Capture the Crown (Gargoyle Queen #1) -Jennifer Estep Page 0,101

windows. I blinked, and a pair of bright sapphire-blue eyes slowly came into focus.

“Grimley?” I whispered.

The gargoyle leaned down and licked my cheek, his rough tongue scraping against my skin, but not unpleasantly so. “Of course, runt. Who else would save you from falling to your death?”

Joy shot through me, overpowering my pain, and I scrambled up onto my knees and threw my arms around his neck. “Grims! I’m so happy you’re here! That you’re okay!”

The gargoyle shuffled closer and gently wrapped his wings around me. His love enveloped me, as soft and warm as a fuzzy blanket covering my body. The sensation drowned out some of my aches and pains, and a tight knot of tension loosened around my heart. Suddenly, I could breathe much easier, even though I’d just had the wind knocked out of me. I had been so worried about Grimley flying through Morta. Not that him being at the palace was much safer, but at least we were together again.

I drew back and scratched Grimley’s forehead, right in between his two horns, just how he liked. The gargoyle leaned into my touch, his wings stroking down my back.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner,” he said in his low, gravelly voice. “It was harder to avoid the strixes and the guards than I thought. Stupid birds. Stupid Mortans.”

I smiled, but before I could respond, the crunch-crunch-crunch-crunch of footsteps sounded. My head snapped around, and I spotted a couple of fluorestone lanterns bobbing along in the distance. Someone had entered the far side of the courtyard.

I scrambled to my feet, hurried over, and ducked behind some liladorn vines that had twined together to form a large bush. Grimley loped over and hunkered down beside me.

The lanterns grew brighter and closer, and two palace guards stepped into view. The men ambled along, not in any particular hurry, but they were vigilant, shining their lanterns into every corner of the courtyard, their free hands resting on the swords hooked to their belts.

Shall I kill them so that we can escape? Grimley’s voice snarled in my mind, and his long tail twitched.

No. I can’t leave the palace until I find out more about Milo Morricone’s plans for the tearstone.

Haven’t you done that already? What have you been doing all day? I flew over a mountain, caught three rabbits, snuck into the palace, and saved you.

I rolled my eyes at his superior, chiding tone. I’ve been trying not to rouse suspicion about who I really am.

And failing miserably, if I was being honest. Reiko Yamato knew exactly who I was, and Maeven also seemed highly suspicious of me, but I didn’t mention any of that to Grimley. He would try to get me to leave, and I wasn’t going home without knowing exactly what Milo was plotting.

The guards stopped and shone their lanterns at the liladorn bush. I slid my hand into my pocket, clutching the dagger still hidden there. The guards were just doing their jobs, but I would kill them if I had to.

After a few long, tense seconds, the guards lowered their lanterns, walked past our hiding spot, and wandered out the other side of the courtyard.

I exhaled, released my dagger, and reached out with my magic, but their presences quickly faded away. The guards were gone.

“Come on,” I whispered. “I need to return to my chambers, and we need to find someplace for you to hide and rest.”

Grimley nodded and fell in step beside me as I moved out from behind the liladorn bush and left the courtyard.

* * *

To my consternation, dozens of guards were roaming through the grounds, and it took Grimley and me almost an hour to avoid the men, sneak from one courtyard to the next, and wind our way back to the deserted wing where my chambers were located.

Finally, we reached the courtyard underneath my balcony. I glanced up at the other balcony, the one that led into Leonidas’s library, but the doors were closed, and no lights shone through the glass.

Disappointment filled me. Leonidas hadn’t used his magic to try to contact me while I’d been skulking around the palace, probably because he didn’t want Milo or anyone else to sense us using our magic. I would have done the same if our positions had been reversed and he’d been the one trapped in Milo’s workshop. But a small part of me had been hoping that he would be pacing in his library, waiting for me to escape, to return.