“Yes and no.”
“What do you mean?” Devorah asked.
“I know she won’t like it at first. I never understood her issues with other supernatural species, but I know she’s going to have a problem with it.”
“She will,” Devorah agreed. “But I think she’ll get over it quickly.”
“Why?”
“Because he makes you smile all the time. And you seem happier and you two haven’t even been dating that long. As long as that continues,” Devorah paused to clear her throat. “Well, I think she’ll come around.”
“I hope so,” Astra said.
“What would you do if she didn’t?”
Astra didn’t speak for a moment before she finally answered, “It wouldn’t matter. Rune and I…we clicked. I feel like we fit.”
“Even if it means she refuses to acknowledge your relationship.”
“Even then.”
“Damn, Astra. When you go against family expectations, you go hard.”
Astra laughed. “Now you sound like Sylvie.”
“Don’t start,” Devorah said. She paused. “I’d be more worried about all of Mom and Dad’s little ‘tests.’ You know how into it they get.”
Astra made a short grunting sound. “I’m more concerned about how Rune might react to their meddling. Did Mom and Dad give Claudia as hard of a time as they gave Sirena’s man?”
Devorah laughed. “Oh, they tried, but Claudia is so good at manipulating conversations that they couldn’t really keep up. It was hilarious to watch because, one minute, they’d be trying to pin her to the wall with all their questions, and the next, she’d have them going on and on about all the places they’d traveled or furniture they wanted for the house. Eventually, Mom would realize what she’d done, but she could never get the discussion back on her intended track.”
Astra laughed lightly. “That sounds just like her.”
Devorah paused again before she said, “I think your guy will hold up just fine.”
“I’m just worried he’ll decide I’m not worth the trouble,” Astra murmured.
Rune wanted to turn around and tell her she was worth any effort, but the sisters continued to talk, the subject moving to work and some upcoming contract.
“I think they’re done with the heavy conversation,” Claudia said, bringing Rune’s attention back to her.
“What?”
She shook her head and smirked at him. “You can focus on the house now. I think they’re done talking about you.”
He grimaced. “Sorry. I was worried about—”
“About Astra, I know. You really care for her, don’t you?”
He nodded.
“Good. Then I won’t plant booby traps all over your house that I can activate if you hurt my baby sister-in-law.”
He blinked at her. “What?”
“Just kidding,” Claudia said, her tone deadpan.
“Uh, sure,” he said.
