Page 83 of The Reluctant Heir

“Because you’re still thinking like a succubus, but you’re half vampire, Maddie. Vampires fall hard and fast, it’s in our nature,” Julien says.

I consider his words. He’s right that I’ve been thinking about this from a succubus standpoint. I’ve been holding back. Maybeit’s time I let myself fall for Damek. If I do, the next six months will be a lot smoother.

I squeeze his arm. “Thank you, Julien.”

“Of course.” He winks at me and then leads me from my room.

All eyes are on us as Julien leads me down the staircase and into the crowd of vampires. I’ve never felt more like a princess than I do now, with my fluffy gown and the tiara sitting atop my head. It’s not the first time I’ve had to wear a tiara. Grandfather loves to throw lavish parties that show off his wealth. But tonight is about so much more than showing off wealth. Tonight, my father is showingmeoff.

Damek waits at the bottom of the staircase and I smile when I see him standing there in his expensive tux. He’s messing with his cufflinks, but when he sees me, his jaw goes lax.

Julien chuckles beside me, but I ignore him. Instead, I focus on Damek, wondering if what Julien said is right.AmI half in love with him?

When I first met him, there was a spark of attraction. Had we not been interrupted by Kaine, I could’ve easily spent the entire night talking to him. We had an instant connection that has only grown as I’ve gotten to know him better. And now, we’re engaged.

Is six months enough time to get to know him before I commit my life to him? While my brain screams at me that six months is such a short amount of time, I wonder if it is just conditioning. I’ve been taught that for a marriage to work, there must be a lengthy dating period. But I’m not just a succubus. I’m also a vampire, and my vampire half seems to be dominant.

Julien and I stop by Damek and his eyes slowly scan me from top to bottom. Eventually, his dark eyes land on me. They glow in the dim light of the house.

“Wow.” Damek rubs a hand at his jaw. “You look so beautiful, Maddie.”

“I knew I would get somebody else to start calling you Maddie,” Julien says, completely delighted by Damek’s use of my nickname.

I ignore Julien. “Thank you, Damek. You look incredible as well.”

Julien moves so that he’s slightly in between us. “I think about right now she’s regretting the whole waiting six months to get married thing.”

I swat at Julien’s arm.

“To tell you the truth, I’m regretting it a little myself,” Damek says.

My heart thumps a little harder.

Damek extends his arm toward me and I link mine through his. I wave goodbye to Julien as Damek leads me through the crowd of vampires.

“Every male tonight is jealous of me,” Damek says. “And all the princes are all bitterly disappointed that you chose me.”

I spot Prince Caedmon at the edge of the crowd. He’s flanked by a crowd of women and he’s got a smug smile on his face. I nudge Damek and nod my head in Prince Caedmon’s direction. “Prince Caedmon isclearlyheartbroken.”

Damek laughs. “Okay, maybe Prince Caedmon isn’t upset, but I imagine his father is upset enough for the both of them. He wanted an alliance with the Scott Clan.”

I bite back a groan.

Marriage alliances need to be done away with. They’re outdated and only seem to make monarchs miserable in their personal lives. Certainly, there are better ways to make alliances than marriage.

Damek leads me to our fathers, who are standing in the middle of the room with a few other men I recognize as monarchs.

“Father.” Damek bows slightly to his dad, then he bows to my dad. “King Scott.”

Dad pats Damek on the back. “Call me Michael. You’re soon to be married to my daughter. There is no need for titles.”

After that, the monarchs take their turns offering Damek and me congratulations on our upcoming nuptials. Even a few of the guys who took me on dates came up to extend their best wishes. I wonder if there will ever be an end to the crowd.

“How often do we have to attend gatherings like this?” I ask Damek, hoping there won’t be many.

He smirks. “Not many, to be honest. There are a few each year, but we don’t have to attend them all.”

Thank goodness because I’m not sure I could handle too much of this.

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