Page 104 of A Clash of Stars

She looked as if she was offended that I was even asking.

“All right, so I read the rest of the Darthium book we discussed before this shitstorm of my life happened. Some of it seems to be connecting to us. Here in Carondelet.”

“In what way is it connecting to us?” Bethany asked softly.

I sighed, “In the book, there is talk of a chosen child that would be the one to spark the prophecy. Break the curse. I think— I think I am that chosen child. I have all this power, but I don’t want to use it or feel like I need to. Something deep in my bones tells me it’s the right thing to do. Not to use it unless it is necessary.”

She nodded her head. “I could see that connection with you. So, what will you do?”

I shook my head, pressing my lips into a firm line. “I’m not so sure. I need to find out the next steps to overcome this curse. I wish that I had known more about it. What is the curse, and what will happen when it’s broken? But first, I need to get through this final event of Venusto. I hate that this is still a part of our tradition. It is sooutdated.”

“Oh yeah. Evander’s going to find you out in those woods, and then he’s gonna—”

“Excuse me, ladies. I hate to interrupt thisimportantconversation, but I must steal my wife for a minute.”

Bethany smiled wildly at Evander. “Oh my. Yes. You can do whatever you want to your wife.”

I slapped her on the arm, and she cursed at me as I walked away with Evander.

He held my hand, walking me towards the castle stables. They were empty because the horses were out by the field, getting ready for the final event.

“What are you doing, Evander?” I whispered, but he silenced me as he found the loft stairs, trudging up the steps with me toting behind him.

Once we reached the loft, I noticed his expression. As quickly as we made eye contact, he gripped my waist, pushing me against the metal slats of the wall. His mouth viciously captured mine, devouring me.

His hands unraveled my dress in between breaths, pulling it over my head with one hand. Leaving me wholly exposed because I was not wearing anything underneath. He bit his bottom lip, and his eyes dazzled with glowing emeralds as they traveled down my body.

His hand moved to my slick center, pressing two strong fingers inside me as I moaned out his name. He pressed his palm to the bundle of nerves at my center, causing my legs to shake slightly in his arms. He surprised me when he dropped to his knees before me, dropping my feet to the ground. Me completely naked, in my castle stable loft, with my husband.

I chuckled.

“What’s so funny, darling?”

“I— I just. What are you doing, Ev?”

He looked up at me as he placed my left leg over his shoulder and inched closer to the apex of my thighs. “I was hungry.”

“Oh?”

I felt his hot breath coasting down my thighs as he gently pressed kisses into my skin.

“Hungry isn’t the right word. I was craving you.”

With every kiss, the pool between my legs became hotter as my legs were on fire, burning with desire. His tongue flickered over my bundle of nerves as his left hand trailed up my stomach to my breast, pinching my nipple slightly, causing me to squirm in his arms.

“Darling, if you don’t stay still, I’ll have to make you.”

My eyes raised with intrigue and surprise as I smiled at his statement.

“Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you, Clara.”

He stood to his full height as my knees trembled with anticipation. He towered over me as he reached the hem of his cotton shirt and pulled it over his head, exposing his torso that made me drool over him. His right hand slid over my breasts, gently grazing my nipples before his hand gripped my neck slightly.

“I remember a time when I held your neck like this. Don’t you, darling?”

I nodded. I couldn’t respond. I was a complete sexual mess, and I couldn’t think straight.

“I told you one day you would love me to do this to you.” His left hand trailed down my hips to my center as he pressed into me. He groaned, “Just like I thought. You love this.”

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