Page 157 of Claim of Blood
Claudia laughed, her voice seeming to echo strangely in Leo’s champagne-fogged mind. “My brothers forget not everyone finds thousand-year-old grudges fascinating.” She positioned his hand at her waist and began leading him through the crowd. “I never ask about politics at parties.”
“What do you ask about?” Leo took a large sip of champagne, feeling warmth spread through his already floating system. The alcohol mixed with his lingering blood-drunk haze, blurring the edges of the room until it all felt slightly tilted, like a memory in motion.
“I want to know about you, hunter. What makes you different enough to catch my brother’s eye after so long alone?”
Leo stumbled slightly, his coordination compromised by the layered heat of magic and alcohol that wove through his system. “I’m not that interesting.”
“I disagree.” Claudia moved with effortless grace, making Leo feel like he was floating rather than dancing. “Relax,” she said. “He’s still watching you.”
Leo turned his head. The turn knocked something loose in his balance, and the room seemed to lean sideways around him. “What?”
“My brother never takes his eyes off you for long.” She spun Leo around so he could see Adam’s gaze tracking them across the floor, his dark eyes following every movement. “He’s never been this protective before.”
“I’ve noticed,” Leo said, taking another drink. The champagne tasted like liquid sunshine, making him smile without reason.
Claudia laughed again. “I like you, hunter. You’ve got spirit.”
“Former hunter,” Leo corrected dreamily, finishing his glass. Another appeared in his hand almost immediately, as if by magic. “Don’t hunt anymore.”
“No such thing,” Claudia replied, her hand tightening on his shoulder. “Once a hunter, always a hunter. It’s in your blood.”
“So is Adam,” Leo said before he could stop himself, the words tumbling out with champagne-loosened honesty.
Claudia’s eyes widened, then she threw her head back and laughed with genuine delight. “Good! Keep that fire. He needs someone who won’t break.”
The songs changed, one blending into another in a seamless stream that matched Leo’s floating consciousness. He lost track of time as Claudia kept him moving, occasionally joined by other dancers whose faces blurred together in a pleasant haze. His head buzzed pleasantly, champagne flowing freely each time his glass emptied.
“How are you finding Court life?” she asked, her tone casual but her eyes sharp with interest.
“Different,” Leo admitted, words flowing like water now. “But not as different as I expected. Still people, just... older people. With fangs.”
“Politics is politics, whether human or vampire,” Claudia agreed. “Though our grudges last longer.”
Leo’s gaze drifted to where Adam stood, the sight of him sending a warm pulse through Leo’s chest. He was smiling at something Raj had said, but even through the champagne fog, Leo could see the tension in his shoulders.
“He worries too much,” Claudia said, following Leo’s gaze.
“It’s his job to worry.”
“Perhaps.” Claudia spun them again, making Leo laugh as the room tilted pleasantly. “But it’s your job to make him forget to worry. At least sometimes.”
The ring on Leo’s finger pulsed again, warmer this time, sending a strange tingling sensation up his arm. Leo frowned down at it, flexing his fingers. “That’s weird.”
“What?” Claudia asked, her voice suddenly sharp with interest.
“Nothing,” Leo said, dismissing it, but Claudia’s grip tightened on his hand.
“No, tell me. What’s the ring doing?”
Leo blinked at her intense focus, the champagne making her concern seem both important and amusing. “It’s getting warm. Tingling up my arm. Started a few minutes ago.”
Claudia’s eyes were fixed on his hand with laser focus. “How warm? Show me.”
Leo held up his hand, and even through his intoxication, he could see that Claudia’s face had gone pale. “It’s... It’s never done this before. Well, except this morning when Adam put it on, but that was different. This feels like... like it’s trying to tell me something.”
“Describe the sensation,” Claudia demanded, still dancing, but her attention was entirely on Leo now.
“Like electricity,” Leo said during one of their conversations, his words growing more slurred as the evening wore on. “Starting in the ring and spreading up. Getting stronger...”
