Page 130 of Claim of Blood
“I think so,” he said slowly. “It’s not like I had any claim on Adam before all this happened. And Lander...” Leo paused, thinking about the tall, stoic vampire. “Lander fits. Somehow.”
Felix watched him with sharp eyes. “You like him.”
It wasn’t a question, but Leo answered anyway. “Yes.” He felt his cheeks flush. “Is that weird?”
“Weird?” Felix laughed. “Leo, you’re in a blood-claim relationship with one of the oldest vampires alive. I think we left ‘weird’ behind a while ago.”
Leo couldn’t help smiling. “Fair point.”
“So,” Felix said, settling against the arm of a sofa. “That’s what you wanted to talk to me about? The trio thing?”
Leo nodded. “I thought you might have read something. About whether it’s normal. Or safe.”
“For what it’s worth,” Felix said, “everything I’ve read suggests it’s unusual, but not dangerous. If anything, having Lander involved might make things more stable.”
“That’s... actually reassuring,” Leo admitted.
Felix grinned. “See? Research has value.”
Leo rolled his eyes. “Don’t push it.”
“Too late,” Felix said cheerfully. “They’ve already agreed to let me do my research.”
“With supervision,” Leo reminded him.
Felix waved this away. “Details.” His face brightened again. “So, when can I talk to Elisabeth and Johan?”
“I’ll ask Adam,” Leo promised. “But something tells me you’ll get more than you bargained for.”
Felix rubbed his hands together. “I can’t wait.”
The excitement in Felix’s expression slowly faded as Leo’s demeanor turned serious.
“Felix, I need to ask you something,” Leo said quietly. “About my family. After I went missing...”
Felix’s smile disappeared. He looked down at his shoes. “Do you really want to know?”
“Yes,” Leo said, though his stomach tightened. “I need to.”
Felix took a deep breath. “Friedrich... he was happy you were gone.” He kept his eyes on the floor. “He said you were weak. Called you a coward.”
Leo’s jaw tightened. “And Katherine?”
“She said you didn’t deserve your tattoo and hashes.” Felix’s voice grew softer. “She said the family crest meant something.”
Leo nodded, feeling something crack inside him. “Uncle Stefan?”
Felix hesitated. “He called you a fairy. Said the family was better off without—”
“Stop,” Leo whispered, feeling tears sting his eyes. He blinked hard, trying to hold them back. “Why? Why me? What did I ever do to them?”
Felix looked up, his face full of sadness. “I don’t know, Leo. I really don’t.” He moved closer, putting a hand on Leo’s shoulder. “But... aren’t you happier now?”
Leo wiped at his eyes. “That’s the worst part. I am. I’m happier here, with strangers, than I ever was with my own family.” He gave a small, broken laugh. “What does that say about me?”
“It says your family didn’t deserve you,” Felix said firmly.
They sat in silence for a moment. Then Leo looked up, a new determination in his eyes.
