Page 27 of The Reluctant Heir

“You didn’t enjoy Prince Lucas’s company?” Julien asks.

I shrug. “He was okay. He’s attractive and seems nice, but there is no chemistry. Like, at all.”

“He’s pretty boring.”

“Yes, he is. I was trying so hard to have a conversation with him, but…” my voice trails off. “I’m so bad at all this. And dancing with a stranger is awkward.”

“I told Dad he should do brunch instead.”

“I was thinking the same thing!”

He smirks. “Where have you been my whole life? I’m telling you, when Lucien gets back, we’re ganging up against him.”

I nod. “Absolutely.”

And I will be so happy to give Lucien his spot as heir back. I’ll gladly be the spare.

Somebody else comes to interrupt Julien and my dancing and I spend the next hour being passed between dance partners. By the time I escape out the back doors of the house, my brain is mush. It’s so hot in the ballroom and the only thing that is keeping my hair from being a frizzy mess is the fae-made hairspray the hairdresser used on it.

This stuff comes in handy.

I sit down on a stone bench, the chill biting through the material of my dress.

“Do you mind if I sit here?”

I jump, putting my hand to my racing heart. “You scared me.”

I look up and spot a guy grinning as he watches me. “I’m sorry.”

I wave a hand to the spot beside me. “Please, sit.”

He takes a seat, angling his body toward me. “I wanted to talk to you in there, but you were busy.”

I chew on my bottom lip. “I’m being auctioned off to the highest bidder.”

“I noticed that.” He chuckles. “I’ve been there a few times myself.”

I turn to face him. “Really?”

He nods. “I’m the heir in my family. We’re here for my younger brother, you danced with him. My father is hopeful our clans will form an alliance.”

I rack my brain, trying to remember if I danced with anybody that looks like this guy, but all of my dances were a blur.

I study him carefully, noticing how his dark brown hair is slightly mused, his tie is loosened slightly, and the top button onhis shirt is undone. Maybe he is also over the evening and is just ready to head home. Maybe he came out here to hide too. He’s tall, over six feet, and lean. His brown eyes have that familiar glow that all vampires have and it makes his eyes appear almost golden.

“I don’t think I danced with anybody who looks like you. And, trust me, I would’ve remembered somebody as good looking as you,” I blurt out.

He chuckles deeply, the sound causing butterflies to tickle my stomach.

My cheeks grow warm as I realize what I’ve said. “Who are you, by the way?”

“I am Damek Rune, from the Rune Clan.” He holds out his hand.

I put mine in his, wondering if he is going to kiss my hand like that boy did earlier, but he doesn’t. He just shakes it and lets my hand fall.

“You’re prettier than I thought you would be.”

My stomach muscles clench up. “Oh. Um… thanks.”

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