Page 30 of A Clash of Embers

Idiot.

Both of their eyes went wide after I said it and I took a breath.

"So, you've heard from Eros?" Bethany asked with intrigue.

I nodded and glanced around the room, looking for an exit from this awkward conversation.

"And what did he say?" Luke questioned me.

I rolled my eyes and laughed. "He told me that if I tried to find him, he would kill me. That's why I want to break this bond. I don't want to deal with him anymore."

They both stood there stunned. I thought Bethany might cry but instead she stepped forward and gripped my hands with Luke a few steps behind her. "It's not difficult to break the bond. You have an invisible string tying you together with your marking. You must conjure enough power to sever the bond. Tobreakit. It's intense and you'll need a lot of strength to do it, but it is possible."

It's that simple. I just cut this bond between us?

Bethany continued, "But you will need to be near him to do it. It's the only way."

I whispered, "Well—"

“Well, what—” Bethany’s soft voice touched my ears before I could say anything. I saw their heads turn to the doorway and my gaze followed theirs.

Leo was standing there, hands across his chest, leaning against the wall. His eyes were dark and menacing as he was staring directly at me.

“Leo?” I took a step back. “Ar-are you alright?” I asked him.

In my peripheral vision, I saw Luke step around the counter in front of me as Leo spoke so low that I didn’t realize what he said until it was too late.

“What did you just say?" Leo questioned me. Not caring to look at either one of my friends. I opened my mouth to respond but nothing came out.

“Did you just say that Eros...” He stepped closer to me. “Erosis your mate? That Evander is him?”

I sighed and looked towards my feet. “Yes. That’s what I said.”

His eyes were glassed over and I felt the rage coming off of him along with the intense glare of undeniable fury.

“Did you know that he was Eros?” He challenged me again.

I shook my head forgetting that Bethany and Luke were in the room. I didn’t even glance at them.

“I-I didn’t know. I had my own theory about it, but I never truly thought it would be him. Mad— Leo, under the curse you were the one to tell me that Eros was my mate. I assumed that you were delusional because under the curse none of this was real to me. This world, who all of you are was some made-up fairy tale.”

I saw his throat bob as he took in what I told him. His shoulders started to relax as he peered at Luke and spoke. “I came down to let you know that word has spread that we are here. Eros and his army are going to be at the edge of the mountains by tomorrow evening. We need to prepare.”

The nerves in my body felt as if they were on fire. Pure energy zipped through my body. Nervousness. Anxiousness. Worry. All of it.

Luke looked around at everyone in the room and stopped on my face. “We will be ready. Everyone get rest. We’ll need it.”

I sighed and Luke walked toward me, gripping my shoulders, and pulling me in for a hug. “It’s going to be okay, Clara. Why don’t you stay with Leo tonight? Have someone there for you. I know you think you have to do this alone, but you don’t.” He kissed my temple and I felt the tears in my eyes start to well up.

Bethany quickly walked over and gripped me in her loving embrace and I watched as the white feathered wings encapsulated us. We were safe in her haven, under her protection.

She whispered just loudly enough so I could hear. “Maybe you should get laid, Clara. Get your mind off of all thisdrama.” She flung her hands in the air, gesturing to the mess I had already made.

I laughed because she knew I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t be with anyone else. Evander was my mate and, in another world, he was my husband. At least hewas.

She nudged me closer to Leo and I realized quickly we were the only two left in the room. Leo’s voice spoke up but it was deep and unrecognizable.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me he was Eros. That...That changes everything.” He started to pace back and forth in front of me. His hands were placed on his hips as he stared at the floor, gaining his thoughts.

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