Page 64 of The Reluctant Heir

“I’mnotlying,” he confirms.

He’s not.

Which means he does think I’m gorgeous.

I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “What about your mom?”

“What about her?” he asks.

“She hates me.”

He hesitates. “I don’t know what’s going on with my mom, but her opinion of you doesn’t matter to me. I’ve already made up my mind about you and I know how I feel about you.”

How hefeelsabout me. I want to question him—ask him to go into detail, but he keeps talking.

“Do you mind if I call you Maddie?” Damek asks. “I heard your brother call you that and I thought maybe you preferred the nickname.”

I can’t help but smile. “Julien is the first person to ever call me Maddie, but I like it when you call me that. It makes me feel…” I let my voice trail off, not knowing how to explain. “Well, special.”

He grins. “Good. Because youarespecial, Maddie. I hope you know that. My mother was dead wrong about you. When I go home, I will talk to her about it. I’m sure my father already has spoken with her. You’re important to me and I don’t want to lose you because of what my mother said.”

I relax at his words.

He’s not going to take her words to heart.

And I’mimportantto him.

“Thank you, Damek.” I relax further into his side, resting my head against his chest.

I’m not sure what’s going on between Damek and me, but I could get used to this.

18

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

Once Damek leaves, I try hard not to think about what his mom said about me, but I can’t help it.

I know that what she said was a lie. I know that she was being petty and was probably just jealous because she thinks I’m ‘stealing’ her son or something. But the words are so familiar. They’re the same words I’ve heard almost my entire life. Over and over again I’ve been told how ‘ugly’ I am. How ‘less’ I am. I had nearly forgotten about it when I came here. I’ve been accepted and loved. But not being accepted by Queen Rune doesn’t change who I am.

I’m a hybrid. I’m a mix of two species, not belonging to either.

I sob into my pillow. It’s way too early to be in bed. I told everybody that I was ‘tired’ from hanging out with our company, but the truth is, I just didn’t want to be around anybody. I want to break by myself.

Damke’s momhatesme. Which sucks because he’s the only guy I would consider for the alliance. He’s the only guy that I like—the only one I’m truly attracted to.

A knock on my door disrupts me. I take a deep breath before calling out.

“Who is it?” My voice breaks slightly at the end. I take another breath and swallow my sobs.

“It’s Kaine. Can we talk?”

My shoulders slump forward.

Of course it’s Kaine. He’s probably here to rub my nose in my misery.

“Now isn’t a good time,” I manage to say before another sob escapes my throat. I hate that vampire hearing is so good. I know he can hear me. It’s embarrassing to break down in front of somebody who hates me like this, but I try to keep my spirits high. It’s not my fault that I’m a hybrid. And it’s not my fault that Damek’s mother hates me. I can’t change who I am. The only thing I can do is try to prove everybody wrong.

The doorknob jingles as Kaine opens it. He walks through, shutting the door behind him.

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