Page 4

Grandpa slaps him on the shoulder. “No need for formalities. You are, after all, part of the family. Call me Grandpa.”

Damek looks at me so I nod to let him know it’s okay. He turns to my mom. “Princess Bennett.”

Mom grins at him. “You can call me Sasha.”

Damek looks between my mom and me. “I always thought you looked like your dad, but wow, you look exactly like your mom.”

My eyes widen.

He thinks I look like my mother? I don’t believe I’ve ever been told that before. Most people are surprised when they hear that we’re mother and daughter, though most believe my mom is too young to have a child my age—succubi age well.

Julien, who had crept over to us during the conversation, takes the opportunity to introduce himself.

“I’m Julien, Maddie’s very good looking younger brother.” Julien grins, oozing all the charisma of an incubus. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was the one who was a hybrid, but no. He’s all vampire.

Grandpa looks at Julien. “A prince, huh? Are you betrothed? If not, I have many granddaughters. They’re all very charming.”

“Grandpa!” I step up next to a smirking Julien. “He’s my brother. You can’t have him marry one of mycousins.”

“Why not?” Grandpa asks. “It’s not like any of them are related to Prince Julien.”

“Yeah, Maddie. Why not?” Julien teases.

I just know that Julien is going to remind me of this moment for the rest of our lives.

“Julien is still twenty one,” Dad says from behind us.

We move slightly, so Dad and Eden can join the conversation. Eden keeps her head down, not making eye contact with anybody. I hate seeing her like this, so out of her comfort zone.

“Do vampires have a certain age where it’s appropriate to get married?” Grandpa asks.

“No.” Dad glances at Julien. “Julien, however, isn’t at a point in his life where he’s mature enough for marriage.”

I try to hold back a chuckle, but it comes out anyway. Everybody turns to look at me and Julien smirks.

“Dad’s right, I’m not ready for marriage quite yet. But we can talk again in a couple of years,” Julien says, then winks at my grandfather.

I shake my head at Julien.

No—it’s absolutelynothappening.

Once the introductions are through, one of the servants shows my mom to her quarters. Eden quickly flees, not that I blame her, and Dad and Julien follow her. Damek and I stay with my grandfather because he says he wants to talk with us.

“This marriage—it is consensual between both of you, correct?” Grandpa asks.

“Yes,” I say, my cheeks growing warm.

Damek slips his arm around me. “Yes, we both want this.”

Grandpa nods. “I just wanted to make sure. I know that sometimes these political marriages can be forced. I got lucky with my wife—she turned out to be a wonderful woman and I’ve been happily married to her for forty six years, but not all are as lucky as me.”

Damek’s eyes widen. “Forty six years?”

“Do vampires typically not stay married that long?” Grandpa asks.

“Yes.” Damek nods. “But I wasn’t shocked over the length of time you’ve been married, I am more shocked that you’re old enough to be married so long. You look young.”

Grandpa grins. “Incubus genes. We are blessed to age very well. My wife still looks as young as she did when we married.”