Page 2 of The Reluctant Heir

In truth, I don’t think that I’m ‘ugly.’ At least not to the degree that my cousins chide me. Whenever I am in the human world, I am often asked out on dates. But, in the world of the incubi and succubi, I’m not attractive. Too bad this is the world I live in.

The other half of me, I don’t like to think about. I know that I have a father, but he never wanted anything to do with me. As long as I can remember, it’s always been my mom and me. It’s not worth acknowledging the other half of my DNA.

I try to hide a yawn as my grandfather starts the meeting. One of my cousins notices and shoots me a glare.

No matter how much I wish I could ignore half of my DNA, it’s moments like this that I can’t.

Mornings are difficult for me. Even coming to a ten o’clock meeting is torture. No matter how hard I try to train to become a morning person, I simply can’t. I never go to sleep before the sun rises every morning. And I know it’s because I’m half vampire.

Vampires may not burn in the sunlight, but the legends of them only coming out at night are partially true. They’re nocturnal, making their sleep schedules backward from the rest of the world.

Why couldn’t I be half anything else besides a vampire? Better yet, why do I have to be a hybrid at all? My life would’ve been so much easier if my mother had fallen in love with an incubus and started a family with him. Instead, my mother had a fling with a vampire that resulted in me. Only my father couldn’t bother to stick around to see me grow up.

It’s too late to be bitter about it now. I’m an adult and it’s not like my father is going to come around now and teach me what it’s like to be a vampire. This is my life and the sooner I accept it, the better off things will be.

So, here I am, taking notes for my grandfather. Even if I am a princess, it’s not like I’ll ever be a queen. Not since my mother’s older brother is the heir, and he has ten children of his own.

I listen to my cousins give their opinions and wish for once that somebody would ask for my opinion. I have a lot of great ideas—things that I think could help the succubi and incubi communities. What would they do if I just started talking?Likely, they’d kick me out of the meeting and I’d be out of a job. My grandfather loves me, in his way, but I’m still a hybrid.

Resigned to my fate, I type away, letting my thoughts get lost in the monotony of it.

Once the meeting is over, my cousins line up to give me their order for lunch. I try not to let my frustration show. This is my job. On days when there are meetings, I have to order food for all of them. But it’s like they purposefully make my job harder by requesting ridiculous things.

Sophia stops in front of me, looking down at me with narrowed dark brown eyes. “I’ve never noticed how short you are.” Her eyes keep looking down and they widen as she looks at my heels. “Oh, wow. You’re wearing very tall heels. Those do not look comfortable.”

I can’t help but grin. “They’re not comfortable.”

Sophia is one of my nicer cousins.

Truthfully, I’m notthatshort. I’m 5’5”. But considering every single family member of mine is at least five inches taller, I am short compared to them.

Henry nudges Sophia out of the way to give me his order and goes out of his way to call me ‘Hybrid’ like it’s a derogatory slur no less than four times in the span of a thirty second conversation. As soon as he leaves, Sophia gives me a sad smile.

“He’s in a mood today,” she comments.

I sigh. “Yes, it’s so hard to be rich, royal, and attractive.” I frown, hating even to call Henry ‘attractive.’ He’s an incubus, of course he’s attractive, but his personality makes him ugly.

She laughs. “Oh, Madeline, you have a wonderful sense of humor.”

“She needs a sense of humor to make up for her appearance.” Violet comes up beside Sophia, wrinkling her nose as she looks at me. “I could give you the number for my hairdresser—some highlights would help. And, trust me, you need all the help youcan get.” She pauses, a scowl on her face as she studies me. “Though nothing can help your face. I’ve heard humans can do plastic surgery. Maybe you should look into that.”

Sophia elbows Violet in the side. “Come, Violet, we both know you’re just upset because Eric dumped you.”

Ah, I did wonder. Violet isn’t usually so moody.

Eric is, or I guess was, Violet’s boyfriend. They’ve dated for four years and everybody assumed they’d get married one day.

“I’ll order some macarons from that bakery you like,” I offer Violet, trying not to take her words to heart.

We’re family and family is… complicated. Especially since my family is full of succubi and incubi. Our species tends to be… arrogant. Fortunately—or unfortunately—the other half of my DNA is cynical and far less beautiful.

Violet’s eyes light up. “The pink ones that I like, please. You’re an angel, Madeline.”

Sophia links arms with Violet and pulls her away from me. I sigh in relief once everybody has gone to their own offices. Deborah, the secretary, glances my way only long enough to glare before looking back at her computer screen.

I sigh.

Four more hours and then I can go home.

---