Capture the Crown (Gargoyle Queen #1) -Jennifer Estep Page 0,69

Mortan nobles, as well as the queen. Maybe I could also gather enough intelligence to thwart whatever schemes Maeven might be hatching.

Leonidas held his hand out to me. “Are we agreed?”

I was already behind enemy lines. I might as well make the most of it. So I stepped forward and took his hand. “Agreed.”

I started to let go, but his fingers tightened around mine, and something flared in his eyes, something even hotter and more intense than his previous fury, although I couldn’t quite put a name to it. Anticipation, maybe. Or maybe an expectation, although of what, I couldn’t imagine. Either way, his steady gaze made another ribbon of heat unspool in my stomach.

Leonidas released my hand. “Very well. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

He spun around and stalked away, his black cloak swirling around his body. I let out the breath I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding and followed him, wondering just how big of a mistake I was truly making.

Chapter Fourteen

Now that our deal had been struck, Leonidas led me off the balcony and back to his library. He rummaged around in his desk for a minute, then straightened up and slipped something into his pocket.

He gestured at me, and I followed him out of the library and back to the chambers I had woken up in this morning. Servants had made the bed and set out trays of sweet cakes, fresh fruit, and other treats, along with chilled carafes of water, juices, and teas. A fire had also been lit, adding some cozy warmth to the area.

Leonidas tilted his head to the side, as if reaching out with his magic and making sure no one was hiding nearby. When he was satisfied, he dug into his pocket, drew out a small silver compact, and held it out to me. Liladorn vines and thorns were embossed in the metal, and the compact looked like it might contain almond powder to take the shine off a noble’s nose.

“What’s this?” I asked, taking the compact.

“A Cardea mirror.”

Surprise shot through me. “You just happened to have a Cardea mirror tucked away in your desk?”

“If you don’t want it . . .”

My fingers curled around the compact, and I pulled it back out of his reach. Another one of those smug, infuriating smirks stretched across his face. My fingers tightened around the disk, and I had the childish urge to throw it back at him. But that would have been foolish, so I dropped my hand to my side instead.

Leonidas’s smirk widened, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. “The compact contains a mirror, along with a compass. You can use the mirror two ways. Just open the cover and speak a name, and the mirror will show you that person, no matter where they are, although you won’t be able to talk to them.”

“And the second way?”

He gestured over at the vanity-table mirror. “Open the compact and set it against the base of any mirror, and it will turn that larger glass into a true Cardea mirror, one that will let you see and speak to other people through their own Cardea mirrors.”

My fingers curled a little tighter around the compact. A very useful tool.

“I would contact your people now. Delmira will summon you to her chambers soon, and she will probably have racks of dresses for you to try on.” His tone was dry, and I couldn’t tell if he was pleased by his sister’s impending generosity or warning me about it. Perhaps both.

“And what will you be doing?”

His features hardened into that cold, familiar mask. “Trying to figure out what Milo has been up to while I’ve been gone.”

Once again, I was struck by just how much Leonidas resembled Maeven, and I had to hold back a shudder.

“Delmira will escort you to the dinner,” Leonidas continued. “It begins with a social hour. If you are still determined to go through with your scheme, perhaps you can nose around then and see if you can pick up any gossip about Milo. Even the smallest whisper could be useful in figuring out where he’s hiding the tearstone.”

Picking up gossip was something I excelled at, both as a princess and as a spy. “Very well. Until tonight.”

“Until tonight.”

His eyes locked with mine, and more of that unwanted heat spiraled through my stomach. I shifted on my feet, suddenly uncomfortable, and a faint swish of fabric caught my ear. I was still wearing the purple riding coat, the