Page 24 of The Reluctant Heir

“Are you okay?” I ask.

She holds up a hand while she coughs a few more times and then she laughs. “Madeline, I assure you, you’renota fattened calf. Michael loves you very much.”

“So much that he’s trying to marry me off to the highest bidder?” I let go of my fork and it clanks loudly against the plate. I’ve lost my appetite.

She gives me a sympathetic look. “You’re new to this life. I understand that the succubi do things differently than vampires. So let me assure you that your father isn’t auctioning you off tothe highest bidder. He is doing what is best for you and our clan. Besides, it’s not like you’re getting engaged tonight. You’re just meeting… eligible men.”

Okay, that doesn’t soundsobad when she puts it like that.

She continues. “And if you meet a guy you happen to have chemistry with, your father will make moves to align us with his clan. You have the power, Madeline.”

Right. Now I feel like I’m in a bad reality TV show where I have to meet eligible guys and weed out the men from the boys before I choose a husband in the end after only going on a handful of dates with them. Sounds like a really good basis for marriage.

I groan, letting my head flop back.

“It could be worse,” I muse, keeping my eyes focused on the chandelier over the dining table. “They could be incubi instead of vampires.”

“What’s wrong with incubi?” Eden asks.

I lower my head to look at her, raising an eyebrow. “They’re good looking and they know it. One time I went out with an incubus when I was in high school and he spent half the time looking at himself in the camera app on his phone and the other half talking about how much he could benchpress. I didn’t have the heart to inform him that as a hybrid vampire, I could put him to shame.”

Eden laughs. “Oh, you poor thing. Your father did tell me you said you don’t have dating experience.”

My cheeks grow warm. “Well, I am a hybrid. Most incubi find me incredibly unattractive.”

She reaches a hand across the table and squeezes my fingers. “The princes tonight will be lined up to have a chance to talk to you, Madeline. You are beautiful. Don’t forget it.”

8

NEEDING A RESCUE

Iwring my fingers together as I stand next to Kaine. He watches me out of the corner of his eye with a scowl on his face.

He grabs my hand. “Do you have to fidget?”

“Sorry.” I drop my hands. “I’m nervous.”

He lifts an eyebrow. “What do you have to be nervous about? Every single guy is here to see you—they’re the ones who should be nervous. There are thirty princes, but only one you.”

My heart races and my stomach clenches. “Thirty?”

He rolls his eyes. “Did you miss the part where they’re all here to see you? It’s not you who needs to make a good first impression, it’s them.”

I try to breathe, but the air feels thin. “So… it wouldn’t matter if I tripped and fell down the stairs?”

“You’re a hybrid vampire succubus. I bet you’ve never tripped or fallen in your life.”

He’s not wrong, but now that the idea is in my head I’m worried it could happen.

“There is a first time for everything,” I counter, still trying to breathe.

Kaine mumbles under his breath, but I hear every word thanks to my vampire hearing.

“How in the world did I get stuck babysitting her?”

I should probably feel offended by his words, but I don’t. Honestly, I kind of feel bad for him. I know I’m not the easiest charge.

“What if none of the guys like me?” I ask, my breaths coming quicker the more I think about it. “I’m ahybrid.”

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