Page 12 of The Royal Engagement

My cheeks grow warm. “Just about the future and what it could look like.”

“And what does the future look like?”

I shrug one shoulder. “Not so bad, especially if our mothers learn to get along.”

He chuckles. “My mother is stubborn, but I know her. Once she gets to know you, she will love you. I know she made a bad first impression, but I promise she won’t always be like that.”

It’s hard to imagine Queen Rune ‘loving’ anybody. Well, except her family. I’ve seen how sweet she can be to her husband and sons. And even though Damek isn’t her son by blood, she treats him as such.

Maybe once she gets to know me, she will consider me family too. But I somehow doubt it, especially since the only time Queen Rune deems to look at me, it’s always through narrowed eyes or an upturned nose. I’m certain my mother didn’t help the situation either.

Still, I will try. For Damek’s sake, as well as my own. I don’t want to be miserable and his mother, as queen of the Rune clan, has the ability to make my life very miserable.

I have learned that she is queen in name only—a consort to King Rune. She doesn’t get to make any decisions and even her son, Duncan, isn’t considered a spare. He’s a prince in name only. And it’s not just because she was his second wife, but it’s mostly because she was human before they married. Her blood is considered weaker. I’ve even heard Kaine talk about how turned vampires are weaker, but from what I’ve witnessed, that’s not true.

“I still can’t believe you agreed to marry me.” Damek plays with the straw of his drink. “Your dad showed my dad all thealliance requests that he had and some of the clans offered a lot more than we did.”

I can’t hold back my grin. “Oh, well, it was a close call between you and Prince Caedmon.”

Damek chuckles, knowing that I’m joking.

“As far as choices went, there wasn’t any. There is no competition, Damek. You were it from the moment I met you, even if I didn’t realize it then.” My cheeks grow warm at my admission. I’m not usually so bold, but I do want Damek to know where I stand.

“That’s good.” He sits up straighter. “I was disappointed when we met because I knew that we were there for my younger brother. I had never felt like that before. At first, I thought maybe I was drawn to you because you’re a succubus, but it is so much more than that. I feel like it was fate for us to meet.”

“Yeah, it would’ve been super awkward if I had gone out with your brother before I met you,” I tease.

“You’re the only girl I would consider fighting him for,” he says in a serious tone. “I really like you, Maddie. I hope you know that. This engagement isn’t something that was forced on me. I chose you.”

My smile grows into something softer and my body relaxes. “I am glad because I feel the same way about you. I may have chosen to get to know you a little better first, but I am glad that it’s you.”

After dinner, Damek and I take a walk along a path behind the restaurant. There is a dock with boats tied to it and we walk to the end of it. I could imagine that this place is nice in the summer months and it makes me excited for the future that Damek was talking about.

I don’t dread marrying him like I thought I would, but I’m not sure what that means. Not wanting to consider it, I push the thought aside for later.

Damek holds my hand as we stand at the edge of the dock and when I glance over at him, I see that he’s watching me. I start to say something when he takes a step closer to me. Every coherent thought is gone as he leans closer.

We’ve kissed before, there is nothing new about it, but somehow it feels different tonight. His lips are soft and warm, never pushing too much or asking too much. The kiss makes my stomach knot up and my head spin. Damek puts one hand on the small of my back and his touch feels so warm. I scoot closer to him, stealing his warmth.

My heart pounds embarrassingly fast, but I can hear that Damek’s is beating just as fast as mine. I wonder how this kiss makes him feel—is he just as enamored with me? Does he get butterflies? When Damek pulls back, his brown eyes are glowing. I lean into him, letting him take the bulk of my weight. He doesn’t say anything, he just wraps an arm around me and tucks my head beneath his chin.

This is bliss. For some reason, I don’t completely dread our life together. Damek is the kind of guy I always pictured myself with. He’s the kind of guy I thought I’d never meet. I never realized that what I needed was a political engagement.

I think back to conversations I had with my mom—she wanted me to put myself out there and date. When she would mention trying to date a vampire, I would get so mad at her. But now, I can’t remember why I was mad at her. She was right. Ididneed to try dating a vampire.

We stay like that for a long time, just enjoying one another’s company. When it’s time to leave, I’m a little disappointed that the night is already over. I want to spend more time with Damek and get to know him better.

As if reading my mind, Damek says, “We will do this again soon. I want to make us a priority.”

“I would like that.”

He opens the passenger side door for me. Before I can get in, he grabs my hand to stop me. I look up at him and he bends down to give me the softest of kisses.

“Sorry, I just had to,” he says.

I grin. “Had to?”

“Don’t you ever just have to do something?” His thumb gently caresses my cheek. “With you, I can’t help myself.”

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