Page 58 of Claim of Blood (Blood Bound #1)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Leo

Leo felt the Council’s attention shift to him as he followed Adam into the parlor. They’d chosen this room instead of the formal Council chamber—sofas and chairs arranged in a circle, more intimate than intimidating. Leo wasn’t sure if that made things better or worse.

Lander was seated near the center, with Ilona and Maja sharing a sofa; their whispered conversation stopped as Adam entered.

Oren stood by the window, arms crossed, his massive frame blocking most of the light.

Gaspard walked in behind them, relaxed and tapping at his tablet while everyone else radiated tension.

Adam paused, studying Lander’s position. “Not there.”

Lander frowned. “What?”

“At my right,” Adam said, indicating the chair beside the largest seat.

With a sigh, Lander moved. Leo started toward the chair on Adam’s left, but Adam caught his wrist.

“Here,” Adam said, pulling Leo onto his lap once he’d settled.

Leo’s cheeks burned. “Really? Is this necessary?”

“Yes,” Adam replied, wrapping an arm around Leo’s waist.

The door opened again. Lydia entered with Felix, who was mid-sentence.

“—and this Smart UV Privacy glass everywhere is just brilliant! It must have cost a fortune to install throughout the entire house! I can’t believe you have it in every room, even the hallways—”

Lydia’s mouth twitched with amusement. “Here you go,” she said, steering Felix to the center of the room. She bowed to Adam and stepped out.

Felix stopped talking, suddenly aware of all the eyes on him. His excited smile vanished as he froze.

Felix looked better than the last time Leo had seen him. Clean clothes, freshly showered, but that same nervous energy in his eyes. Their gazes met, and Leo offered a reassuring smile. Felix’s response was guarded, but grateful.

Leo noticed belongings piled beside Oren: a backpack, clothing, and a large, battered steamer trunk with metal reinforcements at the corners.

“Let’s begin,” Adam said, his voice cutting through the room’s tension. “Oren has retrieved Felix’s belongings from his previous… accommodations.”

Oren nudged the pile forward with his foot. “Not much personal stuff. Clothes, toiletries, electronics.” His gaze fixed on the steamer trunk with obvious suspicion. “And this. It weighs a ton and appears to be full of books.”

Felix perked up at the sight of the trunk. “My notebooks! You found them.”

“Your notebooks?” Ilona asked, one perfectly sculpted eyebrow rising.

Felix nodded, fingers twitching as if he wanted to reach for the trunk but didn’t dare. “Not just mine. Some belonged to other Rothenburgs.”

“Other Rothenburgs?” Lander sat up straighter.

“How did you acquire these?” Adam asked, his voice neutral but eyes sharp.

Felix swallowed hard. “I saved them. When I was twelve, I found out they were going to be purged from our family library.” His voice grew stronger as he continued. “They were going to burn them. Burn books! I couldn’t let that happen.”

Leo watched Felix’s face transform as he spoke about the books. The nervousness faded, replaced by genuine passion.

“I’d first discovered these journals when I was seven or eight,” Felix explained.

“Hidden away in a forgotten corner of our library. I’d been reading them for years—fascinated by all the observations about supernaturals that our tutors never taught us.

” His hands moved as he talked, excitement building.

“Then, when I was twelve, I overheard Uncle Stefan telling my mother they needed to purge the ‘dangerous materials’ from the family collection.”

“So I took them,” Felix said. “Hid them under my bed at first, then in the back of my closet.” He looked down at his hands. “I couldn’t save them all. They burned the rest.”

“Why risk it?” Adam asked.

Felix’s face brightened with conviction.

“I wanted to understand supernaturals. What our tutors taught us was clearly incomplete—they had to be hiding something.” His hands moved as he talked, excitement building.

“These journals proved it. Generations of Rothenburgs had been watching, learning, and documenting everything. I wanted to continue what they started.”

“And you added your observations,” Adam said.

Felix nodded eagerly. “Everything! Notes about vampire healing rates, werewolf transformation patterns, which witch families carry specific gifts.” He caught Ilona’s darkening expression and quickly added, “Nothing dangerous!”

“It is not for you to decide what’s dangerous,” Oren said, his voice like stone. He stepped away from the window, his shadow falling across Felix.

Felix lifted his chin. “Knowledge is never dangerous.”

“It is in the wrong hands,” Lander said quietly, watching Felix with careful eyes.

Felix opened his mouth to argue, then thought better of it.

Adam looked at Gaspard. “Your assessment of allowing this research?”

Gaspard shrugged, making notes on his tablet. “Knowledge itself poses no threat. It’s application that matters.”

“I disagree,” Ilona said sharply. “Knowledge of our kind has always been our greatest vulnerability.”

Oren nodded. “There’s a reason research about us has been forbidden.”

All eyes turned to Maja, who had remained silent. She met Adam’s gaze steadily. “I’ll support whatever decision you make.”

“Lander?” Adam asked.

Leo watched Lander closely, sensing the conflict in his expression—duty as security head warring with something else.

“I think...” Lander began carefully, “We should allow the research.”

Ilona made a slight sound of surprise.

“Under strict supervision,” Lander added quickly. “We can learn from this, too. Understanding ourselves better is never a disadvantage.”

Adam considered all viewpoints before speaking. “Felix, what exactly would you need for this research?”

Felix’s mouth dropped open. “You’re... letting me?” His voice came out small and surprised.

Adam didn’t answer, just waited.

Felix waved his hand, brushing away his shock. “Well, I’d need my books, obviously.” He gestured at the trunk. “And a quiet place to work. Somewhere with a large table and good lighting.”

He hesitated, then added, “And maybe... later... a small lab?” His voice went up uncertainly. “Nothing fancy. Just for testing some theories.”

“We’d need to keep it underground,” Oren cut in, arms still crossed. “For security. And we don’t have room down there.”

Gaspard tapped on his tablet. “We could convert one of the lounges into a research space. Clear it out, set it up properly.” He looked up. “A month to retrofit it.”

“And the lab?” Felix asked hopefully.

Adam looked at Gaspard, who frowned thoughtfully.

“A lab would need to be completely separate from where books and research materials are stored,” Gaspard explained. “It would take longer and would be extremely difficult to retrofit underground.”

“We’ll convert one of the above-ground parlors,” Adam decided.

“A full retrofit could be done in three months,” Gaspard calculated. “If we rush it.”

“We’re rushing,” Adam said simply.

Gaspard nodded, making more notes.

“I’m against the lab being above ground,” Oren stated, his lips a thin line.

“As am I,” Ilona added.

“Noted,” Adam replied. “Gaspard, get me a full schedule for the retrofits as soon as possible.”

Ilona leaned forward, concern written across her face. “Have we considered the optics to other Courts? Research has been forbidden for centuries. Storing knowledge that could be used against us—”

“Times have changed,” Leo said. All eyes turned to him, and he fought the urge to shrink back. “We have technology now that could fully safeguard such things. Especially here, in the Court of the First.”

A small smile played at the corner of Adam’s mouth, and Leo felt a flush of pride.

“Leo’s right,” Adam said. “The world is changing. Perhaps we should, too.” He turned to Felix. “Your research will be allowed under supervision. Gaspard will oversee the creation of your spaces.”

Felix’s face transformed with joy. “Thank you. I won’t disappoint you.”

Adam held up a hand. “There are conditions. You’re not a guest here, Felix.

You’re property of this Court now—protected, yes, but not free.

You’ll remain on the grounds at all times unless directly escorted, and you will not contact anyone outside this estate.

No messages. No cloud backups. No anonymous uploads.

Everything you research will be reviewed before it’s even written down.

And nothing—nothing—leaves these walls without my explicit approval. ”

Felix blinked, his mouth opening as if to protest—but then he caught himself. Leo watched the excitement drain from his cousin’s face, replaced by something smaller. Caged.

There would be no lab coat freedom. No quiet evenings poring over notes without eyes on him. No unsupervised tinkering or private breakthroughs. Adam might have allowed the research, but it would happen under lock and key—on the Court’s terms, and under its watchful gaze.

Adam gave a slight nod. “We’ll discuss solstice security next.” His gaze flicked back to Felix. “You’re dismissed for now.”

Felix turned stiffly, already retreating inward—shoulders drawn tight, eyes unfocused. Leo stood before he could think better of it.

“Can I talk to Felix for a minute?” he asked, trying to sound casual. All eyes swung toward him. “Just... before he goes back to his room.”

Adam studied Leo’s face, then nodded once. “Lydia will take you to the blue parlor next door.” He raised his voice. “Lydia.”

The door opened, and Lydia stepped in. “Yes, sir?”

“Take Leo and Felix to the blue parlor,” Adam said. “Wait outside.”

Leo slid off Adam’s lap, his cheeks warming again. He could feel Lander watching him, but didn’t look over.

“This way,” Lydia said, holding the door. Felix followed, shooting Leo a confused look.

As they left, Leo heard Adam’s voice behind them. “Now, about the solstice preparations...”