excuses. “Oh, I’m sure Delmira can find you something to wear. We so rarely get visitors from Ravensrock that I would be remiss if I didn’t offer you a seat at my table.” A thin smile curved her lips. “Besides, I insist.”
And just like that, I was trapped. I couldn’t refuse now, not without making her even more suspicious, so I dipped into yet another curtsy. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I will be honored to dine at your table.”
“Until tonight, Lady Armina.” Maeven eyed me a second longer, then swept past me.
Chapter Thirteen
Maeven strode across the rotunda and vanished through an archway. Her heels snap-snap-snap-snapped against the floor again, although the sound quickly faded away. So did the feel of her magic, and my fingertips finally stopped tingling.
The storm had blown right on by me, and I hadn’t been struck by its lightning—yet.
The guards, servants, merchants, and nobles all visibly relaxed, and everyone moved and spoke at a more normal pace and volume again. Leonidas, Delmira, and I remained in the center of the rotunda.
Delmira gave me another sunny smile. “Mother’s right. I can find something for you to wear to dinner. Let me speak to my thread master, and I’ll have some things sent to my chambers. You can visit me there this afternoon, after you’ve had a chance to eat and rest. I’ll send a servant to fetch you.”
I planned to be long gone by then, but I couldn’t refuse her offer any more than I’d been able to refuse Maeven’s order. “Thank you, Your Highness—”
She shot me a warning look.
“Thank you, Delmira.”
The princess smiled at me again, then glided off, the gauzy layers of her lilac dress seeming as thin and fragile as butterfly wings trailing along behind her. That left me alone with Leonidas.
“Lady Armina.” He offered me his arm. “You must be famished after your ordeal. Please allow me to escort you to breakfast.”
“Of course, Your Highness.” I threaded my arm through his, trying not to notice the coiled strength in his muscles.
Leonidas steered me through one of the archways and down a hallway. As we walked along, he played the part of the perfect host, pointing out the paintings and tapestries decorating the walls, along with the historic sculptures, books, and weapons tucked away in various nooks and alcoves.
Our journey did not go unnoticed. Several nobles and merchants were moving through the same hallway, and they all nodded respectfully as Leonidas led me past them. None of them said anything, but I could still hear their thoughts.
Who’s that with the prince . . .
She’s not even wearing a proper gown . . .
Why is she wasting her time on him? He’ll never be king. Leonidas will be lucky if he makes it to yuletide without being murdered by Milo . . .
Leonidas grimaced, as if he too had heard that last snide thought.
I eyed the prince, wondering why Milo, his own brother, wanted to murder him. Still, the news didn’t surprise me. The Morricones weren’t known to be a particularly loving family, and I’d heard more than one rumor that Milo was even more ruthless than Queen Maeven.
Leonidas led me up the stairs and back into the wing where I’d first woken up. More people roamed through the halls than before, servants mostly, going about their chores, but this part of the palace still seemed largely, strangely empty.
We reached a pair of double doors. Leonidas waved his hand, and the doors unlocked and opened. He led me inside. “This is my personal library.”
The library was housed in a square tower that rose up three stories. To my right, several dark purple velvet settees and chairs flanked an enormous fireplace that took up the entire wall. Flames crackled merrily behind the iron grate, driving away some of the chill that permeated this wing of the palace.
To my left, ebony bookcases stretched up to the ceiling. Books filled the shelves, along with maps, statues, and other odds and ends. An ebony writing desk covered with more books, stacks of papers, black feather pens, and pots of purple ink squatted in the back of the room. Behind the desk, glass doors were set into the wall, showing a glimpse of a courtyard below—the same courtyard that my chambers overlooked.
“Your library is lovely,” I said, and meant it. “Warm and cozy and perfectly cluttered.”
A rare, genuine smile creased Leonidas’s face, softening his angular features and making him look far more relaxed—and much more handsome—than usual. I resisted the