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“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.”
21
YOU DESERVE A PRINCE
Damek and I must have fallen asleep on the couch because I wake up with my head on his lap. He’s slumped over against the armrest and I am careful when I move so I don’t wake him.
I have a throw over the top of me. I smile, knowing it was probably Damek who covered me up. I fold the throw and drape it over the back of the couch. When I look behind me, I spot Kaine sitting at a round table in the corner, papers spread out across it. When he notices me looking, he glances my way and motions for me to join him.
“Any news?” I ask, slowly approaching the table. I’m certain that my hair must be a mess, so I comb my fingers through it. Once I check in with him, I’ll head upstairs to get ready.
“Nothing,” Kaine answers, his lips turning down in the corners. “But we’ve got a lot of people looking. They won’t stay hidden long. We’ve even had members of the Nodin Clan asking for asylum. They don’t like what their leaders are doing.”
“Wow,” I sit down across from him. “So what will happen to them?”
“They can join the Scott Clan.” He pauses. “Or the Rune Clan.”
Wow. He said the ‘Rune Clan’ with no disdain and without making a face.
I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “You seem happy—since Lucien came back.”
He chuckles. “Well, I am happy. Without him, Julien would’ve been the heir once you get married. I love Julien, but he’s not a leader.”
I disagree, but I don’t voice it out loud.
Julien is young, but he would make a great ruler. Even if he never becomes a king, whatever he does I know he will be leading people. It’s in his nature.
“You are also happy,” Kaine says.
I look up and see that he’s watching me.
I nod. “I am. I didn’t think I could be. When I first heard that I have to marry somebody for political reasons, I thought I’d never have a chance at being happy.” I glance over at Damek, who is still slumped against the couch. “Damek makes me happier than I thought possible. He does things that he doesn’t have to just because he knows that I want it.”
Kaine nods to the ring on my finger. “Like the proposal.”
I grin, turning to face Kaine. “Yes. Getting engaged is a big thing in succubi culture. The fact that he did this means more to me than I could ever describe.”
“You love him,” Kaine says as a statement.
“I do,” I admit.
He runs his fingers through his hair. “I knew you did. It was clear to me from the beginning that the two of you had something special. I’m sorry that I tried to discourage you. I never should’ve made you go out on dates with all those spoiled princes.”
I shrug. “It sucked at the time, but if anything it’s made me appreciate Damek more.”
