I rush after him, but it’s too late. He sees our booth. He sees Gray.
Gray’s cheeks are stained with a smear of red. I must have kissed him to thank him for this celebration, but from Ender’s rigid posture, you would think I had sex with him in public.
Everyone stills. There are a few other people up here, but none of them are aware of the storm that just crashed in.
Panic surges through me. I can sense this getting ugly, very, very soon. Ender’s body vibrates, and I clutch the back of his shirt.
“Vale, don’t make a scene,” I plead. “Please.”
“Too late.”
He marches ahead of me, slipping out of my hold. Gray stands abruptly, bracing his feet. They study each other like two animals seizing each other up.
A dark cloud falls over the booth.
“Sullivan,” Ender says icily. “What an unpleasant surprise.”
“Sorry,” I mouth to Grayson.
This is all my fault.
Ender’s gaze settles on Gray’s drink. “On duty?”
“No,” Gray answers.
His jaw is tight. I can tell he doesn’t like answering to him, but Ender outranks him. If not for his role as Commandant, then because he is the Supreme Director’s son.
“Interesting,” Ender says. His gaze turns to Mercy. “Is that my wife?”
Gray’s face grows wan. I swallow nervously.
“Did you break into my house?” Ender asks. His voice is as hard as stone. “And steal from me?”
The air stills, and I sense Mercy approach me, splitting away from the others who stand on the dancefloor, eyes wide with horror. She wraps her fingers around mine, giving me the strength I need.
“It was my fault,” I say.
Ender ignores me, not taking his eyes off Grayson.
Gray’s jaw tightens. “I can explai?—”
“I don’t care to hear your pathetic excuses,” Ender hisses.
He looks like he’s holding himself back from strangling him. People glance our way, sensing the tension. The security guardswatch us, but they know who Ender is. They won’t come between them, not even if he beats Grayson to a bloody pulp.
“Do you know the punishment for a crime of this level?” Ender asks. “I reckon the High Justice will give you fifty years for it, but with a word from me, we can have it increased to sixty.”
Mercy gasps, staring at me with wide eyes. I feel a little sick, both from drinking too much and because Ender looks like he is seriously considering having him arrested.
“Vale,” I say shakily. “That is enough.”
I’ve never seen him lose control like this.
“Your wife has a sister, a family. She isnota prisoner,” Grayson says. “This is not fair.”
“You can explain your case to the High Justice,” Ender says. “I tire of this.”
“She’s not a hostage,” I say.
