Page 19 of The Royal Engagement

“I’m onyourside.” Damek puts his hands on my shoulders. “Always yours, Maddie.”

My heart melts as I look into his brown eyes. They glow in the way that vampire eyes always seem to glow.

“You’re really beautiful,” he says.

“Me?” I lick my lips as I look into his eyes. “You’re one to talk. When I mentioned you to Julien, he told me all the vampire girls want to date you.”

He scoffs. “Because I’m a prince.”

I raise an eyebrow. “I don’t care if you’re a prince—I just like you.”

He grins. “Maybe that’s why I like you so much. You’ve never cared about titles. You proved that the night we met when you punched me.”

“You know I didn’t mean to do that.”

“I know.” He takes a step closer, making me look up to meet his eyes. “I had never been so bummed because I thought you were dating Kaine. I connected with you that first night. After our conversation, I was about ready to tell my dad to put in an offer for me instead of Duncan.”

“I’m glad my punch didn’t scare you off.”

He leans closer. “It only made me want to date you more.”

Before I can respond, his lips gently touch mine. He kisses me softly and any thoughts of our fighting mothers and wedding planning cease.

This is right. What is happening between Damek and me feels like fate. I’m not going to let anything come between us.

His hand cups my cheek and I feel his thumb caress the side of my jaw. My body melts into his.

7

AN HONOR

Ilook in the mirror at myself, hating my insecurities, but unable to stop criticizing everything about myself. It’s like I’ve lost every bit of self confidence I gained while with the vampires.

Coming to my grandfather’s castle was a mistake.

My stomach churns as I think about all my cousins who are arriving for my engagement party. What happens when they inevitably try to use their charms on Damek? What happens when he realizes that I’m not the great woman he thinks of me as?

There is a knock on the door, so I step away from the mirror. It’s too late to second guess if this dress was a good choice. When I open the door, Damek stands on the other side. He looks handsome as always as he plays with his cufflinks. His eyes widen when he sees me.

“Wow. You look—”

I cut him off. “I should change, shouldn’t I? This dress is unflattering.”

I turn around to do just that when Damek puts a hand on my shoulder to stop me. I hesitantly turn around to face him as he shuts the door to my room.

“What I was going to say is that you look beautiful.” He takes a step closer to me, but I don’t look up to meet his gaze.

He’s just saying that because he’ssupposedto. Damek is a good guy. No matter how he feels about me after seeing my gorgeous female cousins, he will go through with this marriage because he feels obligated.

Damek cups my chin with his fingers and gently nudges my head up so that I’m looking at him.

“I never would’ve agreed to this engagement party if I realized how much this was going to hurt you,” he says softly. “Rest assured that you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met, but it’s not just the way you look. It’syou. We just fit together. If vampires had soulmates, you would be mine. I choose you, Maddie. Do you understand?”

I nod slowly, his words causing my heart to double in speed.

Does Damek really think that much about me? It doesn’t feel real. I never thought any guy could love me, not when my cousins are so much better.

“I’m not the kind of girl an incubus would want to take home to their parents. My grandfather may be king, but I’m a hybrid.” I chew on my bottom lip.

---