Starfall: A Starstruck Novel Read Online Free PDF

we all headed to my breakfast meeting the next morning.  
    His wariness reminded me of how strangely he’d reacted when I’d suddenly gotten pissed at Rigel last night—and reminded me I needed to stay pissed if I didn’t want to return to that awful pit of misery I’d lived in since getting his message. The hole that used to be my heart was still a long way from healed—if that was even possible—but anger dulled the pain, at least temporarily.
    “Not yet,” I told him, “but I’ll keep looking.”  
    Mr. O heard and nodded approvingly. “That’s the spirit. I knew you’d be able to put that, ah, disappointment behind you.”  
    I stiffened. Disappointment? It was such a massive understatement, it had the opposite effect he clearly intended, pointing up the enormity of my loss. As despair crept over me again, my anger started slipping away. Desperately, I snatched it back. I needed that anger and the strength I drew from it to be the leader Nuath required right now.
    Sure enough, the breakfast meeting was so boring, I had to consciously re-stoke my new anger at Rigel to keep me focused. While Palace staff discreetly served breakfast and cleared empty plates, a dozen or so acting ministers presented reports on their various areas of Nuathan welfare.  
    It could have been interesting if they’d been sharing actual data. Instead, they mostly spouted pompous nothings about “rebuilding Nuath to its former glory,” etc, etc. I was sure these ministers all had decades more experience than I did, but it didn’t seem like any of them knew as much about their supposed areas of expertise as they should, given their positions.  
    When the talk turned to elections, I finally spoke up. “I understand the heads of certain fines are now serving as some of the acting ministers?” I couldn’t help noticing none of those non-Royal ministers had been invited to this particular meeting.
    Deirdra, the acting Elections Minister, nodded. “We didn’t have quite enough, ah, capable Royals remaining after Faxon’s overthrow to head all twenty-seven ministries, Excellency, so we were forced to draw six acting ministers from other fines. Now, however, enough Royals are available to replace them.”  
    “Wouldn’t it make more sense for me to confirm all the acting ministers until every fine is able to nominate enough candidates to stand for a proper election,” I suggested.
    “ Every fine?” She seemed taken aback. “During your grandfather’s tenure—”
    “The Sciences and the Royals made up the whole legislature. I know. But given current circumstances—”
    Mr. O’Gara cleared his throat noisily. “Ah, perhaps these details can be discussed later, Excellency? It wouldn’t do to make any hasty decisions, I’m sure you agree.”
    “But—” I glanced over to see him giving me a disapproving, even alarmed look and realized I should have talked to him before making such an apparently radical suggestion in front of all these ministers who might or might not fully support me.
    “I, uh, suppose I should speak with my advisors before we make any sweeping changes.”  
    Deirdra’s worried expression cleared. “Of course, Excellency. Very wise.”  
    As the conversation moved on, I tried to use my new emotion-sensing ability to sort out which reports, requests and people I could trust…which stirred a sudden memory of Rigel urging me to “read” the Royals on the ship, during our trip to Mars.  
    I swallowed. Would I ever reach a point where everything didn’t remind me of Rigel?
    The moment the meeting ended, Mr. O glanced at his omni. “This ran a bit late. You barely have time to change before the first petitioners are due in the Audience Hall.”  
    Molly and I hurried back to my apartment, where she hastily decked me out in one of the formal, gem-encrusted gowns appropriate for Royal audiences. But when we rejoined Mr. O and Sean on our way to the Audience Hall, Mr. O frowned.  
    “Where is