Page 55 of A Clash of Embers

After the searing kiss that I had just lived through, I didn't really know what to think or how to react to him. I just looked blankly at him with a confused heart and mind. Everything in my soul was telling me to run to him, run to Ev. But my mind was cautious, as it should be.

"We need to meet with your mother and Colette this morning. I know your mother spoke of wanting to talk to you alone. This would probably be the most opportune time." He pulled away from me and walked towards the opposite side of the bedroom, grabbing a clean shirt and throwing it on his perfectly sculpted body.

"I'll be waiting in the dining room for you," he said as he walked across the room.

When the door clicked shut, I let out a sigh of great relief. Not that he was gone, but that I didn't say something that I would regret.

I missed my father, so terribly. I wanted to know if he was okay. Happy. Content, wherever he was. I hoped he was in Empyrean. Living in peace.

The walk into the dining room was surprisingly loud. Everyone that was sitting at the table was laughing and eating their breakfast, obviouslynotwaiting for me.

"Oh, Clara. Please sit. We just started," my mother said cheerfully.

I sat in the same chair that I had last night, between Eros and my mother. She seemed fine.Content. It bothered me that she seemed almost happy, knowing that my father was no longer alive. A small spark inside of me lit and I was suddenly angry.

You'll need to give her a chance to explain.

I cut my eyes towards him and scoffed, "No, I won't."

My legs were moving faster than my thoughts as I stood and threw the napkin into the table in front of me. I quickly turned, walking away from the table of people that supposedly loved meandmy father, yet they acted like it was okay that he wasn't here.

When I looked up, I realized I was halfway down the hall almost to my father's study.

"Clara! Clara! Wait. Stop running," my mother called after me.

I stopped right where I was in the hallway.

"Clara, we have to talk. We have so much that—"

I whipped my head around to face her as I interrupted her little speech. "What, Mother? What is there to talk about? You're sitting at this table smiling and acting like father didn't even mean anything to you. He was my father, he was my king. I lost him that day. I watched him die in front of me."

The tears were falling over my mom's soft pink cheeks as she reached out to me, but I moved back a step. Out of her reach.

"Clara. I love your father. But your father had a specific plan for you and for us."

"Gods! Mother. What about my plan? No one has ever thought to ask me what I wanted in this life. Not once. I was forced to marry Evander and then look at what happened. Father died, and Evander turned out to bethismonster."

My mother stepped forward with narrowing eyes, "Your Father did die, but it was his choice, and one day maybe you will understand, but gods, Clara, don't be stupid. You love Eros. Monster or not. Not only were you chosen by Enythius, but you were chosen by the Divine One. The only one who matters. You are meant to be together. Get it through your relentless head that we aren't controlling you. You have all the power that you could ever want. You can use it in whatever way you choose."

She stepped closer to me before she continued. "I am so proud of you, and my gods, Clara it hurts. It hurts so terribly that your Father is gone, but I know what he wants for you and me. He doesn't want us sitting around being sad that he is gone. He wants us to live. To live for him. And for goodness’ sake, child. Give that man in there a chance."

I took a breath knowing that everything she said was what I needed to hear, but not what Iwantedto hear. I blinked a few times to push the tears from my eyes, but they wouldn't stop. My mother reached out and embraced me, and I cried. I held onto her and let every emotion release out of me until I was trembling.

Sometimes, you just need your mother. This was one of those times.

She and I didn't always see eye to eye while I was growing up, because she was a pusher. Not an emotional person. I had only seen her cry a handful of times. But right now, that barrier was down. I was not just a goddess, I was my mother's child.

“I know that you have been through a lot. You are my sweet, emotional, and loving child. I say this from a place of love and great respect for your soul. You need to pull yourself together.You need to understand that you are no longer the victim of other’s choices. You are a victor over hurt and deception. Wipe the tears away, stand up tall, and let’s end this madness once and for all,” my mother said to me. She kissed my forehead before we turned and walked back to the group of people waiting for us.

Upon returning to the dining room, my mother and I sat at the table looking like we had been crying for hours when it had only been a few minutes.

"We are sorry for the interruption from breakfast. Where were we?" my mother asked the table.

Are you all right?

I did not want to deal with him right now. Not at all. Not one ounce of me wanted to.

I took a deep breath and ignored him.

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