Page 40 of The Reluctant Heir

“Maybe I can bring you some medicine over or some soup.”

“Soup?” I ask.

“It’s what humans do in movies when somebody is sick,” Prince Lucas explains.

Movies?

For some reason, I have a hard time picturing Prince Lucas sitting down to watch a human movie. Then again, maybe that’s what he spends his free time doing because he hasn’t learned about supernaturals. If he had, he’d know that succubi don’t get sick.

“I’m sorry, now isn’t a good time,” I wrack my brain for an excuse. It’s not like I can tell him that I don’t want to get him sick—vampires can’t catch anything as common as a stomach bug anymore than a succubus can. “I, uh, have been throwing up. A lot. I think I’m going to be sick.” I do my best to make a retching noise. “Bye, Prince Lucas.”

I end the call with a hard tap on the screen.

When I hear laughter behind me, I turn around to see Julien standing in the doorway. I narrow my eyes at him.

“I should’ve warned you.” He motions to the phone in my hand. “You shouldn’t answer any unknown numbers. You’re going to be getting lots of phone calls from eligible princes.”

“What about Damek?” I ask. “Do you think he’ll call?”

Julien walks further into the room. “You want him to call?”

I shrug.

He smirks. “I’m not surprised you’ve got a crush on Prince Damek. All the girls love him. Even though he’s twenty five, he’sstill not married. I’d wish you luck on dating him, but you are a succubus. If anybody has a shot with him, it’s probably you.”

“All the girls?” I sit down on the edge of my bed, trying to make it look like I’m not too interested.

Julien rubs a hand on the back of his head. “Yeah, you know. Pretty much every eligible female vampire from age eighteen to thirty.”

“Oh.” My cheeks grow warm.

Does Prince Damek think I was putting the moves on him? Does he think I’m just another girl trying to chase him? No wonder he seemed so surprised that I showed up at his house.

I worry my bottom lip between my teeth. “Do you think you can get me his phone number?” I hold up my hands. “I’mnotcalling him. But if he calls, I might want to answer.”

He pulls his phone from his back pocket. “Sure. I’ve got his number. But if you do happen to call him, don’t tell him you got his number from me. He made me promise not to give it to any girls.”

I wonder if Damek has the same problem that I’m going to have—potential ‘alliances’ wanting to set up dates.

The vampire community may be vast, but the dating pool for royals feels exceptionally small.

I copy Damek’s number and put it into my contacts. I also input Prince Lucas’s number, just so I don’t accidentally answer his call. I silence his notifications too, just in case.

“So…” Julien crosses his arms over his chest. “Are you still keen on letting Kaine pick out your husband?”

“He’s not going to pick out my husband. He’s just going to help make the dating pool smaller.” At least, that’s what I hope he’s going to do. “He’s going to try to match guys with me and tell the guys who he thinks I would clash with that it’s not going to work out.”

He raises an eyebrow at me. “You don’t have a lot of dating experience, right? Because, let me tell you, that isn’t going to work. Guys are going to want to hear it fromyou, not Kaine.”

I groan. “Why can’t I just pick one and announce my engagement? Then they’d get the hint, right?”

“But then you’d have to get engaged.”

“Right.” I frown. “Are you sure you don’t want me to abdicate the throne? You’d make a much better heir than me.”

He snorts. “I have enough female attention—I don’t need anymore, thanks.”

This sucks.

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