Page 5 of The Royal Engagement

My heart melts when I hear him talk about my grandma. The two of them are sweet together. Though she definitely doesn’t look as young as she did when they married, she does look extremely young for her age, even for a succubus.

I hope someday that I have a love like them. Will Damek and I be in love after forty six years? My grandparent’s marriage was arranged too, so they didn’t love each other when they got married. But they did grow to love each other very deeply. I hope that we can get there.

“Since Madeline is so dear to my family and to our community, I would like to throw the two of you an engagement party,” Grandpa says.

‘Dear’ to my family? I nearly snort at the thought. If anything, I’m certain that my cousins are glad to be rid of me. They’ve always hated my presence at work. If anything, they miss me bringing me coffee every morning.

“Grandpa, you don’t have to do that,” I quickly say, hoping to avoid this.

“I insist.” His tone is light, but I can see on his face that this isn’t something I can get out of.

I sit up straighter. “I don’t want to be rude, but are you sure this is a good idea?”

Damek’s arm tightens around me and I wonder what he’s thinking. Does he think I’m ashamed to introduce him to my cousins? Maybe I should explain it to him, but I won’t in front of my grandfather.

“Your cousins miss you,” Grandpa says.

I raise an eyebrow. “Yeah, right. I’m sure Henry threw a party to celebrate my departure.”

He looks away, confirming my suspicions.

Of course Henry threw a party to celebrate that I was gone—what a puke.

“I will keep Henry in check,” Grandpa promises after a long pause.

Like you kept him in check all those years I worked for you?I keep the thought to myself, wishing I were brave enough to say it out loud to him.

“Do not forget, Madeline, you are a princess on both sides.” He meets my eyes. “You have a duty to more than just the vampires, but succubi as well.”

I lower my head, not sure what to say. I’ve never felt like a princess, only an outsider. But I do know that I can’t deny my grandfather’s request—not only is he my grandpa, but my king.

“You know what the succubi and incubi will say, even my family.” I don’t make eye contact as I say it.

Damek keeps quiet, but I’m sure he’s wondering what we’re talking about.

“It matters not what anybody says about you,” Grandfather says. “You are special and they all know it.”

I shake my head. “Special is just your kind way of saying that I’m ugly compared to my non-hybrid cousins.”

Damek takes a step closer, putting himself between my grandfather and me. “I am willing to go to this engagement party of yours, but I am unwilling for Maddie to be treated poorly by her family while we’re there. If that is what this is about, we will not be coming.”

My eyes widen as I look from Damek to my grandfather. Damek keeps his eyes on my grandfather, not breaking eye contact for even a second. Grandpa looks… amused.

Is he smirking?

“That is not what this is about. I can assure you that I love Madeline very much. If her cousins make fun of her, it is only because they are jealous,” Grandpa says. “She is the kind of natural beauty that a full succubus could never be. Her cousins are all aware of it, too.”

I stare a him, wondering if he’s just saying that to make Damek and me feel better, but it doesn’t feel like it. It’s like he really means what he’s saying.

But he couldn’t, could he?

I’ve never felt beautiful. How could I be when I was constantly reminded that I wasn’t a full succubus?

“I don’t understand,” I say.

Grandpa looks at me. “You’ve always been beautiful. Why do you think your female cousins treat you like they do? Succubi and incubi are vain, they can’t stand anybody to be more beautiful than them.”

More beautiful than a succubus? Impossible.

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