Page 95 of A Clash of Stars

I turned to him, and my eyebrows were tightly drawn. No one had ever asked me permission to do anything before, especially not in front of others.

“That sounds lovely. I would love to catch up with my mother anyway.” I smiled at him and then turned my attention to her. I could sense her emotions. She was proud of me, not just as a mother but as a woman. Our conversation later would be a lot of fun.

“Actually, I was hoping I’d have a moment to speak to you, Clara, alone.” A familiar voice spoke. A sort of pain shot through my body. At first, I thought it was heartbreak, but after a few seconds, it was more apparent to me I was withholding power. A power that I wanted to use on Madok for a reason unclear to me, but I held it in. The moment I felt his presence at this table, things were different. He was different. If I didn’t say something, I surely would burst.

“Madok, that’s fine, but it must be quick. I have much to talk about with my mother.” I felt a kiss on my head and a warm whisper in my ear, “It’d better be quick because I have a particularly large bed that needs you in it tonight.”

The rapid swirl of energy wrapped around me, sending chills down my back and legs. Of course, Evander’s hand was still gripping my legs, and I felt the tingling in my skin spread all over me.

Be careful how you react to me. Someone might think I’m doing something to you underneath this table.

I accidentally let out a muffled laugh, and everyone turned to look at me. Immediately, red extended across my cheeks and down my neck, turning me into an embarrassed tomato. Usually, I was so quick to recover from an unpleasant or uncomfortable situation, but not this time. Picking up my glass of red wine, I sipped it easy at first, then said, screw it. I chugged that bitch. A full glass of wine. When I was finished, my eyes looked dead into my mother’s eyes.

She was typically very coy and responsible, but what she said surprised me.

“Excuse me, can we get another refill for my daughter and myself? Somehow our wine disappeared,” the Queen said with a smirk.

I wanted to laugh at my mother’s comment but withheld it by looking away. When I turned my head to Evander, he was biting his lip, and immediately, I knew what I needed to do.

Excuse me, sir, what did I tell you about biting your lip around me?

His eyes lightened, starting to glow. He wanted me. I could feel it, and so could everyone else at this table. Which was highly unpleasant because my parents and my ex-lover, if you want to call him that, were sitting within a few feet of us. Our gaze was severe. To anyone else looking in, you would think we were madly in love with each other.

“Ready for that drink?”

My father’s voice interrupted Evander’s train of thought when he closed his eyes in defeat and then turned his focus to him. I have a sinking feeling my father was attempting to redirect my husband’s affections out of sheer discomfort, and honestly, I couldn’t blame him.

“Of course. Let’s go, shall we?” Evander responded to my father and then leaned over, kissing me softly on my lips. When he stood up, I was overcome with the longing feeling of not wanting him to go. I was saddened that I wouldn’t be around him.

His hand grazed my shoulder, and a shiver ran through me. I have to admit that being around him made me happy and comforted me, but it was terrifying to open up to anyone because the last time I did was with Madok. Obviously, that relationship went well.

Slowly his hand slid around my chin, tilting my head backward, up at him. He smiled and leaned down, kissing me again but this time upside down. He pulled back slightly, “I’ll be waiting for you, darling.”

Then he walked away with my father and other members of the court. I watched him walk out as I swooned over his back and how he walked. Strong and arrogant, like he could take and conquer whatever he wanted.

My mother’s voice interrupted my creeper-stalking moment. “Clara, why don’t we go to my room briefly? I have something for you, then after you can have that conversation that Madok wanted to have.” I nodded to her then my mom surprised me by chugging the rest of her wine.

She giggled, “I will never have to waste wine again.” She stood, and I followed her out of the dining room. Bracing for this conversation but mostly anticipation of what she needed to tell me and show me.

After walking into my mother’s office, where she kept her books, journals, and artwork, we sat on the pink lounges near the large black metal framed windows as she poured another glass of wine. When she handed it to me, she held up her glass to have a toast.

“Cheers to my beautiful, intelligent, and brave little girl. May you find all the happiness this land offers and take what is yours.”

The ending of the toast caught me a little off guard. To take over what is mine. What exactly is mine?

She sat down, and that’s when the ambiance in the room changed such uneasiness. I had never felt that emotion from my mother before, but I sensed this conversation would be necessary for the both of us.

“Clara, there are many things we could discuss, but one I need to talk to you about now.” She took a deep breath before she continued.

“I know you might be angry after I have this conversation with you, and you may lose your trusting nature with me, and that’s okay. You need to know.” My mother paused making sure I was listening intently. “Everything has worked out how we have planned it. The attack on the city, the arranged marriage, and you have the onyx ring. You are a descendant of the warrior, your Aunt Josephine, who once conquered this land, but that isn’t all you must know. People in ourlives are not who they say they are. The gods and goddesses walk amongst us in mortal and royal forms. Some are here to ensure you end this curse, but others are here to hurt you.”

I put my hand up to stop her, so I could figure out what she had just confessed to me, and I shook my head in confusion. “What do you mean the attack on the city? Amari told me that both of you planned the marriage, but I’m not sure I understand why, Mother.”

My mother sighed, “You need to have an open mind about this, Clara. Yes, the city attack was because of the King, but we knew he was coming, and we were able to protect many of the people. We knew you would be taken, and Evander knew it as well. His mother set up the arrangement with us to tie Evander with you. She was worried that your hatred for each other would be an issue, but tonight, it was evident you donothate each other.”

“Why did I need to be tied to him this way?” My heart was racing, and many words and thoughts flew around trying to align themselves so I could respond to my mother.

“Queen Amari and I have been working on this for years to align you two, but Madok was always in the way. I was concerned that once you had the onyx ring, your powers would overwhelm you, and the marriage would be out of the question.” My mother said this to me as if I should thoroughly understand and have no objections to what she had told me.

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