Page 109 of Claim of Blood
Nobody spoke. Felix swallowed audibly.
Lydia leaned forward with a conspiratorial smile. “Tell us about the plan, and I’ll explain exactly how our tactical vests protect against both silver bullets and stakes. The material composition is quite fascinating...”
Felix’s eyes lit up instantly, his internal conflict forgotten. Adam felt Leo’s bitter laugh vibrate against his chest—even now, Felix could be bought with the promise of knowledge.
“Well, you see,” Felix began, hands already gesturing, “Uncle Stefan had this idea—apparently you have a type? Pretty boys? Which, honestly, looking at the evidence...” He waved at Leo in Adam’s lap. “Not wrong.”
Adam saw Leo flinch.
The words tumbled out faster now. “Friedrich had been following Leo and saw him get taken. When Leo didn’t come back that morning, and his tracker showed he was in the mansion, they just... packed up and left! I argued—I mean, who leaves family behind? But that’s when they finally told me about the tracker.”
Leo’s fingers clenched in Adam’s shirt. Adam could practically hear his claim’s thoughts—leave no one behind, the family mottothat apparently came with conditions Leo had never known about. Adam’s hand found the back of Leo’s neck, thumb stroking soothingly.
Felix barely paused for breath. “The readings were bizarre, though; everyone assumed there must be dungeons under the stables, but I looked at the architectural plans and the geological surveys, and that’s completely impractical. If you were going to build dungeons, are there dungeons? No, never mind—they’d logically be under the mansion...”
Adam found himself oddly impressed by Felix’s ability to speak without breathing.
“I tried to convince them that something was wrong. I mean, a chicken coop? Leo hates chickens! But they wouldn’t listen, and I—”
“Were they ever going to come back for me?” Leo’s quiet question cut through Felix’s rambling.
Adam watched Felix’s expression crumble, all that manic energy draining away. The man’s face was like an open book—every emotion written in neon.
“No,” Felix whispered. “I begged, I swear I did. When they packed up to move to Chicago, I stayed behind. Been dodging retrieval units ever since, but I had to know you were okay...”
Leo turned into Adam’s shoulder, fingers clenching in his shirt. “I knew,” he whispered. “I knew they weren’t coming back, but hearing it confirmed...”
Adam held him closer. He hated that some part of Leo still hoped. That he had to mourn them now, one betrayal at a time.
“Hearing it confirmed is different from just knowing,” Adam said softly, his voice pitched for Leo alone.
“I’m so sorry,” Felix offered, his earlier enthusiasm completely deflated. “I really did hope to sneak onto the grounds without being spotted, but...” A weak smile flickered across his face.“Looks like the security is already being updated from the first test...”
“Test?” Adam’s voice held a dangerous edge. “The camera loop?”
“Well, yes,” Felix admitted, his hands already starting their elaborate dance of explanation. “Though that was more to test your security response than anything else. Just to see how quickly you’d notice and react.” He brightened slightly. “Worked quite well, actually. Your security team didn’t notice the loop right away.”
Adam watched Felix’s gaze sweep the room, taking in the assembled vampires, shifters, and witches. The hunter’s enthusiasm faltered as reality seemed to hit him—he’d just bragged about infiltrating the security of people who could kill him without breaking a sweat.
“Felix...” Leo sighed into Adam’s neck. “Not the place.”
Felix shifted on his feet, looking properly chastened. “Right, sorry.”
Adam’s eyes narrowed. “And the Over/Under? The ‘wannabe’ hunters?”
“Oh, that was a completely different test,” Felix said, waving his hand dismissively. “More for them than your Court. And if they managed to take out an ancient vampire like Kenneth...” He trailed off, then brightened. “How did that go, by the way? Not all of them were bad sorts—”
“Kenneth kept a pet human. Joshua,” Adam stated flatly.
“Oh! Joshua!” Felix’s face lit up with genuine warmth. “I liked him—nice guy, terrible circumstances. Family can really—”
“Felix.” Adam’s tone could have frozen flame. “Tell me more about Stefan’s plans.”
“Right, right.” Felix’s enthusiasm dimmed. “Stefan wants your Court gone. With Merytre still missing...” He mimicked his uncle’s gruffer tones. “‘Now is our best chance at decimation.’”
Adam felt the Council members’ reactions ripple through the room—sharp attention, calculated glances. Leo pressed against his chest, tears tracking silently down his cheeks, but Adam could sense him listening now, processing. Beside them, Lander sat unnaturally still.
“Decimation of the Court?” Emilia’s voice carried something darker beneath.
