Page 77 of A Clash of Stars

I took a deep breath and pulled my gray eyes toward her green eyes. “Thank you, Queen Amari. I hope I can fulfill those promises.”

She gently turned me around, so she could place the necklace around my neck. When she grazed my skin, I felt the electric jolt like I did the other day. I wondered what that could mean or was it just because her power was so immense and strong that I could feel it running through her. Her hands gripped my shoulders gently, turning me back to face her. I still felt the electrical current running through me.

It looked like she wanted to say something, like it was on the tip of her tongue, but she withheld it. I couldn’t stand the silence anymore so I decided to say the first thing I thought of.

“I wish my parents were here with me,” I rushed out trying to break the tension and also to distract me from running out of this castle together.

She sighed, looking down towards the tile in the foyer, “Your parents know—”

A guard interrupted our conversation, “Your Majesty, we are about to begin. The King is requesting you to take your seat.” She looked to the guard and back to me. She squeezed my shoulders gently and smiled.

She leaned over my shoulder and whispered, “Everyone is not as they seem to be. This curse has shielded others from our true natures, our true beings. Once the curse is broken, you will see. This necklace will help you solidify your magic when the time is right.” She pressed a kiss into my temple and walked away.

Well. That wasn’t weird at all. I’d have to unpack that final comment later because I had bigger issues in front of me, like getting married.

The realization started to hit me that I was about to marry this guy. Like really marry him. I realized I barely knew him. Of course, we had our little spicy moment together, but that’s the closest we had been, ever.

Do I think it’s weird that I am somewhat okay with this situation? Or is it stupid that I am somewhat okay with this marriage? My mind flashes back to Madok and how hurt he must be but at the same time if he is safe. I am the one saving our asses over here and I’m all alone.

I could feel the anxiousness creeping up my spine the longer I stood there. I started to think of anything and everything that could keep my mind busy. Somehow, I ended up back at Sefida castle during one of our defense classes.

I was partnered with Evander, and I had been struggling that day because I had started my lady time of the month and was feeling extra pissy, more than usual. I wasn’t necessarily struggling because I was bad at sword fighting but because my cramps were destroying me.

Evander kept looking at me with his eyes narrowed as if he was studying me.

“What! Why do you keep looking at me like that?” I practically yelled at him.

He laughed and shook his head.

“Oh, Clara, so aggressive. What’s wrong? Is it the cursed time of the month?” he chuckled.

Rage built within me, and I struck quickly with my sword. Evander pulled back swiftly and questioned me in an antagonizing tone, “Whoa there, little bear. Slow down. You might hurt yourself.”

He arranged his face into the saddest puppy dog look he could give me.

“Ah, that doesn’t work on me, Evander, and for your information, yes. It is most definitely the cursed time of the month. Is that gonna be a problem for you? Wouldn’t want our cycles to sync together,” I seethed in retaliation.

I smirked at him and swung again, but this time he had a misstep and I gained control of the circle we were revolving in.

“Uh oh. Is this the day I beat the infamous Prince Evander?” I crooned.

He struck back at me, violently, but this time I defended the strike as our swords clanged together an inch from our faces. We could feel each other’s breaths while we stood our ground against each other. The grinding of the metal screams in our ears.

I was able to unhook the swords and regain my balance before I struck again. This time I saw the fear in his eyes and it made me so damn happy. I struck harder and faster, pinning him into some unbalanced and uncomfortable positions.

“You can kiss my cursed ass,” I growled.

With my final blow, I spun, knocking his leg under him, causing him to fall back on the mat with a hard thump.

I stood over him with the sword pressed to his throat. The eyes around us were burning into us, watching intently as I had finally overtaken the great Evander. I even laughed.

“Well. I guess the bigger they are, the harder they fall, right?”

That’s when Evander caught me completely off guard switching the position we were in. He disarmed me, then I was flat on my back with nothing to defend me, and completely at his mercy. I saw the green glowing in his eyes as he held the sword to my throat. I felt the pulsing in my veins as I waited in anticipation as to what he would do next.

He leaned his body down onto me, smirking all the way to my ear. “Mm. You definitely got the bigger part right, sweet Clara, but the only one falling around here…would be you.” Then he stood and threw his sword down, leaving me on the mat with a very, very confused sense of attraction.

“Excuse me, your Highness.”

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