I didn't see Starfire again until dinner. The Titans convinced me that I would only look like a crazy person if I went after her so instead I stayed in our room and sulked. Cyborg had no pity for me and hummed every wedding-related tune he knew. If our escort hadn't come to lead us to dinner I'd have sent an electrified birdarang at him that would have short-circuited his systems.

"Welcome to Tamaran, I am Prince Karras," said our escort, bowing until his waist-length orange hair nearly dusted the toes of his boot. "It is an honor to meet you, Titans."

My heart sank. He was movie star handsome with a long straight nose and light green eyes. He was well over six and a half feet tall. If he was the prince they'd lined up for Star then I might as well get back on the T-ship and go home. Cyborg shot me a glance laced with sympathy that had my fingers itching for that birdarang again.

"Are you the guy that Starfire's come back to marry?" Beast Boy blurted out. I gaped at him. Really? Absolutely no filter whatsoever, huh? I resisted the urge to cover my face with my hands. Karras smiled.

"I was betrothed to the Princess when we were infants, however, our contract was broken when she was sent to the Citadel in exchange for the safety of our people. Had I known she would return to us I would have waited, but I have since married." Oh, so this wasn't her future husband. Whew! Still, I couldn't help but dislike the guy on principle. If they'd been betrothed as infants how much time had they spent together? Had they...dated? Or whatever the Tamaranean equivalent was? No, Starfire had said that I was the first friend she'd ever had, that had to include boyfriends too. Right?

Karras led us through the long corridors to the banquet hall. I think he was amused that we had to rush to keep up with him while he flew. Arrogant jerk.

"If you were betrothed to Starfire before, why didn't they find another Prince from Tamaran for her to marry? She said this guy came from far away." I pushed myself to keep pace with him side by side. I felt the burn in my calves but ignored it. If speed-walking was a strain then they were in need of exercise anyway. He arched a brow at me like I was a child who asked why birds have wings.

"Are there so many princes on Earth that you can simply replace one with another? Tamaran is not so fortunate. We sought to strengthen our alliances through a strategic marriage. Prince Glerk comes from the planet Glezz. Their people are weapons manufacturers who have long supplied the Gordanians with weapons. Through this marriage Tamaran will fall under that protection from the Gordanians and we will have free access to those weapons ourselves." I stopped in my tracks.

From just up ahead I heard a familiar battle cry. Green light flared brightly followed by shouts and shrieks and growls.

"Titans!"

We ran the last few feet and rounded the corner to see the long trestle table sawed in half, food splattered everywhere and Starfire hovering in midair so full of righteous anger that the ends of her hair were flickering like flames. She was dressed in a Tamaranean version of a dress which bared her back completely to the base of her spine, had a sheer skirt with several slits to her waist, and of course a neckline that plunged straight to that jewel-encrusted belt she always wore. I was too focused on assessing the threat in the room to gawk at her, but my chest seized at the sight of her nonetheless.

She faced a line of strange alien creatures. They were all a deep, midnight blue with yellow bisected eyes that had two on each side of their heads. When they blinked, one set of lids closed up as the other set closed down to meet at a black seam that divided the two eyes. It was kinda creeped me out. Their noses were beaks tipped with black. When they spoke they croaked like vultures. Starfire roared in Tamaranean, pointing her fingers while sparks flew off her fingers. She wasn't attacking yet, but she looked only seconds away.

"Starfire, what's happening?" I called, forgetting for the moment that she was a ruler here and she didn't owe me any answer. She tossed me a sharp look to remind me, but some of her fire died away as she lowered herself toward the ground and turned her back on the blue people.

"These clorbags trade with the Citadel! They admire those ruthstarts! I will never align Tamaran with anyone who believes peace is possible with those..." I missed the next part because she slipped into Tamaranean again. She barked out an order and the blue people were quickly forced from the room. She rounded on Karras when they were gone.

"You did this! How could you choose him when you knew what I had endured?" She spoke English as a courtesy to us. Karras, feeling no such compulsion did not, but I got the gist from his tone. He thought it would benefit Tamaran and buy peace. I didn't care. I was reeling from the fact that her ex got to decide who her future husband would be. That was a recipe for disaster if ever I heard one.

"You had to know I would never accept him."

"He followed my orders, Highness," Galfore said from the corner of the room where surprisingly I hadn't picked him out immediately. "Perhaps this is a conversation best held in private." He bowed low and apologetically as Starfire ordered everyone from the room. The Titans and I didn't even consider leaving. Galfore only lifted his head when everyone was gone.

"I wished you to continue the happiness you found on Earth. Karras and I have worked hard to find unsuitable matches while not raising suspicion. Already there are many who suspect him of coveting your throne. Not to mention the..." He too slipped into Tamaranean. Starfire's face went white.

"But how, after all this, could they prefer her?"

"She was able to take control of the Citadel single-handedly. She showed strength, resilience, and cunning to survive among our mortal enemies." I didn't need a translation for that part. There were those on Tamaran who blamed Starfire for killing Blackfire, who the believed would have made a stronger ruler.

"Time out!" Cyborg called into the echoing hall. Karras and Galfore turned, startled to find us still there and apparently even more surprised to see that Starfire didn't immediately send us away. "So you've been picking guys to marry her that you know she won't like thinking that she'll turn them down after traveling all the way from Earth to meet them? What the heck kind of plan is that? When has Starfire ever been selfish enough to put her needs in front of her peoples'? The only reason she turned Gurgle back there down is because he literally helped out the guys who...well, you know." He shot Star an apologetic look.

"Do not presume to understand our ways," Karras sniffed.

"What if she went through with it?" Raven asked softly. "What if she said yes to that slime all because she thought that's what you wanted? Would you have stopped her?"

"Tamaran would have benefited from her sacrifice." Karras had the nerve to shrug.

I was on him before the others even realized I moved.

I didn't think for a minute I could do much damage to him, but I whipped out my bostaff and slammed it into his solar plexus. When he doubled over my knee smashed into his perfectly straight nose. Blood spurted.

It was all the damage I could do before strong hands grabbed me from behind and yanked me away. I knew that touch. Starfire spun me around in midair.

"You will not touch him!"

I blinked. I don't think she's ever yelled at me like that before. Sure, I've seen her get defensive over me, but not at me. It was like getting a Tamaranean kick in the stomach. I didn't say anything. I didn't know what to say or do. She wasn't my teammate now, she was queen of the planet and I had just attacked another monarch. It was the equivalent of her coming to Earth and slapping the President of the United States.

Starfire had immediately come under fire when she'd first landed and the Titans formed. We'd been invited to a banquet with the Mayor of Jump City and his then-wife, who'd been openly hostile to Starfire and Star hadn't flown off the handle like I had. I'd always considered myself rational and in-control but I was everything Bruce said I was: impulsive, stubborn, and reckless. Star brought the best out of me, she really did, but if she brought this side of me out too then maybe Bruce was right and I did need to let her go.

Speaking of Bruce...

My belt began to vibrate from an incoming call on my communicator. After the Titans' last adventure in space, Batman had gone to every alien in the League to find a way to make sure our communicators would work no matter where in the universe we were. It wasn't for our benefit, but for his.

Starfire and I both glanced down at the same moment, but she quickly blushed and looked away as she lowered me to the ground.

"Robin," I answered.

"Tell Starfire not to do anything rash. The League has a proposal for her." Click. That was Batman, short, sweet and to the point without actually giving any real information away. He likes to make us sit around waiting for him, you know, rather than actually be doing something productive.

"Batman says the League has a proposal for you," I muttered. She looked as confused as I felt.

"Robin, you and I must speak." Automatically she reached for my hand to pull me along behind her. Galfore and Karras gasped. Starfire released me as though I'd burnt her.

"I am still accustomed to Earth's ways," she explained to them, blushing furiously. Me, I wanted to tell them to mind their own business and that she was the queen and she could hold whoever's hand she wanted, but I'd stuck my foot far enough in my mouth for one day.

Star led me to a chamber across the hall equally huge, but much cleaner without the broken table and food spilled everywhere.

"Robin, on my planet you could be put to death for what you just did."

"I know, well I didn't know that, but I know it was stupid. I just...they shouldn't keep asking so much from you."

"I am their queen. Who else should they ask?"