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)
“What?” Pandora asked when Lucy just sat there behind the wheel.
“I’ve never been to your house,” Lucy said. “I need directions.”
“Oh, right.” Pandora shook her head at herself before telling Lucy which way to go.
She wondered if she should invite Lucy in, as they made their way down the street toward her house. Her aunt, uncle and dreaded cousin weren’t supposed to be there for another day, but they could have shown up while Pandora had been at work. And the last thing she wanted to worry about right then was her family potentially showing prejudice toward Lucy because she was a werewolf.
In Pandora’s opinion, the whole vampire–werewolf-rivalry thing was completely overblown and ridiculous. But she knew some of her family would have things to say.
She knew she would have to deal with that eventually, since Lucy was going to be her chief bridesmaid. She just didn’t want that kind of thing to sour her mood right before her first, very important, date with Victor.
“I hope you don’t mind me just dropping you off,” Lucy said. “I’m racing the clock here.” She looked down at her watch.
“That’s totally fine,” Pandora said, thankful not to have to find an excuse for why she wasn’t inviting Lucy in. “That’s it right there.” She pointed toward the Von Ashmore estate.
“That’s your house?” Lucy gaped.
“Technically, it’s my parents’ house,” Pandora said, nodding.
“It’s a castle.”
Having visited many a castle in her travels with her parents, Pandora couldn’t agree with that, but it was definitely much larger than the average London home, that was for sure.
“Out of curiosity, is there a hunched man in the belfry?”
“We don’t have a belfry,” Pandora said with a little chuckle. “But we do have an undead raven who likes to recite poetry.”
“I mean, who doesn’t?” Lucy smiled at her friend. “All right. Go. Get something pretty on. Preferably something that shows Victor your hunter’s moons.” she purred as Pandora climbed out of the car.
“Have a good full moon,” Pandora called to her friend, eyes rolling, before rushing up the cobblestone path toward the front door.
“Whoa,” she said a moment later, nearly trampling Dante as she made her way inside.
Her brother jolted, turning around to look at her with oddly guilty eyes.
What was he up to these days?
It looked like he’d been out all day again.
And he looked a little paler than usual.
“What are you doing coming in at this time?” he asked, sounding accusatory. Meanwhile, he was the one being sneaky.
“I have a date,” Pandora said, feeling herself straighten a bit with her excitement.
“A real date?”
“It’s a real date with a real man, yes,” she said.
“A man?” Dante asked, brows lifting. “A human man?”
“Yes …”
“Good luck with that,” he said, wincing, then rushed up the stairs before she could ask him to clarify.
Trying to shake off the interaction, Pandora made her way up to her room, immediately starting to fret over her wardrobe.
She didn’t want to put on one of the many floor-length, figure-hugging, silk or velvet dresses her mother had gifted her over the years. But she didn’t want to be wearing jeans and a tee, either.
Eventually, she settled on a simple plum-coloured dress and leggings with some low-heeled boots and a heavy cardigan to complete the look.
Dressy, but not trying too hard.
She fiddled with her hair and make-up, spritzed on some perfume, then rushed back out of her room, knowing she had to take the Underground back toward Luna Bean to meet Victor.
“Well, don’t you look lovely?” her father called from the sitting room as she rushed past, making her pause and turn to give him a smile.
“Thank you.”
“Where are you going?” Ophelia asked, her gaze sliding down Pandora’s outfit with more approval than usual.
“I have a date,” she said. She didn’t even have to fake the smile that tugged at her lips.
“A date?” her mother asked, perfectly arched brows lifting. “Why is this the first I am hearing about it?”
Because I am one hundred and twenty-four years old and don’t share everything in my life with my parents.
“We just set it up last night. We’ve … known each other for a while.” Pandora knew she needed to lay the framework for a believable relationship moving forward. “I always kind of … had a thing for him, but I didn’t think he returned my feelings.”
“Why wouldn’t he?” Lucian asked, stiffening. He was a man who believed the moon rose purely for the enjoyment of the women in his life, and couldn’t fathom anyone not feeling the same way.
Pandora felt her mother’s probing eyes watching her, looking for any sign of deception. But there was none to be found. Because Pandora genuinely had been dealing with a crush on Victor for months. She was also much more excited about this date than she should have been, given the fact that it wasn’t a real one.