Ivy covered her mouth in horror – and a little amusement. The Queen stared, blinking at Vincenzo’s outstretched hand. To Ivy’s surprise, Her Majesty accepted his invitation. She even managed not to look totally appalled. Ivy’s father was dancing with Lillian nearby, leading her in swift steps to the band’s tempo – Ivy could tell he was doing everything he could to take her in the opposite direction of Vincenzo’s flailing dance moves. Vincenzo was twirling around to the song like he was performing an act in the Nutcracker. Meanwhile, the Queen looked terribly confused and was just shuffling from side to side snapping her fingers. That was bad enough, but if Vincenzo managed to force the Queen into a conga line, Ivy thought she might literally die laughing!
Tessa tapped her mother-in-law on the shoulder. ‘Mind if I cut in, Your Majesty?’ Her new tiara sparkled under the twinkly lights.
The Queen fanned herself, a bright flush on her porcelain cheeks. ‘Be my guest!’ she said and scurried away as quickly as if someone had pulled the fire alarm.
Olivia flattened her hand over her heart, pointing to Tessa and Vincenzo. ‘Oh my goodness!’
Tessa curtsied in front of her uncle, who bowed in return and looked like he might almost burst with pride. ‘Shall we?’ asked Tessa. The uncle–niece duo waltzed around the floor, eyes shining and big smiles stretched across their faces.
‘Are you two behaving?’ Ivy and Olivia tilted their chins back to see their father standing behind them. His tie was loose around his neck and his sleeves were rolled up. He must have really been dancing up a storm!
‘Of course,’ they said together. Lillian pulled a chair up next to the girls, whipping a mirror out of her clutch bag and smoothing her hair back into place with a pocket-sized comb.
Ivy twisted in her seat. ‘You know, Dad, it was pretty cool what you did today.’
‘You act surprised.’ Charles frowned. ‘I’m cool. I’m hip.’ He turned on the spot, modelling his admittedly very suave-looking tuxedo.
Ivy mock-scowled at him. ‘Dad, the most recent music you listen to comes from the eighteenth century. But anyway, we’re proud of you for letting go of past grudges.’
Lillian stood back up, looping her arm through Charles’s. ‘Proud, indeed.’ She planted a gentle kiss on his cheek and Ivy tried not to giggle when her father’s face blushed three shades redder. The two excused themselves to take a stroll around the grounds and Ivy and Olivia waved them off.
‘I haven’t seen Dad this happy in ages.’ Ivy sighed, leaning back in her chair. Wedding guests passed by, balancing plates full of red-velvet cake and strawberries dripping with chocolate fondue.
In an unoccupied corner of the dance floor, Ivy spotted Helga and Horatio. Helga’s arms were stretched stiffly around Horatio’s thick neck and they were swaying a foot apart, out of step with the music. And there was the wedding planner, deep in conversation with a handsome man as she led him around the flower arrangements, pointing out the most spectacular stems.
‘I think Lucia’s luck could be on the turn,’ Ivy said. ‘And check out Helga and Horatio!’ She bounced in her seat, casting an excited look at Olivia, but her sister was staring down at the bright-blue rose she’d been carrying around since the moment she’d caught it.
Ivy reached over and squeezed her sister’s hand. ‘I’ve made a decision. I’m not –’
Olivia held up her hand. ‘Yes, Ivy . . . you are.’
‘But I don’t want to leave you.’
Olivia looked at Ivy seriously. ‘I can survive a school year. Yes, it’ll bite – but it’s worth it, isn’t it? You need to find out more about your heritage, and about yourself. Your life as a vampire won’t always include me and I’m OK with that.’
Suddenly, Ivy wasn’t convinced that they’d been born only minutes apart. Olivia seemed so mature! She wrapped her sister up in a huge hug, and not just to hide the tears pooling in her eyes – though that was an added benefit.
‘Ouch!’ Olivia yelped. ‘Watch the super-strength!’
Ivy softened her embrace. ‘Oops! Guess it’s a good thing I’m going to Wallachia after all.’ She pulled away and poked at her bicep. ‘I really need to get these freaky vamp powers under control.’ Ivy felt her phone vibrate from inside her black clutch. She pulled it out. ‘It’s Brendan,’ she told Olivia.
‘Well, go on then.’ Olivia shooed her away. Ivy really did have the most understanding sister in the world – of humans or vampires.
Ivy picked up the hem of her dress and walked out into the shadowy grounds, beyond the gleam of the paper lanterns and loud music. ‘Hello?’ She plugged one ear with a finger so she could hear better.
‘You answered!’ Brendan’s voice was husky and familiar and made Ivy’s heart ache in her chest. ‘How’s the wedding?’
Ivy swallowed hard. ‘It’s been . . . eventful,’ she admitted with a short laugh.
‘What’s wrong? You sound all weird and scratchy.’ Her boyfriend knew her too well.
‘Brendan,’ she felt herself waver but then remembered what Olivia had said about getting to know her heritage and getting to know herself. ‘I think I’m going to stay in Transylvania and go to Wallachia for a while.’ A long pause stretched between them like the Atlantic Ocean. ‘Um, are you still there?’ she asked.
‘Yeah. I’m still here. And I think that’s exactly what you need to do, Ivy,’ said Brendan. She could tell that he meant it. ‘But on one condition.’
Ivy’s forehead wrinkled. ‘What’s that?’
‘Don’t you dare come back to Franklin Grove all snooty,’ he said, teasing. ‘Or your sister and I will have to knock you down a peg or two.’