Page 133 of A Clash of Stars

He let out a thick and agonizing laugh. “I am going to kill you to break this horrid curse that Athiana has placed over me, and when I do, I will take back what is rightfully mine.”

“You won’t kill me, Theo, but I will certainly kill you.”

He smiled, “Hmm. That would be unfortunate for you because I have tied the three of us together. Evander, Madok, and myself. If you kill me…then you kill them.”

I gasped. “You can’t do that, it’s not possible.”

“Oh. Yes, it is Clara.” He took a step towards me. “So, what’ll it be?” Something sparked inside me, and I felt it run down my spine then I heard it.

Don’t let him fool you, Clara. Kill him.

I can sense he is telling the truth, Evander. If I kill him, it’ll kill you and Madok.

“Come on, Clara. Decisions, decisions. I don’t have all day.”

Kill him.

I took a deep breath. My heart was racing, and I thought I could throw up right then, but I swallowed the anxiousness and stepped close to Theo.

“At least let me tell Madok goodbye.”

“Ah. Very well.”

He leaned into the door to unlock it and opened it for me to enter. Madok didn’t even turn his head. I took a few steps into the room, and his eyes finally turned to me.

His golden eyes pierced into mine, frantically looking at every part of me, inspecting me. I knew I looked different, and he knew what these markings meant on my neck and hand, making me look away momentarily out of embarrassment and shame.

He sat up slowly and stood to walk towards me. He was still strikingly handsome with his curly brown hair and amber eyes. I even liked his beard; it was so different, but it fit him well.

When he invaded my space, I closed my eyes because his scent was so strong and familiar. His warm citrus tangled me with feelings that rushed through me so quickly I thought I might pass out.

His hands reached out and grabbed my arms. That’s when I moved my vision back to his eyes, and I felt my heart flutter like it had done a million times before.

My inamorato marking started to pulse, and his eyes flickered to it. His deep voice vibrated through me. It was the same voice I knew but stronger. “Evander. It’s Evander, isn’t it?”

I couldn’t even speak. I just nodded my head. His hands reached up and grabbed my face cradling it in his hands. “It’s all right, Clara.”

I nodded as tears started to fall down my cheeks.

I felt the irritation of Theo standing at the door. “I need you to do something for me, though.”

My eyebrows pinched together as I was bewildered but intrigued about what he needed me to do.

“Anything Madok.”

He took one step closer to me, still holding my face in his hands, and pressed his chest against mine. “I need a kiss goodbye. Please.”

“But I’m not saying goodbye.”

He sighed and closed his eyes. “I am. I’m saying goodbye.”

I was so confused. Evander’s voice entered my mind again.

Kiss him, Clara. It’s okay. You need to do it. Your love, your pureness is why you can defeat him.

I can’t kiss him. Why do you want me to kiss him, Evander?

Just trust me. You love me, right?

---