[dutchman]

Originally Posted by LCeh

Spoiler:

That was my original interpretation as well. But then remember Clare said that he was not his brother, and something more. If she just thought of him more as a family member, the description of a brother would fit just fine.

Originally Posted by NoSanninWa

I'm not sure we were reading the same volume 7. Remember the kiss between Clare and Raki? Tell me that kiss -- solidly on the lips -- looked at all familial? The only kind of family that kiss implies would be husband and wife.

Whatever the real feelings Clare has for Raki that is for me still unsure it could go either way as it stands currently. However

Spoiler for spoiler manga 9-12:

we should not forget the fact that after the time-shift happening after the N-Campaign chapters. We haven't seen Raki yet and he is probably now an young adult male. So a more romantic development can't be ruled out entirely.

BUT I DO know for sure that the already considerable HATRED for Raki will probably reach new heights when the anime catches up to the mentioned manga volumes.

The poor guy is now already on some of the other forums and blogs top ranked as the most annoying char/sidekick of the new anime season...

A dubious honour.. and to be honest not really fair for him since without his deep bond with Clare. She would most likely already be dead or even worse a gut eating 'awakened being'.

I think a lot of guys (I assume most of them are guys) are seeing him sub-consious as a kind of threat for their idolisation of Clare.

But that is just my humble opinion.