Starbound by J.L. Weil Page A

It only took a heartbeat for me to figure out what Seth had done. He had messed with my memories. I could hear Zeke’s voice in my head, casting a spell to make me forget. It had Seth’s signature oozing all over it. Just like the pompous ass to think he had the right to take something so sacred from me. What gave him that right?
    He was going to pay.
    Bursting with uncontained rage, I stormed off, leaving a trail of murmurs behind me. Scooping my gym bag from the bleachers, I shoved through the double doors, letting them slam behind me.
    “Katia!” Claudia yelled. “What the hell?”
    But I was already gone. I was probably going to be booted from the team, but right now, I didn’t care.
    Seth Nightingale was in for a shock if he thought he was going to get away with this. Well, his brilliant plan was about to backfire in his face.
    The engine of my car revved to life, and the tires squealed as I slammed my foot on the gas. I swung into Eddy’s parking lot and double-parked. Marching, the door flew open and I glared at my target, spitting mad. He was writing up a receipt for a customer, but I was past the point of logic. The smile he had for the little lady faded when he caught sight of me. I tried to ignore how incredible he looked in faded, ripped jeans, and an oil stained T-shirt.
    Yumotastic.
    Focus .
    I had a purpose here, and it wasn’t to check out how fabulous Seth’s butt looked in jeans, but it was an extraordinary sight nonetheless. He handed the lady her receipt, and I barely bit my tongue long enough for her to walk through the exit when I pounced.
    “How dare you?” I spat.
    He cocked his head. “I’m not following. What exactly are you pissed at me for?”
    “You had my memory wiped.” My voice was tight and flaming.
    He didn’t deny it. “Kats, what the hell is wrong with you?”
    “How could you, Seth?”
    Nothing. He just stared at me, looking stunned.
    His silence only fueled my fire. “I swear to God, I am going to rip out your tongue if you don’t say something.” My tone got louder, louder, and louder.
    I should have been prepared for him to do something extreme. The next thing I knew, he was in front of me and I was being hoisted in the air. With a whoosh of air, I was slung over his shoulder. “Seth,” I rumbled. “Put. Me. Down.”
    He ignored me.
    Time for phase two. I made a scene. We hadn’t yet left the shop, so I pounded my fists on his back, wiggling in his hold, making it difficult for him to keep his grasp. He was a lot stronger than I’d bargained for. The muscles in his arms bunched, and I made no headway. He just barreled through the office and out the back door like I was a sack of sugar, not to mention I was still in uniform, which meant the whole shop got a nice view of my red spankies.
    So I bit his arm.
    This time I got a reaction. He jerked and dropped me to my feet. I wasn’t prepared for the jarring impact. “Why you little hellcat…” His jaw clenched.
    I radiated anger. “What right do you have to be mad at me? You are the one who stole something from me.”
    He leaned against the building and folded his arms in that I-don’t-give-a-rat-ass stance. “Technically, it was Zeke.”
    I was seconds away from screaming in frustration. “You can shove your technicalities up your ass. You were the one who ordered him to do it.” I poked him in the chest.
    He shrugged. “And...”
    “And you tried to make me forget that you and I are…are…” I couldn’t even say the words.
    “Starbound,” he supplied, and I hated him for it. How could he be so calm when I was losing my shit?
    “Why would you do that? I mean, I get you don’t want me—”
    His whole demeanor changed. Gone was the offhanded I-don’t-give-two-shits and in its place was something dark and scary. “You don’t know jack about what I want, Kats.”
    He circled me, and I was forced to take a step back. “I know that you are the world’s biggest A-hole.”
    “That isn’t breaking