Page 59 of Claim of Blood (Blood Bound #1)
Lydia led them to a smaller room just down the hall.
The Blue Parlor lived up to its name—deep navy walls, sapphire drapes, and indigo velvet sofas arranged in symmetrical pairs.
Even the light had a cool cast, filtered through a blue-glass chandelier that gave the space an almost underwater quality.
It was beautiful. Controlled. Designed to impress—or disarm.
Leo stepped inside, struck by how different it felt from the rest of the house. Most of the estate leaned rich and warm—mahogany, gold, candlelight. This room was colder. Quieter. Like it had been built for conversations no one else was meant to hear.
“I’ll be right outside,” Lydia said, closing the door behind them.
As soon as it clicked shut, Leo stepped forward and pulled Felix into a hug.
Felix stood stiff for a moment before awkwardly wrapping his arms around Leo. “I can’t believe you’re here,” he said, his voice muffled against Leo’s shoulder. “And that they’re actually letting me stay!”
“You look better.”
Felix smiled, running a hand through his hair. “Clean clothes help.” His gaze drifted, focusing on Leo’s neck. “How does it feel?”
Leo shifted his weight, unsure how to answer. “It’s... intense. Not what I expected.” He pulled Felix to the nearby couch, perching on the edge.
“I’ve talked to some claimed pairs,” Felix said, settling beside him. “But they were all third or fourth generation. Nothing like...” He gestured at Leo’s neck.
“Nothing like the First,” Leo finished.
Felix leaned forward. “Is it true you lose awareness during feeding? That’s what the books say happens with powerful claims.”
Leo felt his cheeks warm. “Sometimes. It depends.” He hesitated, then made a decision. “Actually, you’ll have a chance to ask more questions soon. Elisabeth and Johan Jensen are here.”
Felix’s mouth dropped open. “The born vampire’s parents? A second-generation claimed pair?” His voice rose with excitement. “They’re here? In the house?”
“You know about them?” Leo asked, surprised.
“Of course! Born vampires are rare, and their son’s birth was recorded in one of the manuscripts.” Felix practically vibrated with enthusiasm. “There’s barely any documentation on second-generation pairs. Most people think they’re just legends.”
“Well, they’re here,” Leo said, smiling despite himself at Felix’s reaction. “And trust me, they’d be more than happy to talk about their bond. In detail.”
“That’s incredible!” Felix bounced slightly. “The journals mention very little about second-generation pairs. Do you think they’d let me interview them?”
“I’m pretty sure Johan would talk your ear off,” Leo said. “Fair warning, though. They’re very open about everything.” He emphasized the last word, hoping Felix would catch his meaning.
Felix didn’t seem to notice the warning. “Even better.” His expression suddenly sharpened. “Wait, why are they here? Is it because of you and Adam?”
Leo took a deep breath. This was harder to explain than he’d thought. “Partly. But it’s more complicated. It’s not just me and Adam.”
Felix tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
“Adam has claimed Lander. Elisabeth and Johan’s son, too,” Leo said quietly.
Felix’s mouth dropped open. “Both of you? But that’s—” He stopped, blinking rapidly. “No vampire is supposed to be able to maintain two claims.”
“Well, Adam can.” Leo shrugged. “But Lander hasn’t claimed me.”
Felix stood suddenly, pacing in a small circle. His hand went to his hair again, tugging at the curls as he moved, a habit Leo had never noticed before. Felix’s dark curls were quickly becoming a disaster.
“Wait, wait. I think I read something...” Felix stopped abruptly, eyes wide.
“There was an old manuscript. It mentioned a second-gen pair who had a third for a while. The theory was that older generations are more powerful, more entrenched in the magic. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, so they had a third until things stabilized.”
“That sounds like what’s happening with us,” Leo said, surprised. “Elisabeth and Johan said something similar. They had a third for a while.”
“Really?” Felix’s face brightened with scholarly excitement. “What else did they say?”
Leo tried to remember Johan’s words. “He said it might explain why I stay more aware when Lander is involved. The magic has another outlet. It’s not all concentrated between just Adam and me.”
Felix nodded enthusiastically. “It makes sense! The fact that you go under when you’re alone with Adam could be magic overwhelm. Lander diluting it is probably a good thing, right?”
Leo looked down at his hands. “I don’t know. Maybe?” He raised his eyes to Felix’s eager face. “It feels right when we’re all together. But it’s all so new.”
“This is incredible,” Felix said. “A trio bond with the First at the center—do you realize how unprecedented this is?”
“Trust me, I’ve been reminded,” Leo said dryly.
Felix stopped his excited pacing, suddenly looking concerned. “Are you okay with it? With sharing him, I mean.”
The question caught Leo off guard. No one had actually asked how he felt about the arrangement. Not even Adam.
“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.
“I want to get rid of the tattoo,” he said. “The family crest. I don’t want it anymore.”
Felix’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”
“Yes.” Leo nodded. “Would you... would you want to get yours removed too? We could do it together?”
Felix didn’t hesitate. “Yes,” he said, his voice stronger than before. “Absolutely yes.”
“They’re not our family anymore,” Leo said. “They gave up that right.”
“They never were,” Felix replied. “Not really.”
Leo felt something lift inside him. It hurt, but it was the kind of hurt that came with pulling out a splinter: pain that meant healing could finally begin.