Page 45 of A Clash of Stars

“Do you feel that strongly about me? Or is that a way to hide the way you truly feel?” He stepped towards me, and my heartbeat quickened every second he inched toward me. I finally gained the courage to speak.

“Ev, you infuriate me. Sometimes I truly wish you would mess up once or not take my sweets. That would be great.”

I felt my smile spread across my cheeks as I continued my confession. “Honestly, I don’t know how I truly feel about you yet. I need time to see if it’s negative emotions or not. I can’t explain it. You tell me you hate me, but your actions don’t say the same. I hate you, but I know my actions also don’t say the same. I think about the stars in the sky at night, how they needed time to line up perfectly.” I paused, “That’s how I am feeling about you.”

His hand lifted and grazed my arm as his other hand held the torch that provided the only light in the passageway. After my little tantrum in the pine forest, I didn’t want to use my power unless I needed to. I looked at him as he took a breath before speaking.

“My father told me when I was a young man, I would find someone who would challenge me, but their stars would always align with mine. I never truly knew what he meant until I met you.”

He sighed, “I am fully aware of your love for Madok. I know that is something I can’t take away, and I wouldn’t dream of taking that from you because that would hurt you. I just hope there is a place in your heart for me too.”

I wasn’t sure that I had even blinked. I just stared into his bright green eyes and wondered what I could have ever done to have deserved his affection. I have been mean and unkind to him, yet he continues to pursue my affection.

“But you said you hated me. You have tortured me since you met me.”

His laugh echoed off the tunnel walls before he turned to respond, “Clara. Are you really that blind? I needed you to hate me. I have known for quite some time that you were the destiny of our land. I have also known that you think I’m cute.”

I slapped his arm, “Oh my gods,Evander. No, I don’t.”

“Ah, yes, you do, but I’ll let that little lie go for now. There is a lot I want to tell you, but I need it to be the right moment and time to tell you. I have done many terrible things in my life, Clara.”

I interrupted him, “You just saw me kill at least four guards at your castle Evander. You think I will freak out over you protecting your family.”

He sighed, “Not always was it what I wanted to do. Yes, you are right, it was to protect my family, but there were times I knew it was wrong, and I did it anyway. The worst part about it is I liked it. I liked having that control over people.”

A rumble startled us as he wrapped his warm fingers around mine and pulled me into a sprint. I could feel the rocks hitting me as we ran. I had a deep feeling that this tunnel wouldn’t still exist by the time the rumbling was over. We approached a light at the end of the passageway, and it was so close we could almost reach it.

Then, we fell.

When my eyes flickered open, I could see the thick must of dirt and clay surrounding me as I realized I was lying on my back. I immediately looked around for Evander. When I found him, he had blood dripping off the side of his forehead, and he wasn’t moving.

Panic started to set in as I scrambled for him. I wiped my hand over his head, a gash, probably from a large falling rock. Nothing else seemed hurt, and maybe he was just knocked out.

While he was there, I couldn’t help but notice his attractive features. It was as if the gods perfectly crafted him. His skin was a soft copper, and I noticed the small scar across his eyebrow bone just slightly. His lips were such a delectable shade of pink; part of me wanted to lean down to kiss him right then. Then, the overwhelming feeling of concern spread through my thoughts, and the torch went out.

“Evander, wake up. Wake up. I need you to move, make a noise…anything.” Dread started to fill my soul as I noticed he didn’t move. I placed my left hand over his heart, and I could still feel his heartbeat thump and chest rise and fall.

I leaned over him, placing my right hand on his cheek. When the palm of my hands pushed into his skin, I immediately lit up with a bright light. Broken visions of the future flew through my mind, none of it making sense. I could feel my mind grounding itself to reality, my eyes shot open, and Evander looked up at me in awe when they did.

I could still see the white light surrounding me as he watched. He began to sit up, and the light dimmed, leaving us in darkness. I felt his hand reach my waist and pull me onto his thighs. His warm breath was on my cheek, and I took a breath to remind myself that I needed air. His other hand grasped my cheek and turned my face to have my nose touch his. I could almost taste his kiss without him touching my lips.

Then he whispered. “I’m not sure what you could see in that vision, but I saw everything. Clearly.” He couldn’t see the face I was making in response, but it was of severe confusion and longing to understand what was revealed in the vision I had just had. I sighed with a breath of frustration.

“I couldn’t piece together the visions. I only saw broken parts.” I could feel him leaning closer to me. His gravelly voice was low and inviting as he whispered into my ear.

“I saw you. You are more fantastic than you realize. I should bow before you, Clara. I am not worthy of being in your presence, let alone have you this close to me.”

He pulled my legs around him so I was straddling him. “I’ve waited such a long time for you.”

With the last word out of his mouth, he pressed his ever-so-gentle lips into mine. My world collapsed around me with his touch. His hands wrapped aroundmy hips and pulled me into him. I pulled back to take a breath when he whispered into my lips. “You taste just like I imagined.”

He urgently kissed me again, this time his hands wrapped into my hair as mine gripped around his back. I couldn’t help but notice the strong muscles that were wrapped under his clothes. Between our kisses, we gasped for air as if we needed each other so severely that we couldn’t pull away.

My hand found its way to the bottom of his shirt on his back, and I pushed my hand under it when his hand reached back and grabbed my wrist. He pulled back from our kiss, and I felt wounded that he stopped.

With both of us recuperating from the loss of air, he spoke. “I haven’t waited this long to be with you for me not to see you.” With a low growl, he said, “I need to see every inch of you this close. Do you understand me, Clara?”

I nodded but realized he couldn’t see my response. “Yes, I understand, Ev.”

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