War was coming.

The moment I heard that the Bhibhusan twins had moved toward the Vyantara border, I knew there was no turning back.

They weren't coming for land or power.

They were coming for her.

For my Aranya.

And that was something I would never allow.

That night, I found her standing by the balcony, the moonlight casting a soft glow on her skin.

Her arms were wrapped around herself, her expression unreadable.

I leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. "You're thinking too much."

She turned slightly, a small smile playing on her lips. "And you're not thinking enough."

I smirked. "That's because I already know how this ends."

Her brows furrowed. "Oh? And how does it end, Maharaja?"

I pushed off the doorway and strode toward her, stopping when we were mere inches apart.

I lifted her chin with my fingers, my thumb brushing over her jaw. "With me winning."

She rolled her eyes. "Of course you would say that."

I chuckled. "Do you doubt me?"

Her expression softened, her hands resting lightly on my chest. "I don't doubt you. I just... worry."

I tilted my head, watching her. "For me?"

She hesitated before nodding. "Yes."

Something warm spread through my chest.

I gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Then let me ease your worries, Aranya."

She exhaled, closing her eyes as my fingers trailed down her arm, my touch slow, deliberate.

When she opened her eyes, there was something vulnerable in them. "You can't promise me that nothing will happen, Rudraksha."

I cupped her face, my forehead pressing against hers. "No, I can't."

Her fingers clutched my robes. "Then what can you promise me?"

I kissed her slowly, deeply, my lips pressing against hers with all the unspoken words I couldn't say.

When I pulled back, my voice was nothing but a whisper. "That I will always come back to you."

Her breath hitched, and in that moment, I saw it-

She believed me.

Even if she was still afraid.

Even if war loomed over us.

She believed in me.

And that was enough.

For now.

The next morning, the palace was alive with war preparations.

The royal blacksmiths worked tirelessly, sharpening swords and forging new weapons.

Generals held strategic meetings, going over every possible scenario.

Messengers ran back and forth, delivering orders and reports.

And through it all, she followed me.

I didn't stop her.

But I could feel her eyes on me at all times.

She never said anything.

But I knew what she was thinking.

So, of course, I had to tease her.

I turned to her suddenly, smirking. "If you stare any longer, Aranya, my soldiers will think you are enchanted by me."

Her eyes widened slightly before she scoffed. "Please. I'm just making sure you don't make a reckless decision."

I stepped closer, my voice dropping to a low murmur. "Or perhaps, you are making sure I return to you in one piece?"

Her cheeks flushed, but she lifted her chin. "I never said that."

I chuckled. "You didn't have to."

She huffed. "You're impossible."

I leaned in, my lips brushing against her ear. "And you love it."

She shoved me, but I caught her wrist, spinning her back into me.

I held her there, my arms wrapped around her waist, her back against my chest.

"Rudraksha!" she hissed.

"Yes, Jaan ?" I murmured, my chin resting on her shoulder.

She tried to struggle, but I held her firmly.

"You have work to do," she grumbled.

"And yet," I mused, "this is far more entertaining."

She let out an exasperated sigh, but I didn't miss the small smile she tried to hide.

I smirked, pressing a small kiss to her temple before finally letting her go.

Her gaze softened, but then her eyes flickered to my armor, her fingers tightening at her sides.

"Just... be careful, okay?" she whispered.

I reached out, brushing my thumb over her lower lip.

"Always."

That night, before the army departed for war, she found me in my chamber.

She didn't say anything.

She just walked into my arms, holding onto me tightly.

I stroked her hair, inhaling her scent, memorizing her warmth.

I didn't know what would happen tomorrow.

But I knew one thing.

No matter what, I would return to her.

Because she was mine.

And nothing-not war, not kings, not fate-would ever take her away from me again.

I had always been a warrior.

I had always known war would be my end.

But never—not even in my darkest dreams—did I imagine that my kingdom, my Vyantara, would fall not by battle, but by betrayal.

And tonight, that betrayal came.

The first explosions struck the outer villages at midnight.

Fire spread through the sky like a serpent’s tongue, devouring homes, fields, people.

Screams pierced the night, and before my soldiers could even react, the second attack came.

Poisoned water.

The wells, the rivers—everything was tainted.

A coward’s strategy.

A war without honor.

I had expected battles, expected swords to clash, blood to spill in war.

But this—this was not war.

This was the annihilation of my people.

And I could not allow it.

I gathered my council, my generals, my people before dawn.

They knelt before me, awaiting my command.

And I gave them my last order.

"You will leave."

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

My general, Samrat, stood. "Maharaja, we cannot—"

"You will." My voice was calm, unwavering.

Silence fell.

I stood at the heart of my palace, my gaze sweeping over my people, my empire.

"Vyantara is lost," I declared. "The enemy did not come to fight. They came to wipe us from history."

The air was thick with tension, with heartbreak.

I continued, my voice firm. "You will take your families. You will flee to Malvastra. You will not tell them who you are, where you are from. You will live. And you will rebuild. Not for me. Not for Vyantara. But for your children."

A woman sobbed in the crowd.

"Vyantara is not just these walls," I said, my chest aching as I looked around. "It is you. And as long as you live, we will never be erased."

Samrat's voice was tight. "And what of you, Maharaja?"

I gave him a small smile. "A king does not run."

Gasps echoed.

"You intend to stay?" a minister whispered.

"I do not intend to fight them," I said. "I intend to end them."

I stood alone at dawn, the wind cold against my face.

I had given my people their freedom.

Now, I would give my kingdom its vengeance.

Every corner of Vyantara had been wired with explosives—alchemical powders, flammable oils, weapons crafted to destroy everything when ignited.

I would lure the enemy inside.

And then, I would burn with them.

But there was still one thing left to do.

One thing I could not leave behind.

I turned to the woman sleeping in my bed.

Aranya.

I exhaled softly, brushing my fingers through her hair.

My love. My curse. My salvation.

I could not take her with me to death.

I would not.

I carried her to the mirror, my heart heavy, my soul breaking.

This was the only way.

I pressed my lips to her forehead, lingering for a moment longer than I should.

"Forgive me," I whispered.

I raised my dagger—

And made a small cut on her palm.

The moment her blood touched the mirror, it glowed.

I reached out to push her inside.

But she woke up.

Her eyes snapped open, confusion turning into realization within seconds.

"Rudraksha?"

I clenched my jaw.

"You must go."

She sat up, glancing around, then at the glowing mirror.

Her breath hitched. "No. No, you are not—"

"You will leave, Aranya."

She shook her head violently, grabbing my wrists. "You cannot do this! There has to be another way! What's happening !! "

"There is no other way!" I snapped. "If you stay, you will die!"

"Then let me die!" she yelled.

My chest tightened painfully.

I grabbed her shoulders, my grip firm. "I would burn the world for you, Aranya, but I will not let you burn with me."

Tears streamed down her face. "Rudraksha—"

I steeled myself. I had to make her hate me. Only then she will leave in anger.

"You were always meant to leave," I said coldly. "I should never have let you stay this long."

She flinched like I had struck her.

"You are weak, Aranya. A burden. You will only get in the way."

Her breath shuddered, her face crumbling.

"Go back to your world," I continued. "That is where you belong."

She stepped back.

Hurt. Broken.

Good.

I raised my hand to push her into the mirror.

But before I could—

Her fingers curled into my collar.

And in the blink of an eye—

She yanked me forward.

I barely had time to process what was happening before she pulled me into the mirror with her.

The moment we crossed the threshold, Vyantara exploded.

The shockwave sent us crashing through the other side of the mirror, landing hard onto a cold floor.

I turned immediately, trying to go back—

But the mirror shattered.

Through the glowing cracks, I saw Vyantara engulfed in flames.

The enemy soldiers had barely stepped foot into the palace before they were consumed by the explosion.

The once great empire was nothing but fire and smoke.

A kingdom erased from history.

A kingdom that could never be taken again.

Because I had destroyed it myself.

I stared, my entire body shaking, my chest aching with a grief I could never describe.

Vyantara was gone.

Everything I had ever known, everything I had ever fought for, was gone.

And I should have burned with it.

I should have been buried with my home .

But instead—

She had saved me.

I turned my head slowly.

Aranya sat on the floor, her breathing ragged, her face pale.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked at the burning empire through the cracked mirror.

Then, she turned to me.

"You selfish bastard."

Her voice broke.

And then, before I could say a single word—

She collapsed into my arms.

I caught her before she could hit the ground, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Aranya!" I called her name, shaking her gently. "Aranya, wake up!"

She didn’t respond.

My hands tightened around her, my breathing uneven.

I had lost everything.

My kingdom. My people. My world.

But if I lost her, too—

I would never forgive myself.

Never.