Page 70 of My Big Fat Vampire Wedding

But she’d chosen one like Victor’s parents. A little cold, detached, businesslike.

“It’s going well. Chin up,” Victor said, his breath teasing the shell of her ear as he turned to whisper to her, his hand sliding across her lower back.

Still feeling a bit depressed over the whole situation, she let herself lean into him. She even allowed her hand to slide up to rest on his chest as their parents exchanged pleasantries.

“Oh, why didn’t anyone tell me they were here!” Ravenna came rushing out of the kitchen, her curls bobbing. “Oh, Victor looks just like you!” she said, barreling forward to wrap the unsuspecting Mary and Robert in a spine-crushing hug. “It is so good to meet you,” she addedas Victor’s parents’ faces were mirrored masks of surprise and discomfort.

“Let them breathe, woman, would you?” Uncle Reginald said, pulling his wife back so he could thrust his hand toward Robert. “That’s my wife, Ravenna. I’m Reginald.”

Clearly, Victor had told his folks about her family’s “acting” careers. They seemed less shocked by their outfits and more amused. Or even, on Robert’s part, impressed.

“Nice to meet you. That isquitea costume,” Robert said, nodding. “Very accurate. Though, mismatched,” he added, making Reginald frown.

“Dad’s a bit of a history buff himself,” Victor said.

“Are you now?” Reginald asked, using Robert’s hand, which he was still holding, to pull him toward the sitting room.

“Dante,” Pandora whispered, then nodded her head toward the two retreating men.

“On it,” Dante said, giving her a wink, then following behind the men.

“Oh, my. Is someone screaming?” Mary asked as the sounds of Elizabeth’s squawking carried through the house.

“Oh, that’s just Elizabeth,” Victor said. “Pandora’s uncle’s cockatoo.” Ophelia’s brows pinched, likely wondering how Victor knew about such a distant relation.

Good, Pandora thought.

Maybe she would stop being suspicious or trying to sic Elias on her as if she truly believed they had a deep connection.

“Mary, can I get you a drink?” Ravenna asked. Then, before waiting for an answer, she grabbed the other woman around the waist and pulled her along to the dining room.

“Victor,” Lucian said, his face no softer with regard to a man he wasn’t sure he approved of yet.

“Lucian, Ophelia, may I borrow you for a moment?” Elias suddenly butted in, making Pandora’s posture relax.

“Of course,” Ophelia said without another glance in Victor’s direction.

“What was that about?” Victor asked as Pandora reached down for his hand and drew him with her toward the oversized storage cupboard at the end of the hallway.

“I think Elias just became an ally,” she said, reaching up to flick on the low light above their heads.

“What does … What the hell …” Pandora turned to see what he was looking at.

“Oh, that,” she said, eyeing the suit of armor set a foot or so behind her. “Dante hid it in here ages ago. Said he was getting the creeps from it.”

“Yeah, I can see why.” Victor eyed the suit of armor the same way Pandora always eyed the painting of her great-great-grandmother Ambrosia over the mantel. “Anyway, what did you say about Elias?”

“He said he’s accepted that we’re together and happy. So I think he’s kind of … helping out now.”

“Wait. Does he know?”

“No! No. I mean, he’s just … helping with my parents and their coldness. As well as the rest of my family and their … eccentricities.”

“They’re really not that bad,” Victor said as she sighed hard. “Hey, it’s fine.” His voice had softened as he watched her. She was all frayed edges. Her hunger was making her bloodlust increase. She was alarmingly aware of the pounding sound of Victor’s heart, of the whooshing soundas the blood moved through his veins, just begging her to lean in and take a little nip, maybe a sip or two …

No.

No, she had to keep it together.