Page 125 of Twisted Sins

Maya looked uncertain.

“Maya, go!” she commanded.

Maya turned the horse and began riding away. Meanwhile, the horsemen got closer. Just when Maya was at a safe distance, Nandini rode towards the horsemen, hoping to somehow convince them that she wasn’t willing to go to the Thakvar mansion.

When they came closer, she saw that their clan colors were different from the Thakvar or any other north clan colors she had seen the previous day.

A man rode in the front and stopped as she joined him.

“Take off her face veil and check if she is the woman Mr. Tantra wants.”

As soon as he said that, she realized that the man wouldn’t take her to the Thakvar mansion with her family. Sucking in a deep breath, she squeezed her legs against the horse, hoping to escape and also lead the riders away from Maya and the Kabali encampment.

But something pricked her neck from behind. When she raised her hand, she felt a needle. Her blood froze.

She knew it must be some kind of drug or poison. It seemed to work on her immediately because she could barely move her legs. And the next moment, she slid down the horse onto the soft sand.

“Rudra…” she whispered.

If something happened to her, her family would blame Rudra. The Kabali and the Thakvar clan would go to war, and people she loved and cared about would get hurt.

Oh God. What have I done?

Soon, darkness took over.

CHAPTER 35

It was the first time in over thirty years that all the Singoor clans were meeting.

The north clan warriors let out loud cries of announcement as they approached the tent. After many years, it was announcement rather than war cries. But he knew the clans waiting inside the tent would still be terrified and on guard, listening to what they deemed to be savage primitive cries.

Rudra was not ready to let down his guard either—not yet. He had his cousins run continuous surveillance over the entire region, and he got updates every few minutes discretely into his earpiece, which looked like a traditional Kabali earring that most men wore on the outer ear. He knew the other north clans felt the same way about the meeting, but it had to happen.

Soon, the horses began slowing down. A small group of Kabali warriors and warriors from other north clans remained at a distance from the tent as per the rule.

Only he and the rest of the clan heads continued to the tent. They got off the horses and left their weapons behind before entering the tent.

The rules of the land required the clan heads to meet without weapons.

As soon as he stepped in, he saw all the clan heads from the east, west, and south present. Although most of their faces were filled with fear, they had all come to support the Thakvar clan.

Mihir Thakvar was present with his three sons. Although the Thakvar armed security was not present outside the tent, Rudra knew they must have come prepared if things went wrong.

Rudra met the Thakvar brothers’ glares with an indifferent gaze.

Mihir Thakvar waited calmly as the north clan heads settled into their assigned spots.

Soon, the meeting began with the sound of a bell. It was led by Mihir Thakvar.

“I’m Mihir Thakvar, the head of the Thakvar clan. I would like to thank everyone for extending their trust and coming here. In the past, such meetings were held to bring all the Singoor clans together. I’m hoping this will be our first step towards peace.”

A loud clamor broke in the large tent as all the clans except the north clans cheered in support.

When the cheers died down, Mihir Thakvar added, “As a part of the peace negotiations, I would like to discuss the alliance made between my daughter and the Kabali clan heir. While I understand the need for the alliance, without a willing bride, the marriage is invalid.”

There was a brief silence.

“This is not a forced alliance,” Ambika Ahir, one of the old clan heads from the north, said. “The Thakvar heiress has clearly announced to all the north clans that she has accepted Rudra Kabali as her husband and will honor the alliance to bring peace to the region.”

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