Starbound: A Starstruck Novel (6 page)

The Stuarts crammed all of us into the SUV using the drop-down middle seat and took me home first, since my aunt was still strict about my school night curfew. Sean followed me out of the car to walk me to the door, even though no
Echtrans
were around to notice.
 

Tomorrow,
I caught from Rigel as I started up the walk, pointedly not touching or even looking at Sean. I was still pissed at him.

Tomorrow,
I thought back. I couldn’t wait.

“Hey, I really am sorry.” Sean’s breath fogged in the cold as we reached my front porch. “I was out of line to…you know.”

“Yeah, you were.” No way was I letting him off the hook on this. “Don’t let it happen again or I
will
make you sorry. Got it?”

He actually hesitated for a second, but when I narrowed my eyes at him, he nodded.
 

“Got it. G’night, M.”

I went into the house without another word, not wanting it to look to Rigel like I was unbending even a little.

Because I wasn’t.

During taekwondo the next day, I was so psyched about my upcoming date with Rigel I kept having to pull myself back so I wouldn’t hurt anyone. Because of the way our bond had changed me—not just perfect eyesight, super hearing and speed-reading, but also faster reflexes and greater strength—I had to be more and more careful when sparring. Especially today.

Rigel and I hadn’t had any real alone time for over three weeks—an eternity. Every time we’d tried to meet lately, Mrs. O’Gara came up with something I had to do instead, even though I never mentioned our plans to anyone. She must have figured out Wednesdays were my best chance to slip away without my aunt noticing. All day I’d worried some “important” thing would pop up again, but for once it hadn’t.

I was so eager to spend time with Rigel—to touch him, to kiss him—I didn’t even worry about how I’d keep my secret for the next hour. As soon as class ended, I changed out of my do-bok at lightning speed and ran all the way to the arboretum, trying to make it look like I was just out for a jog despite my gear bag swinging at my side.
 

I entered the snowy walled garden only slightly out of breath and felt a jolt of pleasure at the sight of Rigel—and no one else—inside. By the time we got back from Mars, the roses would be in bloom and people would be here all the time, but for now this was a perfect place to be private.
 

The moment we were completely screened from anyone on the street, we hurled ourselves at each other, kissing like there was no tomorrow. It was the best feeling in the universe. This,
this
was what we really needed, the physical contact both our bodies craved.
 

And it was something we could
only
do when no one could possibly see us. Maybe by summer the cornfield around our secret clearing would be tall enough…

Rigel ran his hands up and down my back, pulling me more tightly against him as I threaded my fingers through his dark hair, deepening our kiss. If I could have melted right into him, I would have. His energy recharged me while mine did the same for him. That had always been true but lately, because our chances were so rare, it had become even more intense. More necessary.

“Mmm. I will
never
get tired of this,” he murmured against my mouth when we finally pulled back a fraction of an inch so we could breathe. “I’ve missed you
so
much, M.”

I knew exactly what he meant. Sure, the three or four hand-brushes we managed most days at school kept us from feeling physically ill (or maybe it was that stupid “antidote” the Council’s scientists had given us?) but there was nothing like a good makeout session to make me feel
right
. Whole. In balance. Sometimes I wondered if that was our bond, or just what being in love felt like. Not that it really mattered.

No, it doesn’t really matter,
Rigel thought, since his mouth was now occupied, kissing me again.
Even if they’ve cured our headaches and stuff, I think I’d still die without you.

I pressed myself even closer to him, agreeing with all my might.
 

Because we both knew this could be our last chance to make out for a long, long time, when Rigel’s hands roamed a little more than usual I didn’t discourage him. In fact, probably the only thing that kept us from doing something we both might regret was complete impracticality in the freezing, semi-public arboretum.

Not until I was home, nearly an hour later, did it occur to me that I hadn’t needed to block my thoughts once during my whole time with Rigel this afternoon.

I was extra grateful for my stolen hour with Rigel after our meeting at the O’Garas’ that evening. Judging by the schedules Mrs. O gave us both, we wouldn’t have ten spare minutes between now and our departure for Ireland in two weeks. Rigel had Bodyguard training every day after school, while Sean, Molly and I would be drilled on protocol almost daily. I was also given another huge batch of reading on my electronic book-scroll (I had my own now, though of course I had to keep it hidden from non-Martians).
 

I hadn’t learned much Martian yet, since I’d thought I had more time, so I’d have those lessons, too. Even though English was spoken more than Martian in Nuath these days (except in schools, where it was required at all times), I’d be expected to use it for formal occasions.

Molly was officially appointed my
Chomseireach
or Handmaid
—
sort of a combination companion, chaperone and lady’s maid. I hated the idea of her being some kind of a servant, but Mrs. O insisted the position was considered a huge honor, especially for someone not born Royal.
 

“If not Molly, it would be someone else, and I’m sure you’d rather have her than a stranger, dear.” I couldn’t argue with that.

At school we’d already been given a ton of extra homework to make up for missing the rest of the semester. Plus, Aunt Theresa seemed to think I’d create some kind of diplomatic incident in Ireland if she didn’t drill me on my manners every chance she got. While that was kind of hilarious under the circumstances, it meant I had to deal with her etiquette lessons on top of everything else.

“Oh, and this from the Council,” Mrs. O added after going over our schedules. “It is imperative you and Rigel remember that the relationship between a Sovereign and his or her Bodyguard is
strictly
a professional one. However close the two may have been beforehand, once that position is accepted,
no
sign of intimacy will be tolerated in public. It has always been thus.”

Sean looked as pleased by this reminder as I was irked. Until his mother’s next words.
 

“There are also protocols governing a Sovereign and his or her future Consort, prior to the official pairing. Any time you and Sean are together you’ll be strictly chaperoned, either by the Princess’s advisor—” She nodded toward Mr. O— “her
Chomseireach,
or by her personal Bodyguard, who will never be far from her side.”

Now it was Rigel’s turn to be pleased.
Excellent,
he thought to me, though he carefully kept his expression grave.
 

“Wait.” Sean’s smile was gone. “You mean once we get to Mars, M and I can’t
ever
be alone together?”

“That is indeed the custom before your joining. Proper impressions are extremely important, as they will help the Princess to gather the support she needs to be Acclaimed.”

All things considered, I decided I could live with that—especially since it meant Rigel would
have
to stay close enough to me that we’d always be able to talk. Silently, anyway.
 

Yeah. It also means I get to watch Sean trying to “court” you, or whatever.
 

Maybe it’ll be funny.

Maybe.
But now his emotions held a sour edge. Again.

chomhaerle
(KOM-ahr-lee)
: advice; counsel

Time seemed to speed over the next week, between my ramped-up schedule in and out of school and yet another holo-meeting with the full Council for an update from Mars.

“The Grentl appear to be growing impatient for a response to whatever message they’ve sent,” Shim informed me. “They’ve activated the device again.”

A knot of tension formed in my midsection. “Do you think they’ve issued some kind of…ultimatum?”

“We won’t know that until you can decipher the messages, Excellency,” said Kyna gravely, her eyes reflecting some of the same fear I felt. “But their repeated attempts at contact make your mission all the more urgent.”

After that, it became even harder to keep my secret from Rigel. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t completely prevent stray Grentl thoughts from popping into my mind at odd moments. Friday at lunch, Rigel caught at least part of one.

What was that? Something about a code?

I clamped down my mind immediately and just shook my head.
 

Sean, on my other side, noticed. “Something wrong, M?”

“No. Just, um, thinking about stuff.”

He put his hand on my arm and I did my best to ignore the tingle his touch always gave me, maybe half what I got from Rigel. “You know you can always talk to me, M. Any time, day or night.”

“I’m fine,” I snapped. But the violent surge of jealousy I felt from Rigel proved he still believed my secret had to do with Sean.
 

I was
dying
to just tell Rigel the truth and swear him to secrecy, but Shim was staying at his house now and would surely be able to tell if Rigel learned something that big. Plus there was always the chance Mrs. O might ask me about it directly again. I
had
to hold out, at least until we were both safely on our way to Mars.

For the rest of lunch I concentrated—hard—on my food and on the gossip Bri and a couple of the JV cheerleaders were sharing, but I was starting to doubt I could keep this up for another two weeks.

Though I missed Rigel, Saturday was almost a relief since I could finally obsess to my heart’s content. At least during my few free moments between Aunt Theresa’s etiquette lessons, taekwondo class and another protocol training session at the O’Garas.’ But Sunday at church was worse than ever. Shim, sitting right there in the pew with the Stuarts, was a constant reminder of the consequences if I screwed up. I couldn’t even properly appreciate the little boost I got from Rigel’s
brath
after our day apart.

During the sermon, I found myself wondering—very, very privately—if there was some trick I could use to quiet my thoughts when I really needed to. Maybe some Martian meditation or discipline…or would anyone else even need such a thing? The
only
other people I’d ever heard about who could do what we did were Rigel’s parents.

Which suddenly gave me an idea.
 

So, what are your plans for the day?
I thought to Rigel as everyone stood after the benediction.

Dad and I are going to a firing range up in Kokomo
.
I suggested adding practice with Earth weapons to my other Bodyguard training, just in case. Grandfather agreed. He’s coming, too.

Good plan.
I hoped he’d assume my eagerness was about him being my Bodyguard instead of the perfect opportunity he’d just given me.
Hey, maybe I can teach you some taekwondo, too.

Yeah, if they’ll let us spend ten minutes together before we leave.
I shared his frustration, but halfway hoped they wouldn’t. At least until I found out if my idea was possible.

I waited until after lunch, when Uncle Louie had gone upstairs for his Sunday afternoon nap and Aunt Theresa had taken a crossword puzzle into the bathroom, also upstairs. With just one phone in the house—and not a cordless, either—private calls were always a challenge.

I called Rigel’s home line and, as I’d hoped, Dr. Stuart answered. “Oh, hello, M. I’m afraid Rigel’s not home right now. He and his father—”

“That’s okay. It’s really you I wanted to talk to, Dr. Stuart. I, um, need some advice. Can we maybe meet someplace? I don’t know how long I’ll have the kitchen to myself and it’s kind of, um, personal.”

She only hesitated for half a second. “Of course. Would you like to come here, where we can be private? I can pick you up.”

I exhaled with relief. “That would be perfect! Is it okay if you pick me up at the corner? I’d, ah, rather not tell my aunt where I’m going, since she’d want a reason, but she’ll be fine if I say I’m going over to the O’Garas’ house.”

There was a longer pause this time. “I can’t say I approve of you deceiving your aunt, but under the circumstances, I suppose it’s often unavoidable. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

I thanked her profusely and hung up just as the toilet upstairs flushed.
 

As I’d predicted, Aunt Theresa had no objection to me going over to the O’Garas’ for an hour or two. It usually bothered me how much she liked the O’Garas, since I knew it was at least partly because Mrs. O used her Martian Royal ability to influence her, but at times like this it worked to my advantage.
 

Dr. Stuart pulled up about five seconds after I reached the corner of Garnet and Opal, halfway between my house and the O’Garas.’

“Thanks.” I climbed into the car. “This probably seems kind of weird…”

“Not really,” she assured me. “I’m always willing to talk with you, M, or just listen. I know it must be hard for you, not having a mother, and your aunt and uncle not knowing the truth. I’m sure Lili O’Gara would say the same.”

I warmed at her tone as much as her words. “She has. But she can’t help me with this particular problem. Plus, she’s on the Council—”

“I understand. A promise of confidentiality could conceivably conflict with her oath.”

Though I’d suspected as much, her words underscored just how careful I needed to be around Mrs. O. “Exactly. I’m glad you, uh, understand.”
 

I wasn’t sure she’d be as understanding once I explained my problem, though, since Rigel and I had never told anyone what we could do. I spent the rest of the car ride rehearsing just how I was going to reveal it, hoping I could convince Dr. Stuart to keep our secret.