20. Are they always like this?

20

ARE THEY ALWAYS LIKE THIS?

I hold it together exactly as long as it takes Damek to get there, but as soon as I see him, I run into his arms and let him hold me while I sob into his chest. He rubs my back and softly tells me that everything is going to be okay. Somehow, when he's holding me like this, I believe him. When I eventually do pull back, I notice Dad, Lucien, and Kaine are talking to the guards. Julien is talking with Harper and Sophia, but for one he's not smirking or flirting with them. He looks… concerned.

"I'm okay," I tell Damek.

He gently wipes the tears from under my eyes. "You don't have to be okay right now. Your mother was kidnapped. You're allowed to fall apart and cry right now. I'm here for you and I always will be."

"I know." My heart warms at his promise.

"I was so worried about you." He tucks me into his arms again. "I don't know what I would do if something happened to you. What if he had taken you instead? And I feel selfish for even thinking about it. Your mother was kidnapped."

I pull back to look at him. "Don't be sorry, Damek. I'm glad that you care about me."

"I do care about you. So much." He kisses me on the top of my head. "I never thought I would ever love somebody as much as I love you."

My breath catches in my throat. "I love you too."

"Maddie."

I turn when I hear my name being called. Lucien is standing by Kaine and Dad. When he sees me look, he waves me over. I hold hands with Damek and bring him with me.

"Did you see or hear anything?" Lucien asks.

I shake my head. "I was asleep. Eden was the one who woke me up and told me what happened."

He sighs, turning to face Dad. "How did she get kidnapped from inside a locked hotel room without our guards hearing anything?"

"That is the question." Dad rubs at the scruff on his jaw. "Madeline, did you call your grandfather?"

"Harper and Sophia did," I answer. "He's on his way. He's also bringing a local wolf shifter pack with him and all his guards."

Dad perks up. "I didn't realize your grandfather had an alliance with wolf shifters."

I shrug. "I don't know that it's official. The succubi women like wolf shifters and they flirt with the single men in the pack."

Damek stiffens. "You don't flirt with them, do you?"

I turn to him, smiling at how jealous he is. "I never saw the point. Wolf shifters have soulmates. Besides, they don't date. Wolf shifters are very serious about waiting for their mates."

Damek only relaxes slightly at my reassurance. "I'm trying really hard not to be jealous right now."

Lucien dramatically rolls his eyes, reminding me of Julien. "Are they always like this?"

"Always." Dad nods.

"Hey," I scold him. "Whose side are you on?"

Dad just grins.

Kaine clears his throat. "I'm going to go watch the security feed and see if there is anything the guards missed."

He leaves quickly and my stomach aches with guilt. I hate the way things went with Kaine and me. I hate that things are so awkward now. He's such a big part of my family. We really need to work things out.

A few hours later, we head back to the estate. We have no more knowledge now than we did when I first woke. Kaine brought copies of the security recordings back and he's looking through it with a couple of guards.

Grandpa shows up roughly around sunset with about twenty of his own guards and about thirty wolf shifters. When a couple of wolf shifters come to greet me, Damek is quick to move to my side and introduce himself as my ‘fiancé.' It's really sweet, even if completely unnecessary—the wolf shifters have never been interested in me like that .

It isn't long until the estate is overrun with supernaturals. Even other vampire clans have come to offer their support. With everybody helping, I know we'll find my mom quickly. There is no way the Nodin Clan will be able to stay hidden.

My mom is going to be all right. I know it. I relax, knowing she'll be back in no time.

"I found something," Kaine says, heading straight for my dad.

Damek and I walk over so we can hear whatever Kaine has to say.

Dad turns to face him. "What is it?"

"In the security feed," Kaine replies. "We didn't go back far enough. In the parking lot, around noon, the person delivering Princess Bennett's food showed up. He was compelled by a vampire and the food back was changed out. I'm guessing that the food was laced with something because an hour later, Princess Bennett was carried over the shoulder of a vampire and loaded into a van. She was passed out."

"Did you get a license plate number?" Dad asks.

Kaine nods, holding up the paper. "I've already got people on it. I just wanted to update you."

"Thank you, Kaine." Dad slaps him on the back. "I appreciate your dedication to finding Madeline's mother. I know you won't rest until she's back."

Kaine dips his head. "Absolutely, King Scott."

Kaine leaves, likely getting back to work since he updated my father. Grandpa comes over to join us and Dad tells him everything Kaine said. Grandpa takes everything in stride—he's a lot calmer than I expected him to be since my mother is missing.

Grandpa puts his hand on my shoulder. "How are you doing, Madeline?"

I lean into him. "I'm okay. I'm worried about Mom, but I know we'll find her."

He squeezes my shoulder gently. "Of course, we will find her. I wouldn't be surprised if she were back home by tonight. And when we get her back, she will be accepting twenty four hour protection. The wolf shifters have agreed to help keep the family safe until the Nodin Clan is taken care of, including you, Madeline."

I smile up at him. "I don't need the wolf shifters to protect me. I have plenty of guards."

"She also has me." Damek comes up beside me. "I don't plan on letting her out of my sight again."

Grandpa raises an eyebrow at him. "You will not be with her when she's sleeping."

Damek's cheeks turn pink. "I didn't mean to imply…" his voice trails off.

I laugh. "Grandpa is messing with you."

"Was I?" Grandpa gives Damek a serious look, but I can see the mischievous gleam in his eye.

I lace my fingers together with Damek's and pull him closer to my side. "Our wedding is only two weeks away."

"That means you have two more weeks of sleeping in your own bed," Grandpa says.

I laugh when Damek gulps.

His words hit me hard—two weeks.

I'm getting married in two weeks. It still doesn't feel real.

"I hope Mom is back before the wedding." I worry my bottom lip between my teeth. I can't imagine any other alternative. She has to be at my wedding.

Damek wraps an arm around me. "She will be."

"Your prince is right," Grandpa says. "I will do everything in my power to make sure your mother is back."

Between all the vampire clans helping and my grandfather's support, there is no way the Nodin Clan will be able to stay hidden. And when we find her, we will end their reign.

Damek and I leave the crowded room and head for the kitchen to grab a bite to eat. I'm not sure I can eat anything because my stomach is in knots, but Damek insists that I try. We sit down at the small table in the kitchen where we're sure to have some privacy.

"Your grandpa wasn't serious about wolf shifter guards, was he?" Damek asks.

I grin. "You're not jealous, are you?"

He shrugs. "No. Maybe. Yes."

"I already told you, the wolf shifters are waiting on their soulmates. Trust me, they're not interested in me." I take a small sip of the broth of my soup. It's surprisingly good.

"What about you?" He takes a small sip of his blood.

I glance up, meeting his dark eyes. "What about me?"

"Are you interested in them?"

"Am I interested in somebody who is waiting on their soulmate when I'm engaged to the man of my dreams already?" I ask, just to confirm that's what he's asking.

He smiles. "I'm the man of your dreams?"

I put down my spoon and give him a look. "You ignored vampire customs to give me a long engagement. You proposed to be just because it's succubi custom even though we were already engaged. You've gone out of your way to make me happy, even if it meant making yourself uncomfortable. Everything you've done has been for me . If that isn't every girl's dream, I don't know what is."

He sits back in his chair and considers my words. "I did that because it was the right thing to do. You're a hybrid. I had to consider both sides of your DNA. Our children will be hybrids too. I want them to know both sides of their heritage." He frowns. "Though, I don't like the idea of our daughters dating incubi."

I laugh, taking a bite of my food. "Shouldn't we get married before you start worrying about hypothetical children?"

"Maybe. But I'm still excited about having children with you."

And he thinks he's not every woman's dream…

"Don't worry about our daughters—it's our sons who will be heartbreakers," I tease. "Especially if they look like you."

His grin widens. "I'm starting to think you're a little attracted to me."

"Oh, I am."

"More than the wolf shifters?" He raises an eyebrow.

I nod. "Wolf shifters aren't my type. The whole alpha thing doesn't do it for me. My mom always told me I should try to date a vampire. Don't tell her I told you this, but she was right."

Damek chuckles. "I don't think she needs you to admit she was right. She already knows."

Probably. But she knows better than to gloat—she wants grandchildren far too badly for that.

"By the way, you should hurry and eat. When I was out there last, Prince Caedmon was flirting with Harper," Damek says.

I shake my head. "Harper is used to dating incubi. She would eat a guy like Prince Caedmon for breakfast. Honestly, it would probably do him some good to try to date her."

He laughs hard. "You're more devious than I gave you credit for."

I turn when I hear footsteps. I relax when I see that it's just Lucien. He sits across from Damek and me, and a servant rushes to bring him food and blood.

Lucien eyes my glass of water. "Dad said you don't drink blood. Have you ever tried it?"

I take a sip of my water. "Yes, I can't keep it down. It's like my body rejects it. Besides, I don't need it."

"So you're more like a succubus?" Lucien asks.

I shake my head. "I'm actually more like a vampire—I got the speed and strength. And I'm nocturnal. I didn't get any of the succubus beauty or charm."

"What did I say about that," Damek scolds.

I grin. "Just because you find me beautiful and charming doesn't make me succubus beautiful."

Lucien nods. "I agree with Damek. I believe you're more succubus than you give yourself credit for. I heard how you got away from Prince Lucas. Being able to enthrall a prince must mean that you're very powerful."

He's right, but I don't want to admit it out loud.

Damek slips his arm behind my chair and I automatically lean closer.

"How are you doing?" Lucien asks.

I shrug. "I'm okay. I'm worried about my mom, but I know she'll be found quickly with everybody looking for her. I'm not worried that they'll kill her—they need her too badly for that."

Lucien nods. "True. We'll find her, Maddie."