Page 80 of A Clash of Embers

I hugged him even tighter as I said, “I don’t care what form you were in. I’m just glad to see you.”

A cough came from behind us, “Okay, enough of the love.” Callan tossed Luke some spare clothes as he continued, “Weneed to be prepared to intercept anyone who comes through these trees.”

Just as Callan said the words, my heart seized in my throat when I saw Leo, the amber golden eyes staring right back at me. It was a strange feeling to see someone that I once loved so greatly that the rest of the world could have burned to ash and it wouldn't have mattered because they were mine. That was how I had once felt about him. When he saw me, his eyes widened and he stopped every movement. He was only a few paces away, but he didn't dare come one step closer.

I had neglected him. I had disappointed a lot of people in my life, but I remembered what Eros told me. I needed to stop worrying about everyone else's feelings and start realizing that my actions could change this world for the better. I could make people happy again by ending this war.

“Clara, what are you doing here?” Leo said in a darkly annoyed tone.

I kept my eyesight gentle and kind as I spoke my answer just softly enough that he could hear me. “I'm here to stop a war from happening.”

Leo laughed, the kind of laugh that rumbled in my stomach slightly jolting me around a little. “You seriously think that you can stop this war? You have no idea what any of these people have been through. Your mate has tortured them. Your mate has killed them. Your people are traitors and so areyou.”

I tilted my head at him because it was a curious thing—the anger, remorse, frustration, all of those feelings were pulsing off of him like sparks. He didn't care what he lit on fire with the words he was going to say, so I let him. He needed that outlet and I was strong enough to take it.

“You walked right into the enemy's bed. You chose to go to him. You abandoned all of us, not just me. You are supposed toheal this land, you were supposed to help us, and all you have done is hurt us.”

I knew that he meant that I hurthim, and I did. I did hurt him and he was right. I walked right into our enemy's bed and I'm damn happy that I did.

“You just couldn't help it, could you, Clara? You couldn't stay away from a man who absolutely didn't want anything to do with you. He is using you. Don't you see that? Don't you see that he is using you for his own gain? Or are you too blinded to see such a thing?”

I went to open my mouth and respond when a voice from behind me powered over everything and stunned everyone into silence.

“That’s enough.”

I felt the chills creep up the back of my spine as realization set in that my mate was here. Eros Vander Aster, Prince of the Vampryes. I watched as Leo's eyes widened in anticipation of what Eros would say next.

“You are finished talking about my mate and mywifein that way.”

Leo's eyes narrowed as he bowed his chest to respond, “She is not your wife. Your marriage marking doesn't exist.”

I felt the warm touch of Ev grabbing my hand and pulling it up to show everyone, and in a blink of an eye, I watched as the rapid swirls twirled around our hands together making the marriage mark appear, the same one under the curse.

“I am the one who hid the marriage marking, but when we were wed, we were blood-tied. An oath that never goes away. And before you ask, yes, she broke our inamorato marking, but that doesn't matter because we are Divine Mates, and you cannot take that away from me, from her, from us. Your thoughts are misconstrued, Leo.”

He dropped my hand and started moving toward Leo in a very slow and anticipatory movement, and he smiled with a slight chuckle that left his mouth, “You really have no idea, do you?”

Leo scoffed, “What do you mean I have no idea?”

I watched as Eros’s wings expanded and he closed the space between him and Leo, stopping directly in front of him. I could feel the anger pulsating off of Leo, and it was so strong of an emotion that it radiated through Eros to me.

I was surprised that Leo hadn't done anything about Ev’s proximity to him, but he just stood there and waited as if he wanted Eros to do something first. Deep down, Leo knew there was information missing and maybe Eros was the missing piece for him.

Eros tightened his shoulders back and stood a little taller before the words left his mouth, “I think it’s time for you to know the truth, brother.”

Chapter 40

Oh shit.

He was actually going to tell him. He was going to tell Leo everything.

Leo stepped back from Eros slightly with his head tilted in confusion. “Brother?” Leo asked softly, painfully.

Eros nodded his head and said, “Let me show you.” He stepped closer. “Please.”

“How are you going to show me? You don't have that power, Eros,” Leo replied.

I knew the answer to this question and I didn’t like it one bit. Ev turned his head around to me and smiled. “She is going to be the bridge for us. You will see what you need to know through her.”

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