Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 201: Help The Horse

When they finally arrived at the nearby town, they noticed a fair was set up at the centre of it. Somewhere farther ahead, a fiddler played a cheerful tune that was repeatedly swallowed by the chatter and laughter of the people.

Mrs. Belmont released a long breath, grateful to finally stop walking as her injured foot had been throbbing several minutes ago. She thanked,

"It is fortunate you were with us, Mr. Slater."

"Of course. We certainly cannot have our bride’s family arriving with crutches," Dane replied with a polite smile as the corners of his eyes crinkled.

Mrs. Belmont gave a weak smile while Dane turned his attention towards the rows of stalls where people moved. The pureblooded vampire then suggested,

"I’ll find the town physician. In the meantime, why don’t you and Miss Belmont rest somewhere inside the fair? With everything that happened yesterday, I think it is better to stay among the people than standing here alone. I will come find you."

"Okay. I could use some rest now." Mrs Belmont nodded before slowly pushing herself away from the tree. Caroline immediately moved beside her, allowing her mother to lean lightly against her shoulder as they started towards the fair. She then murmured to her daughter, "Caroline, we need to send word to Aunt Imogen. She must hear about your father from us before rumours reach her."

"I understand, Mother," as the pair walked.

Dane remained where he was, and he murmured, "People become wonderfully cooperative after funerals," the pleasant smile lingering on his face for another second before fading altogether.

His thoughts wandered back to the courthouse before they had left from there.

After leaving Minister Sylvan’s chambers, Dane had taken a small detour before returning to the carriage. When he had reached at the back of the carriage, he heard Caroline’s voice,

"Why aren’t you questioning what just happened? You saw it too, didn’t you? You heard what the woman said. How is that possible?"

"Lower your voice, Caroline! Do you understand the situation your father has left us in?"

When Mrs. Belmont spoke this time, her voice was quieter.

"Of course I’m curious... Especially when your father’s death had already been concluded as the work of a witch." A dull thud sounded from inside the carriage, as though someone’s hand had struck the wooden seat between them. "We need the Slaters’ protection. The treaty cannot fall apart now. Not while our safety depends on it."

"But Father—"

"I’ll find out the truth myself." There wasn’t the slightest hesitation in Mrs. Belmont’s voice. "We’ll visit Aunt Imogen. I’ll borrow what the officials use to expose bad seeds. Make sure Ruelle comes with us."

Dane watched Mrs. Belmont disappear into the crowd with Caroline at her side. With an almost cheerful hum, he turned away from the fair and walked down the street. Noticing a maid carrying a basket, he called,

"Excuse me, beautiful miss." The young woman turned at the sound of his voice and immediately looked away again, cheeks colouring. "Would you happen to know where the town physician lives?"

"B-behind the bell tower," she answered, pointing hurriedly. "The white house with the black gate."

"Thank you." Dane rewarded her with a smile bright enough to leave the poor woman standing there flustered long after he had gone.

Upon finding the house, he knocked on the door, and a thin man with sparse hair opened the door.

"My apologies," Dane said pleasantly. "Would you happen to have medicine for a rather stubborn horse? It looks like my horse has become unusually irritable. Nothing serious. I’d simply like it calm enough to get home."

The physician disappeared briefly before returning with four small white tablets wrapped in folded paper. He instructed,

"One each day. It is better not to stop midway."

"And if I do?" Dane asked with genuine curiosity.

"The horse might break into a fever, but nothing serious you need to worry about."

"I see," Dane rolled the paper thoughtfully between his fingers before smiling. "Then I’ll make sure the course is completed."

Dane handed a coin in the physician’s hand, just enough to cover the medicine without inviting further conversation. After offering a courteous bow, he stepped back onto the street and made his way towards the fair. Children darted between the stalls of pastries and trinkets, while somewhere farther ahead with the laughter around him.

He let his gaze drift lazily through the crowd until it settled on Mrs. Belmont and Caroline. The younger Belmont still seemed unwilling to let Ruelle’s matter rest. Even from a distance, he could tell by the way her hands moved that she was arguing.

"Sire, fresh pulp juice?" a vendor called, lifting two glasses filled with dark red fruit juice.

Dane’s smile brightened and he replied, "Then I shall take two. One for my lover and one for me."

The old vendor chuckled as he accepted the coins and passed the glasses over. Dane thanked him before turning and pulling the medicine that the physician had given him. Crushing it between his fingers, he sprinkled it on the surface of the juice while people continued to hover around the juice stall. He gave the glass the gentlest turn of his wrist, watching the powder vanish.

Dane had barely taken two steps when someone caught his wrist. His red eyes dropped to the hand before lazily travelling upward to meet warm brown eyes that didn’t flinch under his gaze. The man stood perhaps half a head shorter than him, his build lean and well-conditioned beneath a travelling coat, brown hair stirred by the winter breeze.

"What do you think you’re doing?" the stranger asked with a deep frown as his eyes flicked toward the two glasses.

Dane blinked once before smiling. "Carrying juice." He lifted the glasses slightly as if presenting evidence. "A rather controversial beverage, apparently. If you are thirsty, you can go get it right behind there at the stall. These are mine."

"I saw you. You put something into one of them," the man accused with narrowed eyes.

"Oh?" Dane nodded thoughtfully. "It was medicine."

The stranger’s jaw tightened. He questioned, "For whom?"

"For my lover, why? You are awfully nosey for someone who doesn’t know me nor do I. Now if you will excuse me," Dane said, trying to step to the side, intending to continue walking but the man moved with him.

"You’re not walking away until I know what’s in those glasses. You think I don’t know what I saw?" the man crossed his arms and Dane looked at him for a long second before a smile appeared but it didn’t reach his eyes.

"I don’t know what fantasy you’ve constructed but it has nothing to do with you," Dane’s voice was light, and his hand moved back when the stranger reached for one of the glasses. "It looks like you aren’t fond of your wrists."

"Lachlan?" Mrs. Belmont’s voice interrupted the men.

The young man immediately stepped back and turned, a look of surprise passed his face. "Mrs. Belmont?" His guarded expression softened for the first time. "I wasn’t expecting to find you here," and he looked around to find Caroline walk behind.

Dane watched the change with mild interest as Mrs. Belmont crossed the short distance and embraced her nephew. He turned and swapped the juice from the counter.

"I am far more surprised to see you in this part of town. Ruelle mentioned that she had written to you and that you were coming to... walk her down the aisle," she replied before her voice faltered and moisture gathered in her eyes. She said softly, "We’ve suffered a terrible loss. Your uncle passed away yesterday."

"I’m..." Lachlan’s eyebrows furrowed at the news. "How did it happen? Are you all alright? I don’t see Ruelle with you."

Dane’s head slightly tilted. He noticed the missing condolence.

"She was held back at the courthouse for something," Mrs. Belmont replied before she nodded to herself, "We’re managing as best we can."

Lachlan glanced around the bustling fair, "...why are you here?"

The question hung awkwardly between them, while Dane couldn’t resist turning amused, which the man named Lachlan didn’t share the same sentiment. Mrs. Belmont looked faintly embarrassed and she explained,

"The damn carriage of the courthouse broke down. I twisted my ankle so Mr. Slater suggested we wait here while he fetched the physician." Only then did she seem to remember and asked, "Oh. I see you have already met Mr. Slater?"

Lachlan’s eyes slightly furrowed and he asked, "Ruelle’s fiance?" A look of evident displeasure seemed to etch itself on his face, which only amused Dane.

"The groom’s elder brother." Dane inclined his head politely and introduced himself, "Dane Slater."

"Lachlan...Hawksley," Lachlan replied, while the suspicion in his eyes hadn’t lessened.

Mrs. Belmont looked between the two men before turning to ask to Dane, "Did you manage to find the physician?"

"I did. He kindly gave me medicine for your ankle, so I thought it would be easier to mix it into the juice before bringing it over." His eyes drifted lazily towards Lachlan and he continued, "Unfortunately... Your nephew arrived with rather dramatic conclusions before I could explain."

"If it was medicine, why didn’t you say so?" Lachlan asked pursing his lips.

"I tried. But you came at me like a little yapping dog," Dane looked genuinely thoughtful. "It became rather difficult to get a word through you."

Lachlan’s jaw tightened at the remark.

Completely unbothered, Dane lifted one of the glasses and took an unhurried sip. "There. Still alive and well."

Lachlan fell silent, but the look in his eyes didn’t change. His eyes lingered on the two glasses, following every movement Dane made as if expecting a trick. Unbothered by the scrutiny, Dane turned to Mrs. Belmont.

"This should help with the swelling," he said, offering her the glass. "The physician insisted you rest once you return home and then you will be healthy as a horse."

"How thoughtful of you," Mrs. Belmont replied gratefully. She accepted the juice without hesitation and took a sip.

Not far away from the fair, Ruelle and Lucian had arrived in the town after walking through the forest to find any traces of blood. It didn’t take long for Ruelle to notice the winter fair going in full swing. Surprised, she murmured,

"I didn’t expect the town to hold the fair at this time of the season." Her gaze wandered from one stall to another before a small laugh escaped her. "I think Hailey, Hermes and I have developed an aversion to fairs after the last one."

Lucian looked at her and asked, "Would you like me to erase it?"

She turned to him, unable to stop herself from smiling and replied, "I would like it. But maybe not today."

As they continued walking, a passing young man slowed almost unconsciously as his attention lingered on Ruelle. Before he could look again, Lucian’s darkened eyes met his, and the man’s shoulders stiffened. The man quickly lowered his gaze and disappeared into the moving crowd.

Her eyes swept across the fair, wondering if Dane and the others had already found another carriage and left. Beside her, Lucian who stood taller than her, his gaze settled somewhere ahead and he remarked,

"I found Dane."

Ruelle followed the direction of his eyes. But instead of Dane, a familiar figure stood among the crowd. Her heart gave a small leap and the words escaped, "...Brother Lachlan."

Her steps quickened of their own accord. "Brother Lachlan!"

The young man turned and for a heartbeat, surprise crossed his face before it broke into a smile Ruelle hadn’t seen in over a year. "Rue!"

They met halfway through the fair, and Lachlan wrapped his arms around her in a hug that lifted her clean off her feet for the briefest moment before setting her back down. Only then did he lean back enough to look at her properly.

It felt like only yesterday she had watched him disappear down the road, while she held back her tears so that he didn’t worry about her. If there was one kindness Harold Belmont’s family had ever given her, it was Lachlan. Whenever the rest of the family forgot she was there, Lachlan had made room for her.

"You came early. I thought you wouldn’t arrive until later," Ruelle said, unable to stop smiling.

"I thought work could be handled by others, so I left right after sending the letter." He placed his hands on her shoulders, looking her over from head to toe. "I see you are doing better than the last time we saw each other!" His cheerful voice had Dane raise his eyebrow with how the tone changed to a whole different person.

"It was more than a year ago," Ruelle replied.

When a shadow fell over her cousin, Ruelle turned to find Lucian beside them. Lachlan’s eyes shifted as well. Realising in her excitement she had run straight to her cousin and left Lucian standing behind, she took a small step back. She introduced.

"This is my cousin, Brother Lachlan. The one I told you about." She then turned to Lachlan and said,

"And this is Lucian, my lo—the man I’m marrying," for some reason, lover sounded far too intimate when spoken aloud and Ruelle cleared her throat.

Lucian offered his hand first. "Lucian Slater, her lover."

"Lachlan Hawksley." And the two men shook hands.

"It is good to finally meet you. Ruelle has been looking forward to your arrival," Lucian said, letting go of the man’s hand.

"I am glad to see that she’s been well taken care of. I hope she hasn’t been causing you too much trouble." The concern in Lachlan’s voice had Ruelle kicked his foot.

Lucian’s hand came to rest on the top of Ruelle’s head, smoothing a loose strand of hair the wind had lifted. He replied, "I rather like having my hands full with her. I like it when she needs me."

For a brief moment, her cousin simply stared at Lucian while she turned pink. Then her cousin’s posture seemed to relax while a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Caroline lowered her eyes. Once upon a time, she had imagined her own marriage would have looked like this. The thought stung more than she cared to admit.

"Where is your luggage?" Ruelle asked.

"There was a snow slide which blocked the road and I had to get down. But I am glad for it to have happened as I ran into here," Lachlan replied, turning in the direction he had come from. "I came looking for the time of the next local carriage and was interrupted."

Ruelle nodded, and when her eyes met her sister’s, she noticed them avert. What was that about?

Dane picked up the second glass of juice that he had kept aside earlier and handed it to the younger daughter of the Belmont. He offered, "Miss Caroline, you should drink something too. You look parched," and she awkwardly bowed before taking it. When his eyes fell on Lachlan, he asked, "One for you?"

Lachlan resisted scowling and he replied, "I think I will survive without it." His attention then shifted to Ruelle and they began to converse.

Lucian’s eyes drifted to where Ruelle and Lachlan stood a couple of steps ahead, who were busy talking. "We simply met under unfortunate circumstances. Nothing I can’t recover from," Dane replied lightly. "The Belmonts are suspicious about the scars. They should be able to rest through the week. Did Carnifex find out too?"

Lucian gave a short nod.

A quiet sigh escaped Dane.

By then, Lucian’s gaze had already wandered ahead, finding Ruelle with effortless familiarity. She was saying something to Lachlan, her hands moving as she spoke, and the faint smile on her face softened the weather.

"Carnifex is related to Ruelle," Lucian said, which had Dane turn to look at him.

"Grandfather?" His eyebrows rose. "I didn’t know he had children."

"Try father."

Dane blinked before a laugh escaped him. "That certainly deescalates things. Quite a convenient time to tidy everything up," he mused, his eyes moving to Lachlan.

In front, Ruelle walked beside Lachlan while Mrs. Belmont and Caroline were helped into the carriage by Claude. At the back were Lucian and Dane, while Peyton followed several steps behind, though for once the vampiress didn’t seem to be watching her every movement.

"I still can’t believe your parents sent you to Sexton," Lachlan said, shaking his head in disappointment. No wonder Harold Belmont was dead now. "Especially with the reputation that place has. The only good thing to come from it was that you met Lucian."

Ruelle smiled because it was true.

"I made good friends there too. You’ll meet Hailey at the Slater mansion. Kevin and Edward are staying at the castle."

"The castle?" Lachlan let out a low whistle. "That’s impressive. I thought about applying for job there once, but my uncle dragged me into assisting him before I had the chance and I haven’t changed the occupation after it."

"How has work been?" Ruelle asked. "I wish you would write more."

"Forgive me for being unable to do that. Things just turned too busy and the last vampiress who hired us had not let us out for a long time," he chuckled with a look of guilt as they exited the fair crowd. The quiet slowly began to settle as they walked further away. "We finished building a bridge recently. It took months." After a brief pause, he glanced at her. "Though when your letter arrived, I thought I’d already missed the wedding."

Ruelle looked at him in confusion. "But I mentioned the wedding wasn’t until a few days later."

"It wasn’t the content but the sender’s name," her cousin explained to her. "It was because the last name had changed. It was addressed by Ruelle Marie Slater."