Page 17 of Claim of Blood
“Emilia?” Adam’s voice carried the question as he caught her continued study of Leo.
She waved a dismissive hand, though her eyes stayed thoughtful. “Nothing, cher. Just... sometimes old bloodlines carry more than we expect.”
Before Adam could pursue it, Nathaniel prowled closer, growling. “Show us his tattoo.”
Emilia scoffed. “Is that necessary? Adam has chosen. Isn’t that enough?”
“No,” Nathaniel said flatly. “It isn’t.”
“Show it to us,” Maja echoed. Her arms crossed, betrayal etched deep. She’d expected him to consult her first, to plan for the fallout. But there had been no time.
Adam released Leo, shoving him forward harder than he meant to. Leo stumbled, eyes darting around the room, his form trembling.
“Look at me, beauty,” Adam said. Leo’s gaze locked onto his. “Remove your shirt.”
Leo peeled the fabric over his head without hesitation. Only after he held it did he pause, frowning, before turning his glare on Adam.
Adam didn’t flinch. He hated this—hated laying Leo bare before them—but hiding the truth would damn them faster thanany confession. The council would tear Leo apart in private if they didn’t see it all now.
Let them smell his shame. Let them judge the hunter he was. If they saw every scar and every sin, saw him kneeling beneath Adam’s claim, maybe they’d stop looking for excuses to reject him.
He was showing them the worst of Leo first. So they’d have no reason to deny the rest.
Nathaniel roared and seized Leo by the throat, slamming him onto the council table. Maja pinned his hands above his head as he struggled. Adam didn’t move. This was a safe outlet for their rage, and they knew better than to harm a Claim in truth.
“Three marks. Three kills, hunter. Who were they?” Nathaniel’s voice was a predator’s rumble.
Leo’s eyes shot to Adam, throat working under the crushing grip.
“Answer him,” Adam ordered.
Leo swallowed hard. “The first... I was thirteen. A panther shifter broke into our home, attacked my sister. I took a crossbow off the wall—meant to threaten, but I fired. Silver bolt through the skull.”
“Why did the shifter attack?” Nathaniel demanded.
Leo shook his head as much as the grip allowed. “Don’t know the full story. I was only told they were feral. I—I never asked after that.”
Nathaniel squeezed Leo’s throat. “The second?”
“My initiation kill. A wolf who’d been exiled from the Philadelphia pack for rape. One of his victims got pregnant and killed herself rather than carry his child.”
Nathaniel’s growl was a deep rumble that shook the table. Pregnancy among shifters was sacred, not rare, but sacred.
“The death triggered the Philadelphia Pack to send out a hit. They gave it to me. I hunted him down and shot him in his sleep.”
“Coward,” Nathaniel spat.
Leo didn’t argue.
“And the third?”
Leo shook his head again. Nathaniel’s grip tightened until he was gasping.
“Answer him,” Adam commanded, softer this time.
“I didn’t—” Leo’s voice broke. “I didn’t actually kill the third. It was a vampire. In Chicago. My family was there for a wedding, another hunter clan. At the bachelor party, we came across a vampire minding her own business. She was a dancer at the club. She spotted us and tried to leave quietly, but the drunken party cornered her in a back alley. I tried to talk them into leaving her alone, but...”
Leo’s eyes darted to Adam, pleading.
