Page 122 of My Big Fat Vampire Wedding

How could she make the man marry her when he didn’t even know who she really was?

She managed to keep her worries to herself as they all walked – leaves crunching under her feet and the cool wind kicking up the ends of her hair – toward the mausoleum. Yes, mausoleum. She was getting married at amausoleum. It was one thing her family had refused to bend on. They’d rambled on and on about traditions and family.

The only reason she’d given in was because the mausoleum actually kind of looked like the place in thePride and Prejudicemovie where Mr. Darcy first confessed his feelings to Lizzie.

It was a massive round stone structure with charmingly chipped pillars.

She could hear the rumbles of conversation from the crowd at the other side of the structure, but it was big enough that she couldn’t see anyone yet.

“Pandora?” Lucian called to her, waiting for his daughter as the rest of the bridal party moved toward the other side of the mausoleum.

And, suddenly, it just burst out of her.

“I can’t do this.”

“Do what? Get married?” her father asked, concern etched on his handsome face.

“Marry someone I’ve been lying to since I met him,” Pandora said, her stomach twisting into tighter knots. “It’s not right. I can’t stand there and say vows and make promises when I’m being dishonest with him. He doesn’t even know who I am. What I am.” Pandora was ranting now. “How can I possibly marry someone who doesn’t even know I’m a vampire?”

“Pandora, stop!” Lucian said, something in his tone making her blood freeze as she suddenly whipped around.

And there, a few feet away, completely within hearing distance, was Victor.

30

He just stood there, looking at her, disbelief and hurt taking turns playing across his handsome features. While it felt like the ground had just opened up beneath her.

“Victor,” she whispered.

At the sound of her voice, he turned and strode away.

No.

No, it couldn’t end like this.

“Go after him,” her father said as she watched his figure disappear into the darkness.

“He doesn’t want to see me.”

“Yes, he does. He’s hurt, but he does.”

Pandora wasn’t convinced. But the idea of hurting Victor made it feel like someone had ripped her heart out of her chest.

She grabbed handfuls of her skirt so it didn’t trip her up and started to rush after him.

As she rounded the mausoleum, she saw Bellatrix standing there, a smug look on her face that made Pandora think she might have had something to do with Victor coming around the back of the mausoleum at the exact right moment to overhear her.

That didn’t matter, though.

All that mattered was trying to explain to Victor the whole situation.

Just this once, she was glad for her powers, namely her speed, as she ran through the graveyard to rush ahead of Victor and cut him off mid-stride.

“Right,” he said with a scoff as he came to a stop. “Super speed.”

“Please, let me explain.”

“Explain what? That you’ve been lying to me for months?”