Page 17 of The Reluctant Heir

“Uh, well…” I rub a hand on the back of my neck. “I know you have multiple monarchs.”

He nods. “Yes.”

“And each monarch rules over their clan.”

“Yes,” he agrees.

“And I know that there is an appointed monarch that is voted on every couple of years that handles all vampire politics with other supernaturals, but that doesn’t give them any more or less power over the other monarchs,” I say. “And that about twenty four years ago, my father was the one voted to be in charge. Which is why I exist.”

He nods, waiting for me to continue.

“That’s it. That’s all I know.”

He sighs. “That’s not a lot.”

I shrug. “I was never interested in learning about vampires—I thought my father had abandoned me. I didn’t know that wasn’t true until my dad showed up at my apartment.”

“Fair enough,” he says. “So, I know you’re a hybrid. I get more vampire vibes off of you than I do succubus. What kind of powers do you have?”

I was hoping this wouldn’t come up. “I have strength and speed, like a vampire, but I can’t drink blood.”

He lifts an eyebrow at that. “No blood?”

I shake my head.

“And what about succubus powers?” he asks.

I shake my head again. “I don’t have any.”

He looks at me for a very long moment before nodding. “Very well. And what about compulsion?”

“I can compel other succubi, incubi, and humans. I imagine I can do the same to vampires, though I haven’t tested it.” My royal blood makes it so I can compel other supernaturals. I always thought it strange that my compulsion was so strong when some of my cousins who are further up the line ofsuccession couldn’t. I guess it was because my royal blood comes from both sides.

“Try it on me, we will find out,” Kaine says.

My eyes widen. “You want me to compel you?”

He nods. “Though you should know that cameras are recording us. I will be watching back later to make sure you didn’t try anything nefarious.”

I roll my eyes, no longer feeling conflicted about compelling him. I lean forward, making the necessary eye contact, and I let my magic connect to him. “Don’t insult me for the next thirty minutes and forget I said this.”

He blinks. “Are you going to do it?”

“Already done.” I grin at him.

He furrows his brows. “What did you tell me to do?”

“I guess you’ll find out when you check the cameras later.”

To my surprise, he doesn’t scowl at me.

Huh, I guess my compulsion worked.

6

OLD MAID

My head aches as I make my way up the stairs toward my bedroom.

---