Chapter Twenty-Five Leo straightened his tie in the mirror. He hardly recognized the person looking back at him. The man was smiling. There was a sparkle in his eye that he couldn’t remember ever seeing before, not a single day in his life. No, wait. He had seen that sparkle before. It had been reflected back to him whenever he looked into Esmeralda Pickett’s bright gaze. He’d known the woman for less than a week, but already he couldn’t imagine spending another day of his life without her. “Here, let me help with that, your majesty.” Giles obscured Leo’s reflection and gave his tie a tug. “Tonight’s announcement will mean great things for Cordoba.” “Yes, it will.” “You will secure the future of your countrymen for another generation, perhaps many more. All because you’ve made the rig

