Prologue

Leo's POV

I was walking down the streets of New Rome, thinking of the raven-haired Praetor, Reyna. I daydreamed about her a lot. When I was about to kiss her (in the daydream), a piece of paper smacked me in the face. I peeled it off my face to read it:

Reyna's Journal
Entry #213
Date: May 17
Subject: Leo Valdez (Pros and Cons)

Okay, so...this is kinda awkward because I haven't written about a guy since...well, Jason. But this isn't about Jason - it's about the ever-so-annoying-yet-sweet-son-of-Hephaestus Leo Valdez.

Pros:
Warm, coffee brown eyes
Curly black hair (it's really soft)
Cute little elf ears
Tan
Sweet and a gentleman
Potentially awkward around girls (it's actually kind of endearing)
Really funny (he actually makes me laugh)
Flames up (literally) when I flirt with him
Tries to braid my hair (fails, but tries nonetheless)
Calls me beautiful
Remembers my birthday
Won't let me work any later than 11:00 P.M. (and walks me home)
Soft lips (at least, I assume they're soft - I haven't actually kissed him)

Cons: Doesn't know I like him...
XOXO
Reyna

Okay, a journal entry written by Reyna...and she said she likes me. I felt my cheeks warm. I should probably talk to her about it. That will be a really awkward conversation, I thought. Even so, I headed down to the Principia to talk to her.