Leonidas sat with his back against his favorite tree, trying to will himself to fall asleep. The moon shone brightly overhead through the dark clouds, steaming through the branches and leaves to create eerie shadows in the grass beneath him.
“I thought I might find you here,” came a feminine voice nearby.
He looked up to find Ariana stalking toward him, her golden hair shining brightly in the moonlight. Leonidas didn’t say anything as she took a seat beside him.
“I thought you had to work late tonight?” she asked.
“The ball at the palace screwed up all of our schedules today,” he lied. “I’ll get an early start in the morning. I’d better get to sleep.”
“Come on,” she purred, moving her hand to his chest. He felt her warm touch against his cool skin, sliding in beneath the collar of h
