Slater house stood. In one of the towns near the merchant quarter, the alleys smelt of old coal and stagnant water.

Having taken up an official appointment as an officer of the courthouse partly out of boredom, Dane had just finished wrapping up a routine inspection near the merchant quarter.

Pulling out a cigar, Dane bit off one end before lighting it. He drew in a slow breath, smoke slipping lazily from between his lips. He murmured,

"What a terribly uneventful day."

He took another drag when his eyes caught a movement. In one of the alleys, two men stood, exchanging a small pouch. When his eyes fell on one of the men who wore a polite expression, the pureblooded vampire’s eyes narrowed.

"I am going to need more than the current sum. Especially with your piling debt," said one of the humans, slipping the pouch into his coat.

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