Page 149 of Claim of Blood
“Where are the other vampires?” Leo asked, turning to Claudia. “I’ve only seen you and your Court, plus Adam and Lander earlier.”
Claudia stretched luxuriously, drawing more than a few appreciative glances from nearby party-goers. “Preparing for tonight’s ritual, most likely.”
“What ritual?”
“The celebration of Re,” Claudia said, as if it were obvious. “It’s a solstice tradition dating back to Merytre’s time.”
Leo frowned. “But you’re not taking part?”
“I do, in my own way.” Claudia shrugged. “The world hasn’t properly worshipped a sun god in centuries. I think the gods can’t be too picky about ceremony these days.”
“Will I be expected to participate?” Leo asked, suddenly nervous.
“That’s between you and my brother,” Claudia said, her tone becoming more serious. “The ritual is sacred to him.”
“Okay, but Adam hasn’t mentioned anything, and I’m curious. What is the ritual?” Leo pressed, leaning forward. “I mean, what actually happens?”
Claudia’s eyes gleamed mischievously. “Blood. Lots of blood. Maybe a sacrifice or two...”
“Claudia!” Emilia scolded. “Stop trying to shock him.”
Leo stared at Claudia, genuinely disturbed. “Are you serious? A sacrifice?”
“Oh yes,” Claudia nodded solemnly. “A hunter Victoria brought with her from New York. Quite fitting, don’t you think?”
Leo’s blood ran cold. “I wasn’t told about this.”
“Adam probably didn’t want to upset you,” Claudia said, her tone softening slightly. “Given your background.”
“Are they—” Leo swallowed hard. “Are they sacrificing him now?”
Emilia placed a gentle hand on his arm. “No, Leo. That happened at noon.”
Leo’s mind raced. Noon. When he’d been waking up. When Lander had brought him lunch and distracted him with...
“You missed it entirely,” Claudia confirmed, watching his face. “Don’t be too upset. The man was planning to kill Adam, after all. To kill all of us.”
Leo nodded mechanically. She was right, of course. If Victoria had captured a hunter planning an attack, his execution was justified. Even so, the idea that it had happened while he slept, while Lander deliberately kept him occupied...
His gaze drifted toward the south wing, where he knew Felix was being kept under lock and key until after the solstice. The realization hit him suddenly—Adam wasn’t just keeping Felix locked away as a prisoner, but protecting him from overzealous relatives who might see another hunter as the perfect solstice sacrifice. The thought made his stomach churn.
“You’re looking pale,” Claudia observed. “Perhaps you need something stronger than beer.” She waved to a passing server. “Bring my brother’s claim something with a kick, would you?”
The server returned moments later with a tumbler of amber liquid. Leo accepted it gratefully, taking a large swallow. The whiskey burned a path down his throat.
“Tell me about the ritual tonight,” he said, determined to change the subject. “What happens then?”
Claudia exchanged a look with Emilia. “It’s a celebration of life and renewal,” she said, uncharacteristically serious. “The vampires gather at midnight to honor the sun at its furthest point. It’s a paradox, you see—creatures of darkness recognizing their dependence on light. We celebrate because the Mother does. Merytre was a priestess of Re before her transformation, and she continues to perform those rituals to this day. That sunlight affects newer generations of vampires hasn’t stopped her devotion to the sun god.”
“But you don’t participate?”
“I celebrate life through living it fully.” She gestured to her Court members, who had integrated seamlessly with the pool party. “My children understand this. Life and death, darkness and light—they’re not opposites but partners in an eternal dance.”
Leo wasn’t sure he understood. “Will Adam expect me to take part?”
“Know this—the ritual connects him to his origins, to Merytre,” Claudia said. “What he expects of you, only he can say.”
The mention of Adam’s maker sent a shiver down Leo’s spine. He’d heard stories of the Mother—the original vampire created in ancient Egypt. Adam rarely spoke of her, but Leo had sensed the complex mix of love, fear, and respect whenever her name was mentioned.
