Page 34 of The Royal Engagement

“Hopefully you two have daughters.” Queen Rune smiles at me. “We weren’t able to have any children after Duncan, but I always wanted a baby girl.”

Wait a minute… is she seriously smiling? Atme. And saying something that isn’t antagonistic.

The world as I know is coming to an end. I glance up at the sky, expecting a giant meteor to be barreling toward Earth, but all I see are stars.

Damek squeezes my fingers. I can tell he’s encouraged by his mother’s kind words.

He is why I will keep trying. Because he wants me to get along with his mom and I want that too. I want us to be a happy family. And I definitely don’t want my children to think that I hate their grandmother.

“Succubi have large families, yes?” she asks.

I nod. “All of my aunts and uncles have anywhere from six to fifteen children each. When I was a kid, I was constantly meeting new cousins. I can’t even imagine how chaotic it will be once my cousins start having children.”

Queen Rune’s eyes widen. “Wow. Well, if you two have that many children, I am always free to babysit. Never hesitate to ask for help.”

For some reason, the thought makes my chest warm. “Thank you. I will most definitely be taking you up on your offer.”

I’m not even embarrassed by the fact that we’re talking about Damek and me having children. If anything, I feel encouraged. This feels real—like Damek and I are a really engaged couple, going on vacation with his family.

Once dinner is over, and we watch the sunrise, we head inside for the day. Queen Rune offers to show me to my room, so Damek heads to his room.

“I hope this is all right,” Queen Rune says. She points at a cabinet. “There are extra blankets in here if you get cold. The boys like to keep the house freezing at night.”

“Thank you.” I hope she can tell that I’m being sincere. I like this version of Queen Rune—the motherly version. It’s easy to see why Damek loves her. I start to open my suitcase that is sitting on the dresser, but pause when I see that Queen Rune is still standing in the doorway.

“I want to apologize to you.” She knits her fingers together. “I was unkind to you when we first met. It was never because I hated you personally. I just didn’t want Damek to suffer the same fate my husband did. My husband… he was forced into a marriage he didn’t want. I wanted Damek to be free to choose his wife. I thought he was marrying you because it was his duty, but I know now that’s not the case.”

“Thank you, Queen Rune. That means a lot to me.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Since we’re going to be family, I do want us to get along.”

“I do as well,” she says. “But, please, call me Tiffany. I am, after all, to be your mother-in-law. There is no need for titles.”

“Okay.” I offer her a smile.

“You really are beautiful. I know my grandchildren will be adorable.” She stands up straighter. “I want to ask your mother if she can show me some of your baby photos.” She cringes. “I should apologize to her as well.”

“No.” I shake my head. “My mother was being stubborn. You don’t have to apologize to her. I’ve talked with her and she will be nicer to you during wedding planning from now on.”

Queen Rune—Tiffany—lets out a breath. “Well, that is a relief. Before you spoke up, I thought you were going to end up with a pink wedding.”

I laugh. “I like pink, but I’d rather go the traditional route since there will be so many people at the wedding. My mom is just against anything traditional—she’s been that way as long as I can remember. I think it was because of the way she was raised. She rebels against my grandfather too, even still. It drives him crazy.”

“Your mother has managed to stay out of political matters,” Tiffany says thoughtfully. “So you really don’t play a role in succubi and incubi politics?”

I shake my head. “Nah. Even when I worked for my grandpa, I filled a secretarial role. My cousins didn’t want me to hear anything important, since I’m a hybrid.”

She furrows her brows. “Why would they care that you’re a hybrid?”

Her genuine confusion eases a knot in my chest that I didn’t realize was there.

Damek and his family don’t care that I’m a hybrid. They are going to welcome me anyway.

“I don’t know,” I answer, after a long pause. “But they didn’t like it.”

Tiffany nods. “You get some sleep.”

“Goodnight,” I tell her.

She turns to go but grins at me over her shoulder. “Good night.”

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