Page 12 of A Clash of Stars

“Ah. Too many men, I presume,” she spat out quickly with her otherworldly accent.

I smiled and nodded, glancing back at my hands as she sat beside me.

“Clara, what’s on your mind?” she asked.

I looked at her and then moved my eyes to the window. I could see the sun shining brightly, piercing the stained-glass windows at the top of the ceiling, causing a rainbow combination of colors to display on the walls.

I took a deep breath before I told her what was on my mind.

“Luna, is it possible that you can have powers from other bloodlines?”

Her bubbly expression faded into a more somber look, and worry began to fester inside me.

Maybe, I shouldn’t have asked that question.

She leaned over to grab my hands in my lap as she spoke, “There is a rumor, and I mean just that, a rumor. There is no fact about it.”

My eyes quickly searched hers, and my eyebrows raised in anticipation for her to continue.

“The rumor is that the bloodline of Aster is compromised. There is a possibility that Evander could have other powers besides his natural ability of persuasion.”

I bobbed my head, signaling to her that I heard her, but I didn’t quite understand.

“There is another rumor as well, but this rumor involves you.”

My body tensed.

“That rumor is similar. That you, Clara, have the ability ofmultiplebloodlines.”

I laughed, “There is no possible way, Luna.”

She smirked, “As I said, it’s just a rumor.”

She stood and turned to walk away, stopping a few paces away from me with her tall frame casting shadows on the tiles beside her.

“I hope you have a restful night, Clara.” She smiled, and then she was gone.

Since I was the only female royal in training, I was alone in my wing of the Castle. Sefida was the localized point for all six Kingdoms. It housed many different royal family members over many years before me. My mother spoke very briefly about her time here, and I was always curious why she didn’t allow me into that space of her memories. I loved to wonder if this room was the same one she stayed in during her time here.

When I walked into my grand room, I removed my shoes and immediately flung myself onto my white cloudlike bed. A million thoughts were running through my mind, but my physically and mentally exhausting day caused me to fall effortlessly into a deep sleep.

It’s dark, and I can hear the crunch of footsteps on dead leaves beneath my feet. Two, maybe three people. What is going on? The overwhelming feeling of fear creeps in, and the stinging pain in my stomach conquers that fear that was once there. The muffled voices around me started to fade… No.

Then, I was awake with a pounding heart.

Ugh, what time is it? What kind of dream was that?

I grew hungry for something sweet, so I put on my favorite pink slippers and matching silk pajamas and headed toward the kitchen. I giggled internally as I remembered the conversation that Evander and I had during our dance earlier. Once all of my other pajamas were ruined, my mother sent more.

As I walked down the stairs and turned the knob on the rusted gold metallic doors, I couldn’t help the feeling of someone watching me. I instantly looked around, but no one was there. I continued through the doors and was happily obliged to see a jar full of cookies.

Yes!

I did a quick jog to the counter and opened the lid. The whiff of warm chocolate hit my nose, and I grabbedonecookie. Okay, I grabbed two, but it’s like eating one. I began to close the top when a scent approached me, citrus and warmth. Then, a hand slid up my arm that was closing the jar.

“Don’t close it yet,” the voice of Madok was solid and demanding as I stepped aside and allowed him to access the jar.

I stood there with the two cookies in hand, looking at him in disillusion. His voice dominated the room, “You know that chocolate chip cookies are my favorite.”

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