A Spell of Time (A Shade of Vampire #10)(5)

“Rather what remained between you and Yuri?”

I groaned as Claudia appeared in the doorway, hands on her waist.

“Oh, it’s nothing, Claudia,” I said.

I motioned to walk away, but the little spitfire never was one to be brushed away. She moved in front of me, blocking my exit.

“Come on, Aiden. I can keep a secret.”

I heaved a sigh, looking back at Yuri for help. He shrugged. Claudia grabbed my hand and pulled me inside their penthouse. She led me into their living room and pushed me down on the couch.

“It’s really nothing interesting. It’s just…”

“Just what?”

“Adelle. Okay? I like her.”

Her lips curved in a small, knowing smile.

“Well, you’re not telling me anything new. The way you gawk at her… it’s obvious to anyone but a complete moron. Why don’t you tell her, then?”

I looked from Claudia to Yuri. Evidently she hadn’t been informed yet about Eli.

Yuri cleared his throat. “Babe, Eli’s going out with her. I encouraged him to ask her out.”

Her face contorted with shock. “What?”

“You heard right,” I said heavily.

“Eli? Your brother?”

“There’s no other Eli on this island,” Yuri said.

“Why didn’t you tell me before?” she asked, turning on Yuri.

“I didn’t even know he’d taken my advice to heart before Aiden told me.”

She sank onto the couch next to me. “Wow, that really sucks.”

“Yes,” I said through gritted teeth. “It sucks.”

I motioned to stand up and leave, but Claudia caught my arm and yanked me back down again.

“Honey, what are you going to do about it?”

“Nothing, Claudia,” I said, staring at her in bemusement. “She likes Eli. And neither you nor Yuri are to talk about this with anyone, do you understand?”

Claudia bit her lip and looked at her husband. Concern filled her eyes. The silence that followed was painful. If there was one thing I loathed more than being beaten to a woman, it was being pitied.

“It was all a stupid fantasy anyway. I’m much too old for her.”

“Nonsense!” Claudia scolded. “I’d take a bite out of you if Yuri didn’t own me.”

Yuri rolled his eyes.

I chuckled. “Well, thank you, Claudia. That’s good to know.”

“Seriously, Aiden. As much as I want my brother-in-law to get laid, I think you’re a better match for Adelle. I think she’s all wrong for him.”

Yuri stared at her in half surprise, half amusement. Neither of us had expected Claudia would have such a strong opinion on the matter.

Mrs. Claudia Lazaroff. Quite the relationship counselor.

“What makes you say that?” Yuri asked.

“Eli’s so goddamn serious, he needs someone younger to force some life into him.”

“I’m sure Adelle will have no trouble with that,” I muttered.

“She’s too experienced. She doesn’t look old, but God knows how many years she’s actually been alive. It could be a thousand years for all we know.”

“Yeah, well… as much as you might like to make this choice for them, Eli’s already made his choice, and so has Adelle.”

“You don’t know what either of them feel for each other,” Claudia pressed. “For all you know, they could decide they’re not right for each other and split up.”

Somehow, I doubted that. By the boathouse, their chemistry seemed to be on fire.

“And even though she’s dating Eli,” Claudia continued, “you should still tell her how you feel. Then she can make a choice. If you’d have gotten to her beforehand she might have chosen you instead of Eli.”

I scoffed and stood up. I might have been many things, but, as much as I longed for Adelle, I wasn’t the type of man to poach another’s woman.

I’d had enough of this conversation. It was utterly nonsensical. Adelle was going out with Eli, at least for the moment. There was nothing more to discuss. I stood up, and although Claudia attempted to seat me again, I brushed her away and headed for the front door.

“She’s right for you, Aiden,” Claudia called after me as I walked out. “Don’t give up on her. God knows, I’m thankful every day that Yuri didn’t give up on me.”

“Yeah, whatever…”

Chapter 4: Sofia

I sat opposite Corrine in her bedroom. I’d just finished explaining my plan to her. We both stared at each other and burst out laughing.

“I never knew you were so devious, Sofia.”

She handed me a pen and a piece of paper. My idea was to start a letter correspondence between the two men. Derek would find himself receiving apologetic letters from Kiev, and vice versa. Of course, I would be writing all the letters. Corrine would put a charm on my handwriting so that it didn’t look like my own.

I breathed out, scratching my head with the pen. We still had to work out exactly what to say. How to pull this off without arousing suspicion from either of them. Eventually, they’d realize what I’d done, but by then—if all went to plan—the ice would have already been broken between the two of them.