7. An honor

7

AN HONOR

I look 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's supposed to. 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's you . 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.

"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 for me . 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."

He thinks I chose Damek because of the way he looks ? Does he not get that looks are the least of my concerns when it comes to choosing the man I want to spend the rest of my life with? Yes, Damek is gorgeous, but he's so much more than that.

"I like Damek for a lot of reasons and the way he looks ranks far down on the list." I link my arm through Damek's. "Good evening, Grandpa."

"Good evening. I am glad you and your prince could come." Grandpa smiles at me. "Are you two ready?"

Do I have a choice?

"We're ready," Damek answers for me. "By the way, do you think you could introduce me to Henry?"

Grandpa pauses, looking from Damek to me. His lips turn up in the corners. "Henry can't make it tonight. He's out of the country."

I let out a long breath, my shoulders loosening.

Damek huffs. "I guess I'll see him at our wedding."

Grandpa shrugs. "Possibly. He may be out of the country for a while."

I get the feeling he's ‘out of the country' on purpose.

"You should've sent him out of the country a few years ago," I mumble under my breath too low for my grandfather to hear.

Damek smirks at me.

When we get to the double doors that lead inside, a couple of guards open for us. They bow to Grandpa and nod to Damek and me.

I tighten my grip on Damek's arm and nearly stop walking when I see how crowded it is.

Did all of my cousins decide to show up early tonight?

Grandpa leans over and whispers to me, "I told them it started an hour early. I didn't want anybody to be late. Tonight is your night." He winks at me and then turns around to address the crowd. I don't make out a word of his speech because my heart is pounding so fast and hard.

So much for avoiding my cousins.

What was I thinking by agreeing to this? I should turn around and leave right now. I shouldn't be here.

Damek leans closer and whispers, "Say the word and we will leave."

I force myself to take a deep breath.

I can do this. It's one night. And when the night is over, I'll be going home.

Since when have I considered my home with the vampires? If I'm being honest, it was the very first night I arrived with my dad and met Julien. Being engaged to Damek only solidified it for me.

"I can do this," I say low enough that only Damek will hear me.

The crowd around us claps and we follow Grandpa further into the room. The crowd parts for us and it feels strange to be the center of attention, at least here in my grandfather's castle.

Long rectangular tables line the back wall. At my grandfather's command, we approach them for dinner. My stomach is in knots, so I'm unsure if I'll be able to eat anything.

Like the prince he is, Damek pulls out my chair for me. I notice my female cousins watching with calf-like eyes. Pulling out chairs, opening doors, and being a gentleman aren't part of our culture. I wonder why because it's so nice. I could get used to this.

When we sit down, Damek holds my hand and he watches me . Even surrounded by beautiful succubi, it's like he only has eyes for me.

Being chosen is an unfamiliar feeling. I never imagined that any man could pick me over another succubus. I've always felt inadequate. But with Damek, I don't feel those things. I feel so seen.

Is a political engagement supposed to feel like this? Because it feels like we're seriously courting. It feels like I'm introducing a man that I love to my family. And even though we're not there yet, we're not in love, I feel pretty close to it.

My stomach twists for an entirely different reason. It's not nerves. It's butterflies.

I have a crush on Damek. And from the way he watches me with those brown eyes that seem to glow, I don't have to question if he feels the same. I know he does.

The moment is ruined when my cousin, Eleanor, leans across the table and flashes Damek a grin that I'm certain most men can't resist. "It's so nice to meet the man who was able to tempt our homely cousin. She's never had a man interested in her before." She winks at him. "I hope you're not too tempted by all of her succubi cousins."

Damek's nostrils flare. He takes a deep breath before responding. "Quite the contrary, every vampire clan wanted Madeline. I'm honored that she chose me." He kisses me on the cheek.

Eleanor's smile slips off her face, but she forces it back. "That's great to hear." She sits back in her seat, her mood somber.

I don't believe Eleanor has ever been turned down before. It must be hard on her ego.

"You must forgive my granddaughters, Prince Damek," Grandpa says. "My granddaughters don't interact much with other supernaturals."

Damek clenches his jaw. "Is that why hybrids, specifically Maddie, are treated so poorly?"

Grandpa grins. "Ah, young love. It's so beautiful to witness."

After dinner, the evening is only ‘just beginning.' A string quartet starts playing a familiar tune and the guests, of whom are almost all related to me, begin dancing. Damek is asked by no less than five of my cousins for a dance. Even while we are dancing, multiple cousins offer to ‘rescue' him from me. For some reason, I think they'd like to rescue him from more than just dancing.

"I don't mind if you want to dance with any of my cousins," I tell him. It's a lie, but I don't want him to feel guilty if he wants to dance with them. I know exactly how alluring a succubus can be.

"I don't even want to be in the same room as your cousins," Damek says through gritted teeth.

I stare at him in disbelief.

He actually means that.

I can hardly believe it as I look up at him.

He tightens his grip around my waist. "You don't believe them, do you? You can't think that your cousins are more… alluring… or more beautiful than you."

"Of course I believe that." I lower my head, not wanting to look into his eyes. I felt so confident when the night began and he was watching me, but after all of my cousins came up to us, I feel less confident.

Damek deserves somebody great because he is great. He deserves a lot more than a hybrid.

One hand leaves my waist and he gently puts his finger under my chin and nudges it up so that I'm looking at him. His brown eyes are glowing in the dim light of the room. All of his attention and focus is on me.

"I promise you, your cousins who are fully succubi don't hold a candle to you." Damek rests his forehead against mine. "Sometimes when I look at you, I can't believe that I get to marry you. It still doesn't feel real. I don't deserve you. But, somehow, you chose me. Yes, I chose you. But make no mistake, you were the one with all the alliance options."

I open my mouth, then close it.

I know Damek's father had many alliance opportunities before me. But he's right. I did choose him. We chose each other. My cousins can flirt all they want, but Damek is mine.

We dance for a while longer before stepping off the the side for a drink. When I spot Violet and Olivia making their way through the crowd, my entire body stiffens.

I was hoping I could get a break for a few minutes. I should've known better though. My cousins have been ruthless their whole life when it comes to me and tonight is no exception to that rule.

"Madeline, why don't you introduce us to your betrothed." Violet wiggles her eyebrows.

"Yeah, introduce us," Olivia repeats, her voice low and sultry. I've heard her use this tone when trying to impress a guy.

I take a deep breath. "This is my fiancé, Prince Damek. Damek, this is Violet and Olivia." I point at each of them as I introduce them to Damek. "We used to work together for my grandfather."

"We're just so thrilled that our cousin was able to get engaged, especially with her looks," Olivia says.

"Try not to be too put off by her ugly appearance. She has a great personality." Violet winks at me like she's paying me a compliment.

Olivia steps closer to Damek, putting her hand on his bicep. "Nobody would blame you if you wanted to break off the engagement after meeting a real succubus."

Damek yanks his arm free and takes a step back.

Olivia's eyes widen like she's surprised by his movement.

Damek completely turns his back to Olivia and Violet. He steps between my cousins and me and he kisses me right on the lips. I'm so stunned that it takes me a few seconds before I remember to kiss him back.

Succubi and incubi are no strangers to public displays of affection—it's quite common to see couples kissing and holding hands. I'm not surprised that Damek has caught onto this, but I know he's not kissing me for any other reason than to show my cousins where he stands, and that's with me.

When Damek pulls back, we are both breathing hard. I barely notice Olivia and Violet standing behind him, their mouths hanging open. The room has grown quiet—even the musicians have stopped playing.

The sound of a throat clearing has me turning.

"Prince Damek, I believe you had something you wanted to say?" Grandfather steps up beside us.

Damek nods as my grandfather hands him a cordless microphone. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small notecard—maybe it has a speech on it. But he looks at the paper, shakes his head, and then stuffs it back into his pants. He takes a deep breath and then holds the microphone up to his mouth and begins speaking.

"When King Bennett invited us here tonight, I wasn't sure what to expect. I've met succubi and incubi before, but I've never observed your culture up close. And I must admit, I am disappointed," he begins.

The room is so quiet now that you could hear a pin drop.

"I'm disappointed because for a species so obsessed with class, you are classless. The way you treat Maddie is disgusting. You call her ugly when she is the most beautiful one of you all." Damek clenches his jaw as he speaks in a harsh tone that I've never heard from him before. "I am so proud to be marrying Madeline. I will be proud to call her my wife in a few short months. And if any of you dare speak ugly about her again, you can disregard any wedding invitations that are sent. Your princess is going where she will be appreciated and loved. She will be a queen."

He passes me microphone back to my grandfather who takes it.

Everybody stares at Damek and I look up at him with a full heart.

Does he really mean all of that? But when he looks at me, I can see it. I know it's the truth. He gives me another mind blowing kiss. Somebody behind us starts clapping—I'm pretty sure it's my grandfather—but I ignore it as I kiss my fiancé.

When I moved in with my father and learned that I would have to choose a husband based on his political ties, I never expected to find anybody like Damek. I thought I would be marrying because of duty. But marrying him isn't a chore. It's an honor.