Acadia considered the young female as she stood before them, clearly nervous to be in the presence of the Alpha. Her blond hair was pulled back in a tidy ponytail. Her pretty, round face had minimal makeup. Probably a couple of inches shorter than Acadia, she stood taller thanks to the heels she wore on her feet. The outfit she wore was modern, though it seemed better suited for someone quite a bit older than she. The boxy jacket and calf-length skirt were a bit large on her small frame, as though she’d borrowed the clothes from someone else.
“Let’s sit,” Kaj prompted, motioning toward the seating area near the fire.
While Acadia wasn’t sure what this meeting entailed, she found herself oddly interested in participating.
For the first time in her existence, she felt almost … necessary.
If it were possible to be anymore nervous, Leilana had no idea how that would be.
Here, sitting before the Alpha and his mate, she felt as though she was about to plead her case to be allowed to live. The problem was, she had no words, nothing that would make sense, anyhow.
“Would you like something to drink?” Kaj offered.
He was just so … casual. It was oddly disconcerting.
“No, thank you. I’m…” She swallowed to wet her dry, scratchy throat. “Actually, I could use some water.”
The Alpha smiled, then peered toward Blaz, the male who’d met her and driven her in. Good thing, too, considering she hadn’t been able to see two inches in front of her.
“Blaz tells me you’re a teacher.”
Leilana nodded. “Yes, sir.”
When he looked at her as though he expected her to elaborate, Leilana found herself tongue-tied.
Boy, if her family could see her now. She was screwing this up royally, she knew it. The funny thing was, when she wasn’t feeling intimidated by someone in power, Leilana found it difficult to shut up. Always talking, sometimes to the point of aggravation. At least where her brothers and sisters were concerned.
Wouldn’t know it based on this epic failure of an interview.
“Leilana?”
Her eyes widened. Had she missed a question? Oh, crap. Not good.
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“Distracted?” His expression reflected bemusement.
Exhaling heavily, Leilana forced herself to calm.
“Why don’t I give you two a few minutes,” Acadia offered as she got to her feet. “I’ll bring drinks for all of us upon my return.”
Leilana nodded. What else could she do?
The female strolled out of the room, and Leilana couldn’t help but watch her as she seemed to glide over the floor. Had she not been looking at the hem of the dress, she wouldn’t have noticed… “She’s barefoot.”
Kaj chuckled. “She is. I’m not sure Acadia owns a pair of shoes. She prefers it that way.”
For whatever reason, that lightened some of the strain on her nervous system. To know the mate of the Alpha strolled around without shoes … yeah, it helped. How, she didn’t know, but Leilana wasn’t going to question it.
“I’d like to apologize,phaal,” she told Kaj. “I’m not normally this nervous. But I’ve never been in front of royalty before.”
“Don’t consider me royalty,” he said simply. “Trust me, when you’ve been here long enough, you’ll see me as just another male.”
She seriously doubted that.
“And call me Kaj. Unless we’re in public. Then you can use your discretion.”
Leilana narrowed her eyes. “You’re saying … I … I have the job?”
