Page 34 of Claim of Blood
He didn’t need sleep, not in the traditional sense, but he’d lingered in the guest suite far longer than necessary. WatchingLeo’s face smooth into peaceful vulnerability. Grounding himself in the reality of what they’d shared. What they’d begun.
Eventually, even he had to emerge and face the mounting digital chaos, his responsibilities, and the inevitable wrath of Maja.
A live feed glowed at the corner of his screen—Leo, still sprawled across burgundy silk sheets, one leg tangled in the fabric, the other stretched across the mattress. Naked. Vulnerable. The antique Persian rugs and mahogany furniture gave the scene a timeless quality, as though Leo could have been sleeping in any century.
“I’ve rescheduled the Morrison meeting for next week,” Maja announced, setting a fresh coffee on his desk. Her movements were crisp, efficient, but he caught the subtle tightness around her eyes when another notification blinked to life.
“Morgan is handling the Singapore video call,” she continued. “But Mr. Chen specifically asked to speak with you about the quantum encryption protocol updates.”
Adam made a noncommittal sound.
“Chen is still our largest client in Asia,” Maja reminded him, her tone carefully neutral. “And Morgan looked... concerned when she checked in this morning.”
Of course she had. Morgan was one of only two vampires Maja had ever turned—created during that brief era when his longest companion had sought distance from him. Less than a century later, Maja had returned, Morgan in tow. Now, Morgan was to Maja what Maja was to him—indispensable. A steady hand. A listening ear. The one who knew every whispered word in every corner of Nocturne.
If Morgan was concerned enough to show it, the ripples of last night’s claiming were spreading faster than he’d anticipated.
“The entire office is...” Maja paused, weighing her phrasing. “Uncertain how to proceed. You’ve never missed a day withoutwarning. And the rumors are already spreading among the supernatural community. Especially theCourt.”
Every supernatural being in the mansion had felt his power surge the night before. They’d dropped to their knees at his command. And now they were talking. Whispering. Messaging contacts around the globe.
Adam exhaled slowly. “Have Morgan rearrange my schedule. I’ll be working from the mansion for the foreseeable future.”
Given what Lander had described of his parents—how even centuries hadn’t dulled their need for proximity—he suspected time away from Leo might prove... challenging.
“Keep it light. Delegate to the VPs as needed.”
“As I’ve been suggesting you do for the past decade,” Maja said dryly, one brow arching. “But yes, I’ll pass that on to Morgan.”
“Anything else I should know?”
“Raj messaged from his flight. He plans to return for the Solstice.”
Adam groaned, letting his head fall back against the chair. Perfect. His siblings were hearing about it already. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours.
“Gossipy vampires,” he muttered. “Anyone else?”
“Not yet,” Maja said. “But I suspect we’ll be hearing from others soon. Word travels fast in our circles.”
He rubbed at his temples, the pressure behind his eyes flaring. “Thank you.”
Maja nodded once and slipped out, the soft click of the door marking the return of solitude.
He turned back to his inbox. At least this, he could still control.
The next few hours passed in a blur of emails and calls, each one more mundane than the last. Adam handled them mechanically, his attention split—one eye always drifting to the feed showing Leo’s bedroom.
Leo hadn’t moved. Still lay sprawled on the sheets, one leg hooked over the blanket, skin pale. The sight was... distracting.
By the fifth time he had to ask a client to repeat themselves, Adam conceded that working from the mansion might be more complicated than he’d anticipated. Every few minutes, his gaze slipped back to the sharp lines of Leo’s body, to the marks still fresh on his throat.
At six, Maja reappeared with a covered tray and a knowing look. She said nothing about the way his attention kept drifting. Just set the dinner down and disappeared again.
He’d barely finished the last bite when his phone lit up with a video call. The ID read “Claudia Visconti,” and the location pinged as Vancouver.
Of course it did. She’d probably been in Panama this morning.
He exhaled once, bracing himself. Claudia never called without disruption trailing behind her like over-saturated perfume.
