Page 3 of A Clash of Stars

We were all required to train as the future leaders of our Kingdoms, but a Variance being announced was something that didn’t happen often.

When word came that a Kingdom was challenging the current high ruler's position on the throne, we nodded our heads at the challenge set before us.

We knew that once every newly Crowned prince and princess from all the Kingdoms were officially declared, each Kingdom could challenge the current land ruler. That could determine who would control the entire land as the Crown KingorQueen.

Challenging a current ruler was almost unheard of,almost.

The smell hit me again, and I couldn’t keep my thoughts away.

Gods, Clara, you smell like ass.

“You really should take a shower. I can smell you from outside the door.” A familiar voice I knew well startled me as I whipped my head around to see the face that matched it.

I peeked up to see the lightest blue and the softest smile. Luke. I could’ve crumbled on the floor from embarrassment, but somehow, I developed a sentence that escaped my mouth in a sarcastic sneer.

“Ah, thank you, Luke, for those…kind words.”

The most profound and sweetest laugh drifted across the room to me. I watched the dimples in his cheeks spread, and the spicy scent of cinnamon captured my attention. I needed to move, so I took my hesitant strides past Luke to the changing room showers.

When I passed him, I could sense the change in him. His powers were gaining strength and I wondered if he already had the same magic as his father, the King of Thea. He and his father can read others’ thoughts and memories, the telepathic men of our land.

Almost reaching the showers, his voice carried across the room.

“You know, Clara. I’m starting to think you hold some resentment towards me.”

My body froze as I tried to decipher how I would respond to his question. I knew exactly what he was talking about but decided to play along.

“I’m not sure what you mean. I haven’t been any different?”

His smile started to disappear, and a more somber look took over.

“You haven’t spoken to me in almost two weeks, you haven’t eaten meals with the group, and you avoid us every chance you get.”

He knew why. He just wanted me to say it out loud. I leaned against the doorway and tilted my head towards him, accepting the challenge.

“I don’t know if you know this, but I was pulled from the group training sessions and told I had to be separated from the rest of the royals because I was a ‘distraction.’ Did you not know this?”

The expression on his face gave away the answer.

“No, I didn’t know that,” he breathed with a deep sigh. “You aren’t a distraction. I’ll talk to Master Edward immediately.”

“No!” I blurted out as I stood up straight and stiffened immediately.

Could you not yell at him, idiot?

“Uh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so snippy with you, but no. Please don’t say anything to him. We only have a few weeks until the Variance, and I don’t want there to be any trouble.”

Although it genuinely did bother me that I couldn’t be around my friends. I couldn’t help but wonder which noble asshole had something to say about me. My money was on–

Luke interrupted my reflection, “I’m going to ask the guys about this, and I will find out one way or another, Clara.”

He appeared genuinely concerned about my current exile and it felt nice to feel his protectiveness over me. A smirk rose in the top left corner of his mouth as if to entice me into what he would say next.

“Sorry to stop you from your…shower. I’ll see you at breakfast tomorrow.”

As Luke walked away, I could see the curves of the muscles in his back, and the cinnamon and spice that once was so dominant a moment ago slowly started to disappear. Like all the men I have been around, they all possessed superior features. If anyone was adistraction, it was them.

In two weeks, I would compete against Luke and the other royals. I didn’t think I could win the Variance, but I’ve always been a ‘spitfire,’ as my father would call me. I knew I had to stop worrying about the future and stay in the present more. I knew that, but how could I not think about it with so much at stake?

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