Starcrossed

Chapter 15c: Cinnwund Rioga (part 3)

Chapter 15 (part 3)

Cinnwund Rioga (KIN-wund ree-OH-gah): Royal Destiny

"Sorry to be so late," Allister said smoothly to Shim, who had stayed mostly in the background during the party, tag-teaming with Mr. Stuart to keep the Neesons away from me. "I hope you saved us some birthday cake?"

"Of course," Shim said, just as smoothly. "It's good to see you again, Quinn, Lili." He gave a little half-bow to the O'Garas, then nodded to Sean and Molly as well.

I quickly scanned the room and saw Rigel talking to Matt Mullins near the buffet table. He clearly hadn't seen the O'Garas yet so I hurried over to join him. Even though Sean had apologized—to me, anyway—I wanted to be ready to intervene if necessary.

Rigel clearly felt my approach because he turned to me with a smile just before I reached him—then glanced over my shoulder and froze.

"What is he doing here?" he practically growled.

I gave Matt a quick apologetic smile and pulled Rigel off to the side, away from anyone else in the thinning crowd.

"Allister brought them—he's related, remember? Now, be nice. Yesterday I managed to convince Molly about us and by now she's probably convinced Sean, too. He already told me he was sorry for Wednesday, so maybe he's here to apologize to you, too." That would be an excellent birthday present, in my opinion, but Rigel just looked skeptical.

Sure enough, when Sean and Rigel greeted each other a few minutes later, no apology occurred, but at least they were polite. The girls crowding around to greet Sean probably helped. I tried not to be bothered that Bri was among them, flirting with Sean almost as outrageously as Trina usually did.

Bri saw me watching and came over. "Hey, M, the O'Garas say they can drive you home since you live so close. Would that be okay? Deb and I were kind of thinking we might look in at Nicole's on the way home since Justin offered us a ride."

My unease increased. Justin Blake was a senior and a known player. Even I'd overheard him bragging about the girls he'd scored—and about how much he drank at parties. "Are Nicole's parents home?" I blurted out before thinking.

Predictably, Bri scowled at me. "Jeez, M, you sound like my mother. I don't know. Probably not, knowing Nicole. Does it matter?"

Coward that I was, I backed down. "No, you're right. Sorry. Sure, you guys go on. I'll be fine with the O'Garas."

Her expression cleared immediately. "Thanks, M. See you Monday!"

A few minutes later, she and Deb left with Justin and several others. Soon the only people left were the Stuarts, the O'Garas, Allister and me.

Allister hadn't spoken to me since arriving, but almost as soon as the last non-Echtran left (the Neesons had gone half an hour ago), he came toward me with a smile that put me on edge—not that Allister ever did much that didn't put me on edge.

"Princess, it is good to see you again," he said, making the elaborate bow, right fist over heart, that was reserved for the Sovereign. I'd seen it several times by now, but it still weirded me out. "I regret I have not had opportunity to pay my respects during my current visit to Jewel."

I pasted a smile on my face that probably didn't fool anyone. "Um, that's okay. It's . . . good to see you, too, Allister."

The slippage of his smile told me I sounded as non-Royal as ever. I knew I should try harder around him, but he was so pompous he made me want to antagonize him. I really needed to fight that urge, at least until I knew exactly how much power he had over me—and over Rigel. I forced my face into a polite, expectant expression.

Allister immediately pulled his smile back into place, then motioned Sean over. Sean moved to his side, but with a reluctance that bordered on suspicion, which struck me as odd. Oblivious, still smiling at me, Allister clapped a possessive hand on Sean's shoulder.

"Excellency, though you have already made the acquaintance of my nephew, he has not been formally introduced to you. I now take that office upon myself, belated though it may seem."

Taking a step back, he bowed elaborately to both of us and declared, "Princess Emileia, sole heir to Sovereign Leontine through his son Mikal, I hereby present to you Sean O'Gara, scion of the Second Royal House . . . your destined Consort."

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