Page 98 of A Clash of Stars

Being in the forest at night wasn’t the smartest choice, but this was my solace. As I approached the creek, the only radiating light was from the moon and me. I took deep breaths to calm myself down. I had never been spoken to that way, especially not from Madok.

In a moment, my world was completely turned upside down. He just admitted to me that I meant nothing to him. I was only a part of his plan. He spoke the vilest things to me, and I wanted to crawl into a ball and cry. This pain was like I had hardened into stone, and someone was taking a blade to every part of me, ripping every tender part.

A noise distracted me. When I looked over, I saw it.

Torque Viper.

My breath quickly escaped me. It was already in a striking position. My body started to freeze, anticipating what was bound to happen, until my brain thought of something else.

I extended my hands to my sides and looked at the viper, trying to connect to the animal. After staring for a moment, I thought I could almost sense the emotions of it. The snake was scared of me. I told the viper I wasn’t there to hurt it and promised to go away and not bother it again.

The viper immediately turned and slithered away from me. I was left speechless. In the last ten minutes, my ex validated that he was terrible, I telepathically talked to a viper, and now I’m crying, sitting in the middle of the woods, wondering why all of this was happening to me.

The panic started to settle into my skin. I was shutting down. When I hit the ground, I instinctively lay on my side, grabbing my knees and pulling them closer to my chest. Everything was so intense and so demanding. Everyone expected so much out of me. I can’t do it. I just can’t. It’s too much. I was told many contradictory things and didn’t know what to believe.

Was anything that Madok said true? Or was I completely lied to yet again?

My breathing quickened, and my heart was racing. I felt like I would die right there in the woods. I let out soft sobs at first, then I screamed. Let the rage leave my body. When I did that, I felt the energy leaving me. The bolts of electricity left my skin, illuminating the entire forest around me.

Everything was spinning, and I was spiraling out of control. If I was going to die, I wished it’d be at this moment. I don’t want to be the person to save everyone. I am not a warrior like my father and aunt. I am only me. I can’t do this. They need to find someone else to save our land if that’s true.

The sobs took over me and the thoughts ceased to exist. I was only lost in my sadness. Overwhelming and dark. I closed my eyes, imagining what nothingness would be like when a hand touched my shoulder.

My eyes flew open, and I turned to meet Evander’s concerned emerald eyes with flickers of purple within. The words couldn’t come out, and I started crying even more. He didn’t ask me anything, didn’t want me to talk to him. He embraced me with one arm under my knees and the other around my back, lifting me. Carrying me as if I was a child.

I needed that. I needed to be held.

I continued to cry, but the sobs quieted as he continued his walk, and the darkness took over. I gently placed my head against him. His heart was steady and robust. It was peaceful. It was what I needed. His heart was what mine needed. I took a breath and let the world around me fade to black.

Chapter 30

The sheets were embracing me like the best hug I had ever had. The intoxicating smell of teakwood was only a remnant scent on the sheets leading me to think Evander wasn’t in bed anymore.

My hands led to my clothes, and they were not the ones I was in earlier. He must have changed my clothes while I was sleeping. The old me would think that was weird, but not now. Not with him.

My body urged me to sit up. When I did, I saw him. He was leaning back in the leather chaise lounge with no shirt on, black cotton pants hugging his hips, and he was steadily drawing. I studied his face, and I was so focused on the concentration he had while drawing. My eyes glanced at the window. The moon was bright in the sky, telling me we were still in the middle of the night.

Quietly, I slid out of the sheets and walked towards him. I was wearing one of his button-downs and nothing else. I was so nervous. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears, pulsing away. Once I made it to the leg of the seat, his eyes slid up my body. When his eyes locked onto me, I felt it. His stare felt like he never wanted to look away.

He raised his hand, inviting me to lay with him, so I did just that. I laid on him, pressing my head and hand into his chest. He didn’t hide his sketchpad and tiltedthe drawing toward me, allowing me to see what he was so focused on. To my surprise, it was me.

“I guess I should let my wife see what I’m drawing, especially if it’s her.” His voice vibrated into my ears as I continued to examine the portrait.

“It’s a beautiful drawing, Evander. You are very talented.” I smiled into his chest as I spoke.

His sultry voice serenaded my ears, “Only because my muse is so stunning.” I propped myself up on his chest to look at him. His eyes were burning into me, and I felt like I would catch on fire from the heat, just like the Velisharo Cottage. I wanted to tell him about the conversation with Madok, but I didn’t want him to leave this room to go hunt him down, and what if Madok was being truthful about hurting my family?

“Would you like to see some of my drawings?” he asked me sweetly.

I smiled and nodded at him while he started to flip through his sketchbook. He came across a picture of me, but it looked like an older version, not by much but not current. I was wearing a hooded cloak with swords strapped to my back, and my eyes were raging purple. My eyes stood out more than anything. His voice vibrated through his chest into me as I listened.

“This one particular drawing comes from a recurring dream I have. I’m in a battle with so much death around me. In the dream, I knew my mission was to destroy as many people from the opposing army as I could, but I didn’t understand why I must do that. Then, I see you in the dream. You were wielding the sword in one hand while using power in the other hand. Ripping to pieces any man or woman who tried to attack you. You spot me, and we lock eyes, and then I wake up.”

He sighed, and his eyebrows furrowed as he flipped back to the portrait he was working on initially. “The past haunts me, and the future is a nightmare waiting to happen.”

“I know what you mean. I have this feeling that I am missing a piece of this puzzle. I know I am the vessel for these powers, and I know I am supposed to kill someone to end this curse, but I don’t know who or how. Everyone keeps telling me it will be revealed at the right moment.”

“I do not doubt you will fulfill whatever you are supposed to do, Clara.”

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