Page 64 of A Clash of Stars

We were both startled by crashing, loud bangs, and screaming. As I looked around, I saw the flames of fire and large pieces of buildings being blown off. The smell of burning wood was imminent.

We were under attack.

Evander grabbed my hand, and we both started running. I didn’t know where we were going, and I wasn’t sure he knew either. All around us was chaos. Rocks, bricks, and wood shattered into pieces, and people fell behind us, screaming in agonizing pain. I just kept imagining a bubble around us to protect our bodies, anything to ensure we would make it out safely.

My vision focused on what was in front of us. A tall man with blonde locks ran towards us with a pained look, Luke. His eyes locked onto mine, and Evander stopped running, also noticing him. Luke ran up to us and shook Evander’s hand.

I was utterly lost.

Shouldn’t we hate Luke? He betrayed me, stabbed me, then left. I kept glancing between the two of them in shock.

What abyss is this?

Ev’s demeanor started to change. His eyes shifted darker, his jaw tightened, and his movements were demanding and bold. I noticed him shift behind me. Instantly, he grabbed my wrists, holding me as if I would be chained or tied together like a pig brought to slaughter. The thud of rocks around us was loud, but Luke’s voice was louder, “Great job getting close to her. Your parents will be proud you gained her trust and led us to this city.”

I thought my heart had stopped beating. Actually, I knew for a fact that it did.

What?

My breath barely escaped my body, and I could feel every portion of my nerves and muscles start to shut down and collapse. The feeling in my legs gave out, and the only thing holding me up was Evander holding my wrists tightly.

How could this be possible? How could he do this to me?

“You son of a bitch! This whole time— This whole time you have lied to me? But you made me think we were bonded?” I screamed at him.

He shook his head, and when he looked back up, the marking that was once on his neck was gone.

The reflection in Luke’s eyes showed the fading of the marking that once was mine, the once golden mark on my neck gone.

Was it all glamour? A way for me to trust him.

That’s what Madok meant by branding me.

The anger in my veins started to boil, and I could feel the rise in my power. It was as if something in me snapped. I was tired of being betrayed. I am worth it, I am destined, and nothing or no one will stand in my way.

“Glamouring is part of my persuasive power. Ingenious, don’t you think?”

His self-righteous mouth started talking. How could I have let him do this to me?

“You are a liar, a damn liar. You just made me all these promises of protecting and wanting me, and you have just proved to me how you are exactly like Madok. Actually, no, you are much worse. A controlling freak who is self-conscious about not being as powerful as a woman.”

I could feel my arms breaking free from Evander’s grip and the power rippling through me. As I was breaking loose, I felt the ground shaking, and it wasn’t because of the attack on the city. It was me.

Luke grabbed me by the shoulders while Evander regained control over my hands as Luke whispered, “If you don’t stop, you will kill everyone here, including yourself. Do you want that to happen?”

Deep down, I knew he was right, but I wouldn’t stop fighting. I tried to move my hands free of Evander.

I need to get to Bethany. I need to warn her.

“Stop fucking moving, Clara. Don’t make me hurt you.”

I laughed, a big sarcastic, egregious laugh. “You already did.”

My powers were not contained. I didn’t know how far they would reach or how intense they would be. I weighed my options of whether I should use my power, risk the lives of everyone around me or not take the chance. I knew I could use all the creation powers: nature, persuasion, future, strength, telepathy, and aquestionable one, healing. The rumor mill had gone around that Athiana held the power of healing, the superior power amongst all others.

What would she do if she were me? What was the right choice to make?

I could assume that they were taking me to Aster to try and fulfill the promise of killing me, which, at this point, might be fantastic.

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