Starbound: A Starstruck Novel by Brenda Hiatt

Author:Brenda Hiatt
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: teen, science fiction, young adult
Publisher: Dolphin Star Press
Published: 2014-06-19T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 23

cosc damaste (kosk DAHM-uh-stay): damage control

Molly was super apologetic when she woke me the next morning to say her dad was on his way up to meet with me. I stifled my groan so I wouldn’t make her feel worse, but I couldn’t hide my swollen nose and crusty eyes. She didn’t comment, just started laying out clothes for me.

I’d cried myself to sleep after wallowing in every possible worst-case scenario and a horrible black pit of self-loathing. Why, why, why hadn’t I listened to the Council’s warnings? Of course my every move was being watched, just like they predicted. Those cameras shouldn’t have been a surprise at all. But instead of being extra careful, I’d flouted tradition the first chance I got, at that dinner, alienating my few Royal allies.

My detractors were right and my supporters were deluded. How could I possibly be fit to lead Nuath if I was making such stupid mistakes before I even got there? I’d never be Acclaimed now, which meant I’d ruined everything, and the Grentl would probably nuke Mars and Earth and it would all be my fault.

Another cry in a long, hot shower might have made me feel better, but I had to settle for a twenty-second ionic one instead. It got me just as clean, making my skin tingle and my hair lift around my head, but it definitely wasn’t conducive to wallowing. The sink had water, so I splashed some on my face. Then, staring at my slightly-less-puffy face in the mirror, I took a cold, hard look at my options.

Giving up wasn’t one of them, not with the stakes this high. No matter how badly I’d screwed up, I was still the only person who could respond to the Grentl, which meant I somehow had to get to the Royal Palace.

To do that, I’d have to act as responsibly, as regally, as possible from now on, which meant exerting a lot more self-control than I had so far. No snarky digs at Royals, no whining about rules. Maybe I shouldn’t even try to get Rigel reinstated as my Bodyguard…except I’d promised him last night that I would.

No matter what, I had to keep moving forward, at least until I could answer the Grentl and avert whatever threat they posed. Only then could I afford to worry about what the future would hold for Rigel and me. Because if I failed, there might not be any future at all.

Mr. O and breakfast were both waiting when I emerged into the living room. He waited for Jana to taste my food and Molly to serve it to me, then asked them to leave. “I have private business to discuss with the Princess. You can both eat in the Commons while we talk, or take some of this—” he gestured at the table— “across the hall to the officers’ quarters.”

Once they were gone he turned to me, looking almost as tired and stressed as he had last night. “I’ve been

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