Page 126 of Claim of Blood
Adam nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll see you both there.”
As they stood to leave, Leo touched Lander’s arm. “Are you okay?” he asked quietly.
Lander wasn’t sure how to answer.Everything had changed overnight, and he was still trying to find his footing in this new reality. “I will be,” he said finally.
Leo seemed to understand. He nodded once and followed Adam out of the room.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Leo
LeofelttheCouncil’sattention shift to him as he followed Adam into the parlor. They’d chosen this room instead of the formal Council chamber—sofas and chairs arranged in a circle, more intimate than intimidating. Leo wasn’t sure if that made things better or worse.
Lander was seated near the center, with Ilona and Maja sharing a sofa; their whispered conversation stopped as Adam entered. Oren stood by the window, arms crossed, his massive frame blocking most of the light. Gaspard walked in behind them, relaxed and tapping at his tablet while everyone else radiated tension.
Adam paused, studying Lander’s position. “Not there.”
Lander frowned. “What?”
“At my right,” Adam said, indicating the chair beside the largest seat.
With a sigh, Lander moved. Leo started toward the chair on Adam’s left, but Adam caught his wrist.
“Here,” Adam said, pulling Leo onto his lap once he’d settled.
Leo’s cheeks burned. “Really? Is this necessary?”
“Yes,” Adam replied, wrapping an arm around Leo’s waist.
The door opened again. Lydia entered with Felix, who was mid-sentence.
“—and this Smart UV Privacy glass everywhere is just brilliant! It must have cost a fortune to install throughout the entire house! I can’t believe you have it in every room, even the hallways—”
Lydia’s mouth twitched with amusement. “Here you go,” she said, steering Felix to the center of the room. She bowed to Adam and stepped out.
Felix stopped talking, suddenly aware of all the eyes on him. His excited smile vanished as he froze.
Felix looked better than the last time Leo had seen him. Clean clothes, freshly showered, but that same nervous energy in his eyes. Their gazes met, and Leo offered a reassuring smile. Felix’s response was guarded, but grateful.
Leo noticed belongings piled beside Oren: a backpack, clothing, and a large, battered steamer trunk with metal reinforcements at the corners.
“Let’s begin,” Adam said, his voice cutting through the room’s tension. “Oren has retrieved Felix’s belongings from his previous… accommodations.”
Oren nudged the pile forward with his foot. “Not much personal stuff. Clothes, toiletries, electronics.” His gaze fixed on the steamer trunk with obvious suspicion. “And this. It weighs a ton and appears to be full of books.”
Felix perked up at the sight of the trunk. “My notebooks! You found them.”
“Your notebooks?” Ilona asked, one perfectly sculpted eyebrow rising.
Felix nodded, fingers twitching as if he wanted to reach for the trunk but didn’t dare. “Not just mine. Some belonged to other Rothenburgs.”
“Other Rothenburgs?” Lander sat up straighter.
“How did you acquire these?” Adam asked, his voice neutral but eyes sharp.
Felix swallowed hard. “I saved them. When I was twelve, I found out they were going to be purged from our family library.” His voice grew stronger as he continued. “They were going to burn them. Burn books! I couldn’t let that happen.”
Leo watched Felix’s face transform as he spoke about the books. The nervousness faded, replaced by genuine passion.
