Page 52 of The Reluctant Heir

“It’s a stupid law.” I put my latte cup down. “Vampires don’t have a reigning monarch, right?”

“Correct.”

“So who decides these things?”

Damek raises an eyebrow. “You don’t know the history of our people?”

I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Not exactly. Kaine has been teaching me, but there is alotto go over. It’s overwhelming.”

“Right.” He shakes his head. “I forgot that you weren’t raised with our kind. I grew up, learning all this.” He sits up straighter. “All the monarchs got together and made the law. It was over two hundred years ago. But there was no law in place for a long time. Still, most monarchs would marry only royals to keep the bloodlines strong. But a vampire king fell in love with a human woman and decided to marry her. It was a scandal, but nobody stopped them. But the human woman died during childbirth. The child was sickly and weak. Usually, a child isn’t turned into a vampire until they’re sixteen, but this child wasn’t going to make it that long. They ended up changing him when he was ten, but his body wasn’t strong enough to survive the change. The king never had any more children, never had any heirs, and his clan dispersed. To save any more royal lines from dying out, the monarchs decided to make this law.”

“Wow, that’s sad.” I rub a hand at the base of my throat. “I thought you were going to give me a lame reason, but that’s understandable.”

Damek shrugs. “It’s reasonable to ban vampire-human marriages among monarchs, but I don’t see why a monarchcouldn’t marry a vampire from a lesser family.” He looks at me. “Or even another supernatural. Just look at what mixing royal vampire blood and succubus blood did. You’re incredible.”

Incredible?

My heart swells at the compliment.

I’ve never thought of myself as incredible, but when Damek says it, I believe him.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” He drinks the last of his glass of blood.

“Just for tonight. And for everything you’ve said.” I run my fingers over the handle of my coffee cup. “I have no idea what’s going to happen with this alliance, but I wouldn’t mind getting to know you better.”

Damek smiles widely, revealing his dimples. “I would like that as well.”

And for the first time since all these political dates started, I don’t have to end the night with dread about what my future will be. Because Damek seems nice and I wouldn’t mind getting to know him better.

Kaine will be so happy when I tell him there is one royal Iactuallylike.

15

YOU HAVE NO IDEA

After dinner, Damek and I took a short walk—short because it was still pretty cold outside. The weather might not affect me like it does most succubi, but when it’s below freezing it’s harder to be outside for long periods. When we get back to the car, he cranks up the heat for me and I sigh as I feel the heated seats.

He drives toward my house and my heart feels heavy. I don’twantto say goodbye to Damek yet. I’ve had a wonderful evening with him and I don’t want things to go back to the way they were. I don’t want dates with spoiled royals every weekend. But I also don’t want to get married, not even to Damek. I don’t know him well enough for that.

“Are you okay?” Damek asks.

“Yes.” I turn in my seat so that I can face him. “I just am not ready to go home yet.”

“The sun will rise soon.” Damek looks at the clock on his car display. “I’d love to spend more time with you, but I don’t want your little brother or your father mad at me.”

“We should both go home and get some rest,” I tell him. “I just don’t want to keep going out on dates with spoiled royals.”

He grins. “Should I be worried that you consider me a spoiled royal?”

“No.” I laugh, shaking my head. “You’re the least spoiled royal I’ve spent time with, and that includes my succubi and incubi cousins.”

“Do you have a date tonight?” he asks.

“Nope. Thankfully Kaine only scheduled one date this weekend.”

“Can I see you tonight? I can come over and we can hang out and talk or something.” His fingers tense on the steering wheel and I notice a slight increase in his heart rate.

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