Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Misunderstanding blow up!

If looks could kill, Ruelle would be six feet under in the dining room by now. The vampire's glare pierced through her with an intensity that would have silenced anyone else.

The young man who had caught her from falling wore a disarmingly gentle smile. Chuckling softly, he shook his head. "That must have been quite the ordeal. What business could a vampire have possibly wanted with someone as lovely as you?"

Adrenaline surged through her veins, pulsing like a drum in her ears and sending her heart racing. She couldn't help but babble her way out.

"Oh, it was all just a big misunderstanding!" Ruelle exclaimed, waving her hands animatedly. "I meant in the forest, not the market—the forest! Actually, he wasn't that bad. It was entirely my mistake." Her words tumbled out in a rush, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she bowed slightly and hurried to the table where other humans like herself were seated.

Spotting Hailey waving at her from the Groundlings' table, Ruelle felt immediate relief. She quickly plopped down beside her.

"I can't believe you ended up with that Clifford girl," Hailey said after swallowing a mouthful, her tone a mix of disbelief and sympathy.

"Neither can I," Ruelle replied with a nervous chuckle, feeling the weight of her situation pressing down on her. "How about you? Will you be okay?"

Hailey met her gaze with a reassuring nod. "I hope so. It would have been nicer if we shared the same room."

Ruelle felt the same and managed a weak smile. Although a gnawing anxiety clung to her, at least she wouldn't be sharing a room with a vampire. How bad could sharing a room with June Clifford be, right?

After a moment, Hailey nudged Ruelle with her elbow and whispered, "I think they're looking at you..." just as Ruelle was taking a bite of her food. Glancing up, Ruelle noticed a few senior human girls and a few others from the Halfblood table watching her intently.

Her heart began to race anew, a surge of panic washing over her. She swallowed quickly and asked, "Did I miss something?"

"I think it's because you spoke to an Elite," Hailey murmured, her voice dropping to a cautious whisper.

Ruelle felt their stares piercing through her, and her palms grew clammy as she tried to ignore the mounting pressure of their scrutiny. She had unintentionally drawn unwanted attention. Being here felt like a bad dream that she couldn't wake up from. She had never wanted to come to Sexton, but here she was.

In this vampire-dominated world, being human felt like playing a pawn in a game of deception, where choices were mere illusions dancing just out of reach.

On the other side of the room, at the Elites' table, Sawyer, who had caught Ruelle earlier, finished off his glass of blood. "Looks like we have an interesting crop of humans this time," he declared to his friends. "Since we're in our final year, I think it's wise to start making our selections soon."

The vampiress across from him responded, "I'd rather wait. I can only wonder which of them will be shooting stars—burning brightly only to fizzle out."

"Did you see the one with her charming clumsiness, Blake?" Sawyer asked the vampiress.

At that moment, Lucian, the dark-haired vampire seated next to Sawyer, focused intently at the mention of Ruelle. Though his expression remained impassive, a flicker of irritation and annoyance crossed his otherwise composed features.

"The one you've put a bullseye on?" Blake inquired with an amused arch of her brow.

"Bullseye? When?" Sawyer asked, tilting his head in curiosity. "Anyway, I find her amusing. What do you think, Lucian?"