Page 20 of A Clash of Stars

The overwhelming scent of teakwood and liquor clouded my thoughts.

“Hello, Clara Bear.”

My eyes drifted to the most stunning green eyes and a face chiseled by the gods. Up until this point, he hated me, but I never felt genuinely threatened by him.

“Evander.”

His smirk crept up his mouth, “Happy Birthday, Clara. You look insanely beautiful, but—”

My brows furrowed, and I started to walk past him on the stairs when he grabbed my wrist and spun me around.

“You didn’t let me finish,” he seethed.

“Fine, spit it out, Evander,” I replied.

His hand gripped my wrist, and he turned my body towards him. Pulling me into his firm chest. His heartbeat was steady, and the scent of him ravished my senses. He leaned down to my face and whispered, “Do you know how difficult it is to hate a woman I desperately desire?”

He brushed his left hand over my shoulder, moving the hair from my neck. He leaned further into the curve of it and pressed a soft kiss in the most tender spot that sent chills down my spine.

As he pulled back, my eyes tracked him. This unknown burning feeling in my stomach started to ignite as he said, “Please call me Ev. If we’re going to be enemies, you might as well use my name correctly.”

His smirk faded as he turned and walked down the stairs. Leaving me in the most heated mess. My thoughts drifted to the dance with Ev. His hand on my lower back, my chest pressed firmly into his, his smile— hissmile. He stopped descending the stairs, turned back to look at me, and smirked with his chiseled jaw catching the warm glow of the ballroom chandeliers.

“What, Evander? Why are you looking at me like that?” I questioned him.

“Oh. You didn’t want to see my smile again?” He chuckled, turning his body and continuing his steps towards the ballroom floor.

I stopped, dumbfounded, as I tried to think why in the world he would stop and do that or even say that.

Ignorant Prick.

All at once, an icy chill crept down my spine.

A flashback to the conversation I had with my power advisor the other day haunted me at that moment. Evander could have other bloodline powers, or so it was rumored.

Could he hear my thoughts? If so, that was a profound problem, especially after learning about Madok’s vision.

Could Evander hate me enough to kill me, or was it something he was told to do by his parents in retaliation? Only time will tell.

Chapter 4

The following day, I could hear the rain pattering on my windows. The sound of rain has always given me a sense of calmness and peacefulness, which was needed after my birthday celebration.

With the windows cracked open, the smell of darkness and musky tones floated through the air, and just as I was getting comfortable, my thoughts began to take hold of me.

I knew that I had to prepare myself in some way. The question of who I could genuinely trust wounded me. After all, we are after the same goal, to win the Variance, which, as far as I am aware, can be done without harming others because it’s never been a death match.

I didn’t think we knew what it would be like or why we were in this mess together. Every twenty years, each Kingdom sent members of their bloodline to meet and train at Sefida to keep the camaraderie alive. None of us believed that. There was always a hidden agenda with our parents. Something more significant that they left us out of.

I readied myself for the day, dressed in dark green tights and a short sleeve black V-neck, and trudged down the hall to meet with Luna. Her appearance was frustratingly perfect every time I saw her. Her long black hair curled gentlyaround her hips, and her gold and white tunic fit snugly around her chest and waist. She wasted no time embracing me in a huge, colossal birthday hug.

“I am so glad you came to see me! I didn’t get the chance to wish you a happy birthday last night. Where did you run off to?”

I kept a very severe and straight face when I told her, “I just became exhausted and thought it was time to get some much-needed sleep, especially since we are so close to the Variance.”

She looked as though she didn’t believe me. I wouldn’t believe me either. I wasn’t an exemplary liar; you could always figure me out by looking at my face.

“Obviously, you didn’t come here for a birthday hug. What can I assist you with?”

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