Page 66 of Claim of Blood (Blood Bound #1)
Chapter Thirty-Two
Leo
Leo hated early mornings. Even as a hunter, he’d avoided sunrise assignments. So when Lander shook him awake before dawn on Monday, his first instinct was to burrow deeper under the covers.
“Come on,” Lander whispered, his hand warm on Leo’s shoulder. “The coven members are already arriving.”
Leo groaned, rolling onto his back. “What time is it?”
“Five.”
“That should be illegal,” Leo mumbled, throwing an arm over his eyes. “We should form a council. Pass a law. Outlaw anything before seven.”
He made a valiant attempt to slump back into the mattress, but Lander snorted and caught him mid-roll, arms hooking around his waist.
“Nice try,” Lander said, laughing as he hauled Leo off the bed. “Unfortunately for you, the Night Court doesn’t take legislation from sleepy hunters.”
Adam stood by the window, already dressed in a simple white linen shirt and pants that made his bronze skin glow in the pre-dawn light. He turned as Leo staggered upright in Lander’s grip, his eyes softening.
“You can return to sleep after the ritual,” he said, crossing the room to press a kiss to Leo’s forehead. “But the witches specifically requested your presence.” He paused, studying Leo’s face. “You should wear your grandmother’s ring today.”
Leo blinked at him, still half-asleep. “What? Why?”
“Call it intuition,” Adam said simply.
He staggered to the safe, squinting through the fog of sleep.
His fingers fumbled with the keypad, hitting the wrong number before he started over.
With a dull click, the door opened, and he retrieved the familiar wooden puzzle box.
Eyes half-closed, Leo’s fingers found the familiar pattern and pressed the hidden mechanism.
The box opened with a soft click, revealing the antique ring nestled in its velvet bed.
As Leo reached for it, Adam gently took the ring from his fingers. “May I?”
Leo nodded, extending his right hand without really thinking about it. “It won’t fit. It’s too small. Sophia had dainty fingers.”
But as Adam slipped the ring onto Leo’s ring finger, it settled perfectly into place, as if it had been made for him.
The antique gold band felt substantial against his skin, the rose-cut tanzanite in its center catching the dim light with deep blue-violet fire.
Two blood-red rubies flanked the central stone, their surfaces smooth and unfaceted in the old style, set flush into the gold without modern prongs.
Leo’s eyes widened in surprise. “That’s impossible,” he murmured, staring at his hand. The ring felt warm against his skin, almost buzzing with a strange energy that made his fingertips tingle. The tanzanite seemed to pulse with its own inner light. “It’s never fit before.”
Adam’s expression was carefully neutral as he studied the centuries-old piece. “Perhaps you’ve never tried that finger.”
Leo shrugged, too tired to puzzle it out. The warmth was actually pleasant, like holding a cup of coffee on a cold morning. The strange buzzing sensation settled into something almost soothing.
“Whatever. I’ll figure it out later.” He stumbled toward the bathroom. “Give me five minutes.”
Leo splashed cold water on his face, hoping it would wake him up.
His reflection looked back at him, hair sticking up on one side, eyes still puffy with sleep.
The ring caught the bathroom light, the tanzanite seeming to shimmer with an inner fire for just a moment before settling back to its usual deep blue-violet gleam.
He flexed his fingers, still amazed that it fit so perfectly.
He quickly relieved himself, then brushed his teeth to get rid of the stale taste in his mouth.
The mint helped clear his head a little, though not enough to make five a.m. feel like a reasonable hour for anything.
When he emerged from the bathroom, Adam held out a white linen outfit similar to his own.
“It’s traditional,” Adam explained, helping Leo with the loose-fitting shirt. The fabric felt cool and light against his skin. “The witches appreciate when we honor the old ways.”
The ritual took place on the mansion’s eastern lawn, where Emilia Anderson and her coven had established a circle of white stones.
Leo stood between Adam and Lander, struggling to keep his eyes open, as Emilia led the group in a chant that welcomed the rising sun.
The words blended together in his half-awake state, though he caught references to light, life, and renewal.
As the first rays of sunlight crested the horizon, a collective sigh moved through the group.
Leo blinked, suddenly more alert as the witches raised their hands toward the golden light.
Energy pulsed through the circle, not the heavy, metallic sensation of vampire power, but something lighter, almost effervescent.
“The longest day begins,” Emilia announced, her voice carrying across the lawn. “May the light reveal truth and bring clarity to all who seek it.”
Leo glanced around, noticing for the first time that none of the other vampires were present. Only Adam and Lander stood among the witches and shifters gathered for the ritual. He wanted to ask why, but the solemn atmosphere kept him silent.
When the short ceremony concluded, members of the coven immediately switched to celebration mode.
Someone produced bottles of champagne and orange juice, and music began playing from portable speakers.
Leo accepted a mimosa from a smiling witch, but after one sip, his fatigue returned with a vengeance.
“Go back to bed,” Adam murmured, his lips brushing Leo’s ear. “I have meetings all morning. Lander will wake you later.”
Leo didn’t need to be told twice. He handed his barely touched drink to a passing server and made his way back to the mansion, collapsing onto the bed, still fully dressed.
The next time Leo opened his eyes, sunlight streamed through the windows, and Lander stood beside the bed holding a tray of food.
“What time is it?” Leo asked, sitting up and pushing his hair out of his eyes.
“Just after noon,” Lander replied, setting the tray on the bedside table. “I thought you might want lunch.”
Leo’s stomach growled in response. The tray contained a platter of sandwiches, fresh fruit, and a carafe of iced coffee. “Where’s Adam?”
“Still in meetings.” Lander sat on the edge of the bed.
Leo poured himself a glass of coffee, studying Lander over the rim. “And why aren’t you in the meetings, too? Isn’t that part of your job?”
A smile tugged at Lander’s mouth. “Adam thought you might prefer company for lunch.”
Something in Lander’s tone made Leo set his glass down. “Did he now?”
“He suggested I make sure you’re... properly taken care of.”
Leo felt heat rise to his face. In the weeks since his claiming, he’d grown more comfortable with the physical aspects of his relationship with Adam. But Lander remained slightly unpredictable—sometimes distant, sometimes breathtakingly intimate.
“And how do you plan to do that?” Leo asked, his voice dropping.
Lander’s eyes darkened. “First, you eat. You need your strength.”
Leo grabbed a sandwich, suddenly ravenous. He bit into it, savoring the rich flavors of roast beef and sharp cheese. Lander watched him with amusement, sipping his own coffee.
“Hungry?” Lander asked.
“Starving,” Leo mumbled through a mouthful. He swallowed. “I didn’t realize how much until now.”
Leo finished the first sandwich in record time and reached for another. Lander laughed softly, the sound warming Leo from the inside.
“Adam told me you don’t eat enough when you’re stressed,” Lander said.
Leo paused mid-bite. “He noticed that?”
“He notices everything about you.”
Something about Lander’s tone made Leo set down his sandwich. Without thinking, he moved across the bed and climbed into Lander’s lap, straddling his thighs. Lander’s hands automatically settled on Leo’s hips.
“What are you doing?” Lander asked, his voice suddenly rough.
“Improvising,” Leo whispered, leaning in to kiss him.
The rest of lunch was forgotten for the next hour as their improvisation grew increasingly creative. When Lander’s fingers traced along Leo’s hand, the ring grew noticeably warmer, though Leo was too distracted to pay attention to such details.
Afterward, they showered together, Lander’s hands gentle as he washed Leo’s hair. The steam seemed to make the tanzanite gleam more brightly, but Leo attributed it to the bathroom lighting.
“Will we see any vampires today?” Leo asked as they dried off. “Or are they all hiding until sunset?”
Lander smiled. “Many of the older ones are preparing in their own way. You won’t see most of them until tonight.”
Leo followed Lander downstairs, second sandwich in hand, through the mansion to the covered pool area.
Windows lined three sides of the structure, but thick curtains had been drawn to block direct sunlight, creating a comfortable twilight.
Outside, through glass doors left propped open to catch the breeze, the uncovered portion of the pool sparkled in the afternoon sun.
The scene reminded Leo of a resort during spring break.
Witches and shifters in various stages of undress lounged on deck chairs, swam in the pool, or clustered around the bar where servants poured drinks with efficient precision.
Music played from hidden speakers, and laughter rose above the steady hum of conversation.
“I need to check on the preparations for tonight,” Lander said, squeezing Leo’s shoulder. “Will you be alright here?”
Leo nodded, already scanning the crowd for familiar faces. “I’ll be fine.”
He made his way to the bar, accepting a beer from a server. Before he could find a quiet corner to observe from, Emilia approached, resplendent in a flowing caftan with her silver-streaked hair piled atop her head.