Page 56 of My Big Fat Vampire Wedding

“Or,” Pandora said, sighing. “He was silent and kind of distant.”

“But you felt butterflies and heard fallen angels sing?” Lucy asked.

“Pretty much.”

“Hmm.”

“Do you think he really felt nothing?” Pandora asked, hearing the hurt slipping into her voice.

“I don’t think so. Maybe he’s just, you know, conflicted. You know what? Maybe you just need another kiss to see,” Lucy said.

“I can’t just kiss my fake fiancé.”

“You could if you were doing it to put on a show for your family,” Lucy said. “Or in front of Elias to drive it home to him that you two are never gonna happen.”

“I think Victor is a little threatened by Elias.”

“Which is why you can totally get him to kiss you in front of him. Though I don’t think he’d feel in any way threatened if he knew what that guy is really like.”

“I’m not saying he wasn’t being completely inappropriate. But the way you two were sparring felt a little, I don’t know, heated,” Pandora said as she moved the stir sticks that Lucy had threatened Elias with back to their rightful spot.

“Oh, it was heated all right.”

“You said you wanted to lick him.”

“Before he opened his mouth, sure. Even the hottest man on earth can be turned ugly when he starts banging on about things.”

“So, you think he’s the hottest man on earth?” Pandora asked, loving a chance to tease Lucy like her friend had often teased her about her crush on Caramel Macchiato Cutie before they’d known his name.

“Well, I have eyes, don’t I?” Lucy turned away to hide the flush that crept up her neck at the mention of Elias’s good looks. “Unfortunately, I also have ears. And a brain. And a modicum of self-respect. So no matter how hot he might be, that’s never gonna happen. Anyway, why are we still talking about that arrogant, narcissistic—”

“Aw, talking about me?” Elias’s voice interrupted,making Lucy let out an actual growl that Pandora had to fight not to laugh at.

“Ugh. Great. Count Fangula is back. I’m taking a break,” she said before disappearing into the back room.

“Where’d you go?” Pandora asked.

“Thought I saw someone,” he said, shrugging.

“Are you working with her?” Pandora asked, suddenly suspicious as she glared at Elias.

“Working with whom?” Elias asked. And he was either a very skilled liar or he genuinely didn’t know what Pandora was talking about.

“My cousin,” she said anyway, wanting to feel him out some more.

“Which one? You appear to have more of them than most.”

That was fair.

“Bellatrix.”

“The, and I use this term loosely, opera singer?”

“Yeah, that one.”

“Why would I be working with her?”

“You’re being just as suspicious as she is,” Pandora said, shrugging.