Page 20 of The Royal Engagement

“And I already told you how I feel about hybrids. Though I may be partial to hybrids, but only because my fiancé is one.” He gives me a pointed look. “Say the word and we will leave. I don’t care if we anger the incubus king. All I care about is your happiness and it’s clear you’re unhappy here.”

He would leave forme. He doesn’t care about impressing my grandfather, he only cares about how I feel.

Maybe Damek is right about the soulmate thing because he would definitely be mine.

Still, an ugly part of me wonders if he will feel this way after he meets my cousins.

Damek looks at his watch. “We should probably head down there.”

I reach for his wrist and gently nudge his arm up so I can see the time. If we left now, we’d be five minutes early.

I shake my head. “Vampires may arrive on time, but succubi and incubi don’t. My cousins take arriving fashionably late to a new level.”

Besides, the less time we spend with them, the better.

“I was just thinking the earlier we arrive, the sooner we can leave,” he says.

“Good point.” I walk toward the door. “Most of my cousins will arrive an hour late, so let’s get out there before they start arriving. If we’re lucky, we can leave before Henry gets here.”

“Henry?” Damek asks as he chases after me.

I’m walking at double speed toward the ballroom. Damek’s idea is a good one—why didn’t I think of it years ago? Though, to be fair, I did skip out early ninety percent of the time anyway.

Damek uses his vampiric speed to catch up with me. He grabs my hand and tugs me so I walk at a slower pace.

“Who is Henry?” Damek asks. “Is he an ex-boyfriend or something?”

I laugh.

He looks at me expectantly.

“You remember I told you I’ve only been on one date,” I remind him. “When I was sixteen.”

“Yeah, but you can’t be serious. You’re so pretty—there is no way you weren’t asked out every week by an incubus,” he says.

His words are so sweet, even if they’re completely ridiculous.

“I am glad you think so,” I say, pausing at the top of the stairs that lead to the ballroom. “Henry isn’t an ex. He’s my cousin. His hobbies include making fun of me and ensuring that my life is as miserable as possible. I’m hoping I can avoid introducing you to him.”

Damek’s jaw flexes and he gets a determined look in his eyes. “Introduce me to him. I will kill him.” He heads down the stairs, pulling me with him.

“You’re joking, right?” I ask.

He doesn’t respond.

Certainly he is joking. There is no way he would actually kill my cousin.

“Henry isn’t worth the trouble killing him would cause,” I say to reassure him. “I never take anything he says seriously.”

“I told you already, I will not allow anybody to mistreat you.” He stops at the bottom of the stairs and turns to face me. “Protecting you from your cousins is worth any political incident it would cause.”

As I look at Damek, all I can do is pray that he doesn’t fall for any of my female cousins’ charms. Because I am falling for him so hard.

“There you two are.”

I turn when I hear my grandfather’s voice.

“You look beautiful, Madeline.” He steps closer to us. He nods to Damek. “You look nice as well, Prince Damek. I dare say your looks would rival any incubus here tonight. It’s easy to see why my granddaughter chose you.”

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