Page 106 of A Clash of Stars

I could practically hear his smirk as he spoke with his back to me. He continued to walk away as I processed what he had just confessed. He loved me. He was in love with me. I didn’t even get the chance to tell him how I felt, but what left me more dumbfounded was the final part of his confession. He would do anything to protect me, even hurting me. The horn in the distance caught my attention.

Shit. I’m late.

I arrived slightly disheveled at the start of the trial, with my father tilting his head with curiosity as to where I had been.

“Eh. Long story,” I said to him quietly.

“It’s probably best that I don’t know,” my father said softly.

I smirked at his response as my father walked alongside me, guiding me to his large white horse. He would be the one to take me into the woods on horseback.

I felt like I was five again riding with him. He used to take me riding through the woods, the pastures, and the mountains. Even though my mother wasn’t a fan, she always said it was too dangerous, but he didn’t care.

He hoisted me onto the horse and we started our journey into the woods, to start the final trial.

My father always smelled like fresh vanilla, sweet and comforting. As I gripped his waist behind him in the saddle, I took in the woods I grew up in. I knew them better than anyone, but so did Madok. He was here with me for a large portion of my life.

The Ribelle Forest was full of life, with different species of trees and animals gathered here to sustain their life. I always thought they were drawn to this portion of our land because of our powers, maybe that’s true, or maybe they didn’t have a choice.

“Clara. A lot has happened over the past few weeks, and I feel like a terrible father leaving you in the dark about some of them. I know you and your mother spoke last night about some things, but there are certain details that she doesn’t want you to know—but I want to tell you.”

He sighed and stopped the horse, and I braced myself for what he would tell me as he guided me off the horse and turned to face me.

“People are working to ensure you break the curse where you must kill the god, Theo. He has infiltrated our land, but so have other gods and goddesses. They cloak themselves as others to get close to you. There are few you can trust, as theystand to gain much from you solidifying your powers.” His grip on my shoulder tightened as he took a breath.

“The evil one must be defeated if we are to escape this abyss, we are in. Everyone here is trapped in Carondelet, every person, animal, tree, and blade of grass is trapped. We must defeat the curse because if we fail.” He took another breath.

“If we fail... It will be the end of us all. The King of Aster is after you and us. He knows now that we have been planning for a while. He even threw Evander’s mother in his dungeon for her part in this and Evander doesn’t know it yet.” He paused, and I took a deep breath to try and stop the tears slowly forming in the gray eyes that matched his.

“You have great power. Immense power. You only need to believe that you can control it and believe in yourself, Clara. There will be people along the way who will help you and guide you to fulfill the prophecy. Once it’s complete, there will be parts of our world you don’t understand, but people will help you. You are the true descendant made of pure blood and goodness. You are a warrior, but you are also a witch.”

I stopped breathing. “What?”

He furiously nodded, “Everyone here is not as they seem. Their powers are trapped alongside them. We were forced to comply and work together to defeat this bind tying us to the curse, but only you can break it. You must. Everything you have read in the Darthium book that you found in Sefida is true. This place, this land we live in is all a charade. It is a place for the gods and goddesses to gain strength for their own agendas, but that’s where you come in.”

He stepped closer to me as he continued and embraced my face in his hands.

“Your goal is to destroy the King of Aster, then abolish the curse. Battle anyone who stands in your way. Others will help you, but there will also be ones who will betray you. Guard your heart. Be strong. You will be an amazing ruler, and I am proud to be your fath—”

He stopped talking. His eyes were panicked looking. My eyes wandered around, searching his face for an answer when I looked down. A pure silver arrow went through his stomach. The blood rushed out of him so quickly I didn’t know how to stop it. I quickly moved my hands to push onto his entry wound, trying to apply pressure to stop the bleeding. He slowly fell to the ground, and I could feel his breathing starting to slow.

“Father! Stay with me. Please stay with me. I don’t know how to do this without you. I-I am so scared.” Panic overtook me, and I felt like I wasn’t even in my body then. Pure chaos ensued as I tried to stop the bleeding. There was so much. It was everywhere. It littered the ground around us, and I felt like I was kneeling in a sea of red.

My father’s blood.

His hand reached up to caress my cheek, and he spoke in soft, broken breaths. “Stay strong, my little bear.” He pointed to my heart. “No one else has what’s inside here. Evander is a good man. He will protect you. He loves you. You are a smart warrior. You have done well not to show all your power. Once you use it, it will alert the gods and goddesses—”

I heard rustling bushes, and my ears perked up to the danger that lurked in the woods with us. Then I heard the horn blow, signifying the start of the final trial.

“You must run, Clara. Run. Don’t let anyone stop you. Run! I love you.”

I looked at my father again , anger bellowing, and screamed.

When I did, the light radiated through me and into the woods, bending the tree branches, limbs, fallen leaves, and everything in my path. Only my scream flattened everything that once stood tall around us. I stood, ran, and didn’t dare look back.

Chapter 32

My heart was racing so fast I couldn’t think, and I just kept running for what felt like an hour when it was only ten minutes. I heard the blaring horns of alarm from the castle grounds, signaling what I already knew, that my father had been shot with an arrow and others had found him.

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