Everything should have felt peaceful after the confessions, after knowing the truth.

But deep down, I knew it wouldn’t last.

Because fate wasn’t that kind.

Because they knew.

The moment I saw Rudraksha’s expression darken, his hands clenched into fists, I knew something had gone terribly wrong.

The Bhibhusan twins knew about me.

And now, they were coming.

I had woken up that morning to Rudraksha’s warmth, his arms still wrapped around me as if he was afraid I would disappear.

But the moment I shifted, his grip tightened.

I blinked, still half-asleep. "Rudraksha…"

He hummed against my hair.

"You’re awake?" I whispered.

His lips brushed against my forehead as he murmured, "I never slept."

I stiffened. "What—?"

"You were in my arms," he said, voice low and rough, "how could I sleep?"

A deep blush crept up my neck. "You’re ridiculous."

He smirked. "And you love it."

I huffed, pushing away, but he caught my wrist, pulling me back.

His golden eyes gleamed with something dangerous, intoxicating.

"You’re not going anywhere," he whispered.

I swallowed.

I was sinking into him again—until a knock on the door shattered the moment.

Rudraksha’s eyes darkened.

He exhaled sharply, releasing me. "What?" he called out, his voice gruff with irritation.

A guard entered, bowing. "Maharaja, Prince Prithish has arrived."

Rudraksha muttered a curse under his breath.

I smirked. "Annoyed?"

He looked at me. "You are in my bed, and yet someone dares to disturb us. Of course I’m annoyed."

I laughed, slipping away before he could trap me again.

"Let’s go," I teased, "before you decide to murder Prithish for knocking on your door."

We found Prithish waiting in the royal courtyard, his usual arrogant smirk in place.

But the moment his gaze landed on me, I saw something shift in his expression.

Something tense.

I frowned. "What?"

Prithish sighed. "We have a problem."

Rudraksha’s body went rigid. "Speak."

Prithish hesitated. Then—

"The twin princes of Bhibhusan know."

Silence.

The air crackled with tension.

I could feel the shift in Rudraksha.

The storm brewing inside him.

His voice was like ice when he spoke. "How?"

"They received information from Ranshara. They know Lavanya is alive," Prithish said, his tone serious. "They believe she belongs to them."

Rudraksha’s grip on the armrest of his throne tightened until the wood creaked.

I felt my stomach twist.

"They’re coming, aren’t they?" I whispered.

Prithish nodded. "They’ve already sent word. They want you."

Rudraksha stood up abruptly, making Prithish take a step back.

His entire presence shifted.

This wasn’t the man who teased me.

This wasn’t the man who held me in the night.

This was Rudraksha Veeraditya, the King of Vyantara.

And he was furious.

"They dare?" he whispered, his golden eyes blazing.

Prithish exhaled. "You know them. They’re arrogant bastards. They think they can take whatever they desire."

Rudraksha let out a low growl, his jaw tight. "Then they will learn what it means to desire what is mine."

I felt a shiver run down my spine.

"Rudraksha," I started, stepping forward, "let’s not—"

He turned to me, his rage turning into something else.

Something dangerous.

Something possessive.

"You are not leaving my sight," he said.

I frowned. "I never said I was going anywhere—"

His hand gripped my wrist, pulling me into him.

"You are mine," he whispered, voice low and lethal.

I swallowed. "Rudraksha…"

He cupped my face, his thumb brushing against my jaw. "Do you understand?"

My breath hitched.

I wasn’t used to this Rudraksha.

The one who wasn’t holding back anymore.

The one who would burn the world down for me.

I nodded. "I understand."

He exhaled, his forehead pressing against mine.

"They will regret ever laying eyes on you."

I knew then—

War was inevitable.

And I had just become the reason for it.

I understood him.

I really did.

Rudraksha had spent centuries alone, trapped in a world where time never moved, watching his people live the same day over and over again while he remained the only one aware.

He had lost everything—his past, his memories, and now that he had finally found me again, he didn’t want to lose me.

But that didn’t mean he could control me.

I wasn’t something to be locked away.

I wasn’t a prize to be kept behind golden walls.

And yet, that’s exactly how he was treating me.

The moment we returned to our chamber, I turned to him, my arms crossed over my chest.

"You cannot keep doing this, Rudraksha."

He barely glanced at me as he removed his royal vambraces, his golden eyes still burning with anger from the meeting.

"Doing what?" His voice was calm, too calm.

I stepped closer. "Treating me like I’m some fragile thing that needs to be guarded at all times."

His fingers paused over the clasps of his robes. "You are not fragile."

"Then why do you act like I am?" I snapped.

His gaze flicked up to mine, sharp and piercing. "Because I know them, Aranya. The twin princes of Bhibhusan are not men who take no for an answer."

I swallowed, my heart beating faster. "And neither do you."

His jaw clenched.

I took another step closer, my voice lowering. "You are no different from them if you try to keep me locked away."

His eyes darkened. "I am nothing like them."

"Aren’t you?" I challenged. "They think they have a right over me, that I belong to them, and now you’re saying the same thing—"

Before I could finish, he moved.

I didn’t even have time to react before my back hit the wall, his hands caging me in on either side of my head.

I gasped.

He was too close.

Too intense.

His breath brushed against my lips, his golden eyes glowing like a storm waiting to strike.

"You think I am like them?" he whispered, voice dangerously low.

I swallowed, but didn’t look away.

"Yes," I said, even as my heart pounded. "Right now, I do."

His jaw tensed.

"You think I see you as a prize?" His voice was almost a growl.

"Then prove me wrong," I whispered.

His eyes flickered.

And then, suddenly—

His fingers brushed against my jaw.

Not rough. Not forceful.

Gentle.

So gentle that it made my chest tighten.

His thumb traced the corner of my lips, his touch slow, deliberate.

"You are not a prize, Aranya," he murmured.

My breath hitched.

His other hand came up, cupping the back of my neck, his fingers threading into my hair.

"You are not something to be owned."

I exhaled. "Then why do you act like I am?"

His grip tightened, pulling me even closer.

"Because," he whispered, his lips grazing my cheek, "you are everything."

I froze.

"You are not a prize," he repeated. "You are the air I breathe. The only thing in this world that I cannot live without."

My heart was breaking apart and rebuilding all at once.

"And if keeping you safe makes me a selfish man," his lips barely brushed my skin, "then let me be selfish."

I squeezed my eyes shut, my body shaking under his touch.

I should have pushed him away.

I should have kept arguing.

But instead, I whispered, "Rudraksha…"

He pulled back just enough for our eyes to meet.

And that’s when I saw it—

Not possession.

Not control.

But fear.

A deep, unrelenting fear of losing me again.

I exhaled sharply, and my fingers curled into his robes.

"...I’m not leaving," I murmured.

His grip tightened on me. "Promise me."

I nodded, pressing my forehead to his. "I promise."

His breath shuddered.

And in that moment, something between us shifted.

Something unspoken.

Something that neither of us could ever take back.

We didn’t move for what felt like forever.

Just standing there, breathing each other in, like we were the only two people in the world.

But the moment ended when a knock came at the door.

Rudraksha didn’t let go of me as he called out, "What is it?"

A soldier entered, bowing.

"Maharaja," he said, "the scouts have returned."

Rudraksha’s body stiffened.

"The armies of Bhibhusan are moving toward the Vyantara border."

A cold chill ran down my spine.

The soldier hesitated before adding, "Their war banners are raised. They are ready for battle."

Silence.

Rudraksha’s grip on me tightened.

"Ready my army," he said. His voice was calm, controlled—too controlled.

The soldier bowed and left.

I turned to Rudraksha, my heart pounding.

"Rudraksha—"

His golden eyes burned.

"They think they can take you from me," he murmured, stepping back.

His entire aura changed.

This wasn’t the man who had just held me like I was his everything.

This was the King of Vyantara.

And his kingdom had just been challenged.

"Let them try," he said coldly.

I swallowed.

This wasn’t just about me anymore.

This was about war.

And the moment I returned, I brought it with me.