Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“Hmm?” He reached for her suitcase and brought it to the foot of the bed.
“Write it. I was saying that maybe you should consider writing it yourself.”
“I already submitted my thesis.”
“I didn’t mean a thesis,” Pandora said. “Ever since I read that, though, I’ve been thinking that maybe you should write fiction.”
“Fiction? Me? What gave you that idea?”
“Well, I think we can both agree that I’ve been around a while.”
He smiled. “We could say that.”
“And in that time, I’ve done a lot of reading.”
“I did see your reading app,” he said.
“And before I figured out how much I love a good romance, I tried out all the other genres. I ultimately decided that most nonfiction books weren’t for me because they can be so dry. But your thesis was so rich and engaging. It read like fiction, it was so inviting. I just think that if you can make nonfiction that interesting, then something fictional would be unputdownable.”
“It’s funny you say that,” Victor said, sitting on the edge of the bed and patting the spot next to him. Pandora walked over, sitting down at his side.
Even after a year together – mending, building trust, growing as individuals and a couple – she still couldn’t get used to being able to be with him so casually. Sitting side by side, bodies brushing. She hoped she never got over the magic of that. No matter how long they were together.
“Why’s that?” she asked, tilting slightly so she could rest her head on his shoulder. Because if you couldn’t be all lovey-dovey on your honeymoon, when could you?
“Because I’ve been thinking about some stories. They’ve been keeping me up at night, in fact.”
“Really? What kinds of stories?”
“About vampires, of course,” he said, making her lips curve up. “Your family has been … quite inspiring.”
“I can imagine,” Pandora said. “Vlad’s tales alone could fill an entire series of stories.”
“Now that we have proof that it wasn’t all made up, I think Reginald would be the most fascinating.”
“Have you written anything?” To that, he gave her a bashful little smile. “You have, haven’t you?”
“A bit.”
“When?”
“Mostly in the mornings when you’re still sleeping.”
“Have you been enjoying it?”
“I have. I expected it to feel more like work, but it’s been more like a hobby – something fun – than work.”
“That’s amazing. I hope one day you let me read it. Even if it isn’t my usual genre. What?” she asked when his cheeks and ears went bright red.
“It kind of is.”
“It kind of is what?”
“Your genre.”
“My genre? Wait … do you mean you’re writing … a romance?”
“I’ve been a bit inspired.”
“By me?” she asked, charmed.
“Yes. But also, that book we were reading in Morocco. I may or may not have been stealing your books here and there. Been devouring them like sweets,” he said.
“They are addictive.”
“They are. Not quite as good as the real thing, though.” He rested his head on the side of hers.
They sat there like that for a few quiet moments, just enjoying the nearness, the silence after so much noise for so long.
Because, as it turned out, planning a second wedding hadn’t been any less chaotic than planning the first. In fact, it had involved more work on both their parts, since they’d not let the family have free rein to do whatever they’d wanted.
Though, this time around, they had agreed to the blood ritual that Pandora had put her foot down about the first time.
“OK,” Victor said, slapping a hand on her thigh. “How about we explore the rest of this castle before seeing if, in addition to the bed, our host remembered to put food in the kitchen.”
“Or my synthetic blood.” Pandora took his hand as they made their way out of the room.
In the year after first discovering the fake blood, there had been an uptick of marketing and availability of it in vampire circles. Even diehard traditionalists would sometimes indulge in it once the company, smartly, started to make different “vintages” that would allow even the most snobbish vampire to brag about knowing the different flavor notes.
So, it wouldn’t be as crazy to assume Drachmar had discovered it as well. Even if he turned his nose up at it on principle.
They found no fewer than twenty bedrooms in the various wings of the castle. Thirty-five fireplaces. And at least a million pieces of vampire memorabilia, their plastic material or neon colours in stark contrast to the tasteful brass, gold, and black, red and grey tones of the home’s original decor.
Pandora had to admit that Drachmar was right about his castle being in much better shape than the one on the other side of the hill that was supposedly his “real” home, according to both fiction and nonfiction sources.
There were few cracks and no crumbling stones. The paint on the walls was meticulously maintained, and the carpets and drapes were all pristine with not a single moth hole to be found.