Page 68 of A Clash of Stars

“Remind me to put a muzzle on her when we get to the castle,” he said to Evander and Luke.

I leaned forward, placing my hands on my thighs.

“I do love to be tied up, King Alex, but only for a good time,” I smirked at him.

He looked at me with disgust, but I heard a slight chuckle leave Madok’s mouth as I turned my gaze to him. He knew what I was doing.

The burn of Evander’s gaze was inescapable. I wanted him to pay for what he had done to me, my family, and the people of Manzanita. In time I would. I wasn’t reactive and honestly thought out what and how I wanted things done. He had it coming for him. Soon.

After many hours and a detour to drop off Luke in Thea, we finally arrived at the Aster Castle.

I thought they would bring us to the dungeon, but surprisingly they didn’t. I was brought into the same room I was in when the princes betrayed me during the Variance.

Madok was placed in the room next to mine, but guards stood outside our doors this time, making sure no one could escape. This all felt like Deja vu. I was already captured once by the Aster family, and now I was captured a second time, and I wasn’t feeling very positive about escaping this go-round.

I could sense a man approaching my door before he opened it. Evander quickly opened the door and waltzed in with his black buttoned-down untucked and his black slacks wrinkled. His deception was so perfectly executed, which terrified me, but what was surprising was a slight bit of fear from him as he stepped into my room. I could understand. A woman scorned plans and plots her revenge. She takes hertime.

In his arms, he carried a dress and shoes with him. He waited for me to retrieve them. He looked at me with a blank stare as he spoke, “Here, take these. Get dressed. You are to be presented at a ball this evening.”

When he handed them to me, I let them fall between my hands to the ground. His eyes glanced back up to mine. I still held onto my silence which made him speak again.

“There have been rumors circling in the kingdoms. The King wants to show a united front and host a ball to give peace back to the land. You are to act as if nothing is wrong and encourage the idea that you are happy and safe here in Aster. The kingdom also knows you are the victor in the Variance but that you needed time and expert training to take your rightful place. So, put these on now.”

My eyes narrowed on him, and I couldn’t be silent anymore, “And what if I don’t follow these orders?”

He took a deep breath, “The King will kill Madok.”

I did my best to hide my reaction to that statement, but I wanted to scream internally.

“Very well,” he declared.

He stood there, so I pointed to the door and said, “Leave.”

Evander nodded and turned to walk towards the door without another word.

Oh, my gods. What was I going to do?

I could work myself up with a thousand questions, but I realized that wouldn’t do me any good. I knew my goal was to kill the King before he could kill me eventually, but that meant I had to survive and escape—somehow.

Chapter 18

The dress was somewhat scandalous. The red lace dress didn’t leave much up to the imagination. The slits of the dress encroached on my hip bones and the draping of the lace straps entwined with blush gemstones that hung off my shoulders.

The deep plunging neckline exposed some strong cleavage with my back completely exposed. My heels were clear and sparkly. The King wanted me to be his puppet. He wanted me to wear this so he could control me.

We’d see about that.

I pulled my hair back into a low ponytail, picked up my crown, which they so kindly kept for me since the last capture, and placed it on top of my head. Unlike the usual me, I don’t think I have had one joyful smile since I was captured. I couldn’t even find it in me to fake a smile.

A raging, powerful princess with no plan. I took a deep breath, walked to the doors, and knocked, and the guards immediately opened them.

I could sense their thoughts immediately as I walked out in my dress, their eyes studying me.Lust.

How disgusting, but it proved my point. I knew I looked good and would use it to my advantage tonight. It wasn’t so bad holding all the cards, allthe power, but I sure felt like that wilted chrysanthemum right about now. I was drained emotionally and physically, but I couldn’t let the King win. I had to keep going.

I stopped and knocked on Madok’s door, and when he opened it, I saw a faint bruise forming on his eye, but other than that, he looked utterly gorgeous in his black tie suit and crown. I wanted to smile, but I physically couldn’t.

“Wow, Clara. You are breathtaking.”

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