Starcrossed by Brenda Hiatt Page B

expression, since I couldn’t ask her outright, so I just answered vaguely, “Not sure. Actually, I just realized I should probably—”
    “I was thinking that, too,” Molly said before I could finish. Her gray eyes were wide and troubled.
    “I’ll, uh, see you guys later,” I said to Bri and Deb, who were looking really curious by now. Explanations—meaning, whatever I managed to make up—would have to wait.  
    Molly and I took our trays, dumped our uneaten lunches and headed for the exit.  
    “What is going on?” I demanded quietly the second we were in the hall. “Do you know?”
    “Not exactly, but I think it’s my fault,” she said miserably, walking so fast I had to trot to keep up. “After he got back from walking you home last night, Sean asked what we’d been talking about because he’d overheard the last little bit. I told him and he, well, I don’t know when I’ve seen him so upset. He seemed calmer this morning, but I’m afraid—”
    Though her worry was contagious, her explanation didn’t seem to make sense. “Wait, you mean you told him what I said about Rigel and me being bonded? Why should he be angry about that? What does it have to do with him?”
    She didn’t answer, but gave me a look that was almost scared. Did that mean Rigel was right, that Sean already had a crush on me or something? But that was crazy. He barely knew me!  
    Before I could demand more information we reached the courtyard, which was empty except for Sean and Rigel. They weren’t fighting—yet—but they definitely didn’t look happy with each other. I pushed open the door and stifled a hiss when the cold wind hit me in the face. It was freezing out here! But half a second later, the cold was the last thing on my mind.
    “—some nerve, barging in here and throwing around accusations,” Rigel was saying. “None of this is any of your business, anyway.”
    Sean loomed over Rigel until they were almost nose to nose. He was several inches taller, though Rigel was broader through the chest and shoulders.
    “The Sovereign’s welfare is the business of all of our people. You’d know that if you were any kind of patriot. You can’t put your own selfish feelings ahead of her safety.”
    “I’d never put anything ahead of M’s safety!” Rigel nearly shouted. “You don’t have a clue about anything you’re assuming. Maybe you should—”  
    “I should what?” Sean said, leaning even closer.  
    They both shifted their stances, squaring off against each other, their hands clenching into fists. This was not my idea of civilized!
    “Um, guys?” I said, loudly enough to distract them from each other.
    They both whipped their heads in my direction, then relaxed slightly, taking a half step away from each other—but their fists didn’t unclench.
    “Get inside, M,” Rigel said to me. “You shouldn’t be here right now.”
    I heard Molly gasp from just behind me, and at the same time Sean snapped, “Don’t tell her what to do. Who the efrin do you think you are?” Then Sean turned to me and said, in a gentler voice. “It’s cold out here, Princess. I’m sure you’d be more comfortable inside.”
    By now I was about equally irritated at both of them. “How about neither one of you tell me what to do? I’m not going anywhere while you two are acting like a couple of barnyard roosters. If this ridiculous display of testosterone poisoning is because of me, I absolutely ought to be here. Right, Molly?”
    I glanced back at her. She gave me a deer-in-the-headlights look, but after a second she nodded. “Right. You guys need to calm down. You don’t want to get in trouble, do you?”
    Sean glared at her, jaw rigid and blue eyes blazing, but then he took a visible deep breath. “Molly, why don’t you take Emileia back to the cafeteria?”
    “Molly’s not taking me anywhere,” I informed him, feeling a hot rush of anger despite the cold. “Do you both want to get kicked out of school for