Page 45 of Claim of Blood
“I kept them because…” Leo hesitated, brushing the worn edge of the box. “I wanted what my grandmother had. That kind of love.” His voice dropped. “I wanted that too.”
Adam caught his chin gently, tilting his face up, and kissed him, slow, tender, no hunger in it. Just a promise. “You will have it.”
“Thank you,” Leo whispered. “For saving what you could.”
His hands trembled as he closed the puzzle box—all except the signet ring, which he held separately. The metal felt cold in his palm.
“Do you want to be rid of it?” Adam asked, his voice hopeful in a way he didn’t bother to hide.
“Yes.” Leo swallowed and held it out.
Adam took the ring without comment as Leo set the box back in Adam’s hand. The safe hissed quietly as it sealed.
“Dawn is approaching,” Adam murmured, his hand resting warm and solid at the small of Leo’s back. “We should go down. A very early breakfast.”
Leo nodded, grateful for the suggestion, grateful for something simple to do that wasn’t thinking. “Yes,” he said, voice low. “Breakfast sounds good.”
Chapter Eleven
Adam
Thescentoffreshcoffee and warm pastries drifted up from the kitchen as Adam guided Leo down the curved staircase. His hand rested possessively on the small of Leo’s back, monitoring the slight tremors still running through his hunter’s body.
The kitchen staff had already laid out the usual pre-dawn spread for the Night Court’s nocturnal residents. Through centuries of ruling his territory, Adam had learned to appreciate these quiet moments—when night bled into day and his household settled into familiar rhythms.
But tonight, something felt... off.
Leo broke away from his touch, drawn to the elaborate breakfast buffet with endearing enthusiasm. Adam’s lips curved as he watched his claim pile a plate high with eggs and pastries. The easy way Leo moved through the space, as if he belonged here, sent a surge of satisfaction through Adam’s chest.
Until he caught Lander’s scent.
His Head of House sat at the far end of the long table, coffee mug raised to his lips, dark eyes following Leo’s movements. Lander’s scent curled in Adam’s awareness, steady and grounding. It shouldn’t have mattered. But it did—just enough to set his teeth on edge. Something ancient and primal reared up in Adam’s chest, an overwhelming urge to display his claim, to make it unmistakably clear that Leo was his.
The intensity of the reaction startled him. Lander was trusted, had proven himself repeatedly over decades of service. There was no rational reason for this visceral need to stake his territory. Yet when Leo settled into a chair next to Lander, oblivious to the tension, Adam found himself moving with deliberate purpose.
“Good morning,” Lander offered quietly, his tone carefully neutral. The words should have been innocuous. Instead, they sent another wave of possessive need through Adam’s body.
Leo mumbled something around a mouthful of pastry, his movements still sleep-heavy. A servant appeared moments later, placing a full plate of food before Adam, along with a steaming cup of coffee. Adam didn’t acknowledge the gesture—he rarely did—but the timing, as always, was perfect. He settled beside Leo, one hand falling to his thigh under the table. The touch was possessive, maintaining contact as they ate in relative silence.
The peace lasted until Leo reached for his orange juice, his hand catching the edge of the glass. Liquid splashed across his lap, and Leo cursed softly.
“Here,” Lander said, reaching for a napkin. His movements were efficient and practical as he helped blot the spill from Leo’s sweatpants.
The sight of Lander’s hands anywhere near his claim shattered something in Adam’s control. He moved with inhuman speed, one hand around Lander’s throat, pinning him to the nearest wall. The coffee mug shattered on the floor, forgotten.
“Adam!” Leo’s startled voice barely registered through the roaring in his ears.
“Stay where you are,” Adam commanded, his voice thick with power. He didn’t look—but he felt Leo freeze behind him. The sudden stillness of prey deciding whether to flee.
Lander didn’t struggle, his body deliberately loose in Adam’s grip. Smart. Very smart. But it wasn’t enough to quell the rage burning through Adam’s veins.
“You touched what’s mine without permission,” Adam said, each word precisely weighted. His voice remained controlled even as his fangs descended. “I require an explanation.”
“I was just helping clean a spill,” Lander said carefully, his voice rough from Adam’s grip. “Nothing more.”
“Without asking my permission,” Adam growled, his fangs dropping lower. The words surprised him even as they left his mouth. Since when did his household staff need permission for such mundane tasks?
“You’re right,” Lander acknowledged. “I apologize.”
