Page 14 of The Reluctant Heir

The first thing I check out is the walk-in closet. I was too tired to look last night. When I walk in, my eyes bulge at the size of the closet. When Eden said she hired somebody to buy me clothes,I didn’t realize she bought enough clothes to fill a closet bigger than my old bedroom in my apartment. I could wear a different outfit every day for three years and never wear the same things twice.

I grab the first outfit that catches my eye—a nice dress. I have no idea what is appropriate to wear, I just have to hope somebody will tell me if I do something wrong. With my clothes in hand, I head to the large bathroom to get ready for the day. Or, er, the night. Wow, that’s going to be difficult to get used to. Not the sleep schedule, that’s the easy part. Just getting used to the idea that everybody else is on the same schedule.

After getting a shower and getting ready for the night, I venture into the hallway. I have no idea where I’m going, so I wander around until a servant finds me and leads me toward the dining room. When I get there, Eden and Dad are already there. Julien comes sauntering in moments after me. A servant offers me a wine glass full of blood and I shake my head.

“Can I get water instead?” I ask.

The servant’s eyes widen slightly, but he gives me a half bow before offering the glass to Julien. He takes it and readily takes a sip, sighing after he swallows.

“That’s good stuff.” Julien motions toward the glass. “Are you sure you don’t want some?”

I wrinkle my nose. “Quite sure.”

Dad moves in his chair, capturing my attention. “Madeline, when you said you can’t stomach blood, what did you mean by that? Have you ever even tried it?”

I nod. “I have tried it—multiple times in my life. It’s not unpalatable or anything—it tastes fine. It just always gives me horrible stomach cramps and I end up throwing it up later.”

He frowns at my response. “So what do you do for sustenance?”

“Food,” I answer. “Human food. I also have to take iron supplements.”

Dad taps his finger on his wineglass, furrowing his brows as if he’s considering something. Whatever it is he’s thinking, he keeps it to himself as servants bring out plates of food for us.

“I didn’t know full blooded vampires ate food,” I comment, as I look at Julien’s plate that is overflowing with bacon.

Julien gives me a look. “Do you know anything about vampires at all?”

I shrug one shoulder. “Just what I learned in school. Considering I went to an incubi and succubi exclusive school, I didn’t learn much.”

He cringes. “Ew, how awful. I can’t imagine being stuck going to high school with a bunch of puffed up airheads.”

“Julien,” Eden scolds.

I grin at her. “It’s fine. Julien’s description is quite daft—there were a bunch of puffed up airheads.”

Julien snorts out a laugh and shoots his mom a smirk before stuffing a piece of bacon in his mouth. I turn my attention to my breakfast.

“I’ll alert the kitchen staff that you need a high iron diet,” Dad says. “In the meanwhile, tonight you will be meeting your advisors.”

I sit up straighter. “Advisors?”

“Well, they are Lucien’s advisors, but they have agreed to help you get settled. I’m hoping that you will get along well with them—they have trained for this their entire life. They will be a big help to you.”

“Shouldn’t you warn her about Kaine?” Julien mumbles around a mouthful of bacon.

Eden shoots her younger son a scolding look. “Julien Scott, do not talk with food in your mouth.”

He grins at Eden and her face softens immediately. At that moment, I realize that Julien could get away with murder. When he sees me watching him, he smirks and wiggles his eyebrows.

“You’re excessively spoiled, aren’t you?” I ask him.

“Me?” He puts a hand to his chest, giving me an innocent look.

“Very spoiled,” Dad responds.

Eden chuckles. “He’s our baby. Of course, he’s spoiled.”

I don’t comment on the fact that Julien is a twenty one year old ‘baby.’

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