Page 57 of Claim of Blood
Maja’s knowing look made it clear he hadn’t succeeded as well as he thought. Without another word, she opened the door and left.
A few minutes later, a sharp knock preceded the arrival of a woman in her early thirties—Leila Anderson, Emilia’s niece and representative of the PDC Coven. Her dark hair was tied back in a practical ponytail, and she carried a tablet along with several rolled blueprints.
“Ms. Anderson,” Adam greeted her, rising. “My apologies for keeping you waiting.”
“Mr. Matthews.” Her tone was professional, but not cold. “I appreciate you making time.”
She unrolled the blueprints across the desk, revealing property maps of a section of the Fourth Cat.
“One of your Court members has purchased this warehouse,” she said, indicating a building outlined in red. “It directly adjoins a property that has been in Coven hands for over fifty years. Our concern is not the purchase itself, but the intended use.”
Adam studied the map. “Which member?”
“Julian Reeves.”
He stifled a sigh. Julian was relatively new, having moved from Chicago three years prior—ambitious and occasionally careless.
“And the intended use?”
“He’s filed permits for a nightclub,” Leila explained, pulling up digital documents. “Given the shared wall with our sanctuary space, the noise and energy would be extremely disruptive.”
Adam nodded slowly. “I wasn’t aware of this purchase, but I assure you, it won’t proceed as planned.”
She looked mildly surprised at his immediate concession. “Just like that?”
“The Anderson Coven has been an ally to this Court since before Porte du Cœur existed,” he said. “I value that relationship. Julian should have consulted me.”
Some of her tension eased. “My aunt said you’d be reasonable.”
“Emilia knows me well.” He straightened. “I’ll speak with Julian personally. The property will either be repurposed for something compatible or sold.”
“Thank you.” She gathered her materials. “One other matter—more observation than complaint.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“There were sightings of another hunter clan, the Cordrays, skulking around the Fourth Cat last night,” she said carefully. “They appeared to leave this morning, but covered their tracks well. My aunt thought you should be informed.”
The message was clear: the Coven was watching hunter activity and sharing it—an overture of trust.
“All our members have checked in,” Leila added. “But with the Rothenburgs withdrawing so suddenly...”
“Please thank Emilia,” Adam said sincerely. “I’ll look into it.”
After she left, he examined the blueprints again. Julian’s purchase was ill-considered on multiple levels—not just theproximity to Coven property, but also its location near the Third Cat’s less-than-lawful interests.
A soft knock broke his focus. Lander stood in the doorway, his tall frame silhouetted against the hall light.
“He’s settled in for the night,” Lander reported. “Though I doubt he’ll sleep easily.”
Adam felt the tension again—an awareness of Lander that was too sharp, too intimate. Something primal stirred in him, part territorial, part something he didn’t have a name for.
“Sit,” Adam said, gesturing to the couch.
The command came out more forcefully than he intended, and he didn’t bother softening it. Lander’s eyebrows rose slightly, but he complied, sitting with perfect posture.
Adam pulled out his phone to text Gaspard, acutely aware of Lander’s scent, the lingering traces of Leo in it. The quiet stretched between them, taut and charged.
Gaspard arrived soon after, his gaze sweeping over them with measured curiosity. “You needed me?”
