Page 14 of A Clash of Stars

“If I didn’t know any better, you kicked her out of our sessions because yourdickwas too distracted.”

Without saying a word, Madok grasped the cookie and began to walk out of the room, shoulder-checking Evander on the way. As he left, he turned to me and softly said, “We’re not finished with this conversation.”

When the door shut, my body trembled slightly from the vibration, and then an awareness hit me. Here I am again, in the kitchen, alone with another guy.

Chapter 3

“Evander, what could you possibly want?” I asked him. He immediately overtook me. His presence completely stilled me. I partially hated how he made me feel, which was useless and uncontrollable, but he enticed the other parts of me.

The way he walked towards me with such urgency scared the daylight out of me. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. My brows furrowed, and I looked at him with such confusion that I knew he picked up on it, but I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.

“Gods, what do you want, Evander? I’ve already asked you once.”

He looked at me with surprise in his gaze.

“So angry. All the time. No wonder no man will stick around.”

He smirked as if he held all the power in the Land. I wanted to smack that smug look right off his arrogant face.

“Ha. Ha. You are hilarious. I am hysterically laughing. Maybe I could say the same about you. So angry, full of hate, no wonder no woman will stick around long enough to make you happy.”

I rolled my eyes at him and secretly took a deep breath.

“Little Clara…” He clicked his tongue and slightly bit his plump bottom lip, which made my body react to him. I had no clue why. He was such a jerk that I shouldn’t react at all.

“You truly surprise me. If you weren’t such a spoiled brat, I might consider including you in mylonglist of women,” he said smugly.

He winked at me. He seriously winked at me. I turned to walk around him, and he caught me by leaning into my shoulder to whisper, “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Anywhere but here,” I answered quietly.

My eyes burned into his. I could feel the air in the room being sucked out with our closeness. We spew many hateful words at each other, but how we look at one another is entirely different. Anyone looking in at us would think we are together because of an unspoken chemistry between us. I know it, and so does he.

“You have to stay here with me. I want to enjoy a late-night dessert with you, my little bear.”

I scoffed, “No. You can’t do that, Evander. I am notyours.Get it through that thick egotistical skull of yours.”

I stepped forward and pressed my finger on his right pectoral.

Whew. Shouldn’t have done that.

“All you boys are trying to get into my head before the Variance, and I amnotletting that happen. Please stay away from me and never call me yours again. Do you understand?”

With the word choices, I was sure he would back away, but then his glowing green eyes focused on me. He spoke in almost a whisper, but so profoundly I could feel the trembling through me.

“You are notmine…yet.”

With a sharp inhale, he whipped around and walked out of the kitchen, leaving me alone.

I sat there with my thoughts for a while. Wondering what the abyss just happened to me tonight. Just a few weeks ago, no one wanted to be around me, but now everyone wants to be around me.

I wondered if my looks had changed or if they wanted me to be distracted entirely before the Variance. I knew the contest was an emotional and physical competition against each other, but no one truly spoke of what happened during it. Not even my parents.

There was no way I could fall asleep after what happened to me in that kitchen, so I decided to venture off to my favorite place in the castle.

Entering the library, an immediate comfort embraced me. I walked around the room stacked with tall, dark oak wood bookcases.

The only light in the room was lit by the moon peering in through the windows. Near the window hung a portrait of my parents. They were so in love; I knew their relationship was unique, and seeing it from a different perspective gave me great joy and admiration.

---