Claudia furrowed her brows. Actually, the name told her everything. Karl Blackmane was Avelyn’s brother-in-law. The realization that he had probably come to give her a message from Avelyn helped her relax a bit, although it shouldn’t have. The idea was to get married, not socialize with her friend’s family.
“Definitely not an interview,” she told Miss Jones as they descended the stairs.
The old woman shrugged again, but didn’t say anything. She stopped at her desk while Claudia kept walking towards the office.
***
Karl Blackmane was leaning casually against the desk when Claudia entered the office. He had been pacing the room just a few minutes before, still debating with himself whether he was making a huge mistake by going along with his sister-in-law’s daring plan. When he found himself face-to-face with Claudia, his uncertainty piqued, almost making him dizzy and ill to his stomach. “What’s wrong with me?” he thought.
“Hello, Mr. Blackmane. I’m Claudia. Nice to meet you.” She left her books in the nearest chair, stepped closer to him and extended a hand.
Karl took it gently and squeezed it rather than shook it. He cleared his throat.
“The pleasure is mine. Thank you for agreeing to see me.”
Claudia gave him her best smile and waited to see what would happen next. God, the guy was gorgeous!
“Please take a seat,” he invited her as he stepped to the side and grabbed another chair for himself. It didn’t seem right to sit behind the desk as if he owned the office and Claudia was just visiting. “I see you remember me…”
“How could I forget you?” She mentally slapped herself over the head for having sounded so eager. “I mean… the battle at Alma Venus… three years ago… impossible to forget.” A cold shiver ran up her spine at the memory. It wasn’t a pleasant one. Delyse and her running away from the rogue wolves and foxes, trying to protect Avelyn.
Karl chuckled. “Yes. A memorable first encounter, in its own twisted way…”
It hadn’t really been a first encounter, as they hadn’t even exchanged a word. Claudia had only seen him and the other wolves of Clan Blackmane right before Miss Delacroix ushered her and Delyse out of the office and tasked them with the mission of calming down the rest of the students and convincing them everything was under control.
There was silence for a long moment, both of them smiling awkwardly, looking around the room, stealing glances at each other and averting their gaze at the last second. Karl cleared his throat again, and Claudia tried to relax in her chair. She didn’t understand why it was taking him so long to tell her why he was there.
“So… how is Avelyn?”
“Oh, she’s fine. Just fine. Very busy with the little ones.”
“Three children! And all boys! If I saw her now, I’m sure I wouldn’t recognize her. She always used to say she wasn’t wife, nor mother material.”
Karl laughed. “She’s a wonderful mother. She told me to say ‘hi’ for her, so… hi.”
He smiled broadly and Claudia’s heart skipped a beat. What was happening? Was he… was he trying to be charming?
“Hi back… I guess,” she said, all the while trying not to lose herself in his dark green eyes. “I thought you had a message from her.”
“No. I don’t.”
His tone turned serious all of a sudden, his smile slightly frozen on his handsome face. Claudia gulped when she realized she liked it. That low, smooth voice which sounded almost threatening… it made butterflies flap their tiny wings inside her stomach. She waited for him to continue but, apparently, it was taking him a while to find his words. She studied his proud posture, his broad shoulders, thick neck, bulky arms, and rock hard chest, all hidden underneath a classy, ridiculously expensive suit. His short black hair and strong, clean-shaven jaw gave him an air of authority, told anyone who paid attention to details that Karl Blackmane was a man who took himself seriously and didn’t appreciate being messed with.
Karl knew exactly what he had to say and do. He had decided how the conversation would go hours before reaching Alma Venus. For some reason, however, his plan was falling apart. And that reason had everything to do with Claudia’s warm eyes, her breathtaking smile, and her dark, lush skin. Her curly hair smelled of amber and vanilla, and Karl caught himself wanting… no, craving to sink his nose in the soft curls and inhale deeply. He stood up and started pacing the office in an attempt to clear his head. When he finally indulged Avelyn and promised her he would check Claudia out, he hadn’t expected to be so attracted to the young woman. This, whatever was happening right now between them, this odd chemistry… hadn’t been part of his plan. And it still wasn’t. Falling in love with Claudia? Out of the question. Kar
l Blackmane didn’t do love.
“You’re a Ursi bride,” he began, not looking at her. “You’ve studied the bear-shifters since you came to live at Alma Venus.”
“That’s right.”
As she watched him pace in front of her, Claudia pressed her hand to her chest. Her heart had started beating faster again, as she was beginning to understand what Karl wanted.
“If I’m not mistaken, Ursi brides are known for their loyalty and devotion to their family. They’re kind, patient, easy-going, always cheerful and optimistic.”
“Yes, well… when we’re sorted into houses, the Professors and Guardians take our personality traits into consideration. For instance, it wouldn’t be a good idea for a werewolf to end up with, say, a Vulpes bride.” She smiled, hoping her example would make him look at her again. Avelyn had been a Vulpes bride, destined to marry a fox-shifter, and had married an Alpha wolf instead. “Her personality would only piss him off.”
Karl nodded. Avelyn’s quick, feisty nature still pissed Max off every once in a while, but Karl knew that was how their marriage worked.