Page 136 of Twisted Sins

“Hold on to the reins,” he commanded before placing her on his horse.

She held the reins and blinked her eyes open to see that the sun hadn’t risen yet. She shivered as the cold desert wind blew over her slightly damp clothes.

But as soon as the demon climbed behind her and held her close, heat enveloped her once more.

“Are you okay, or do you want to sit sideways?” the demon asked.

The question confused her for a moment until she felt the aching soreness between her legs. Her cheeks heated.

“I’m fine,” she said.

He paused for a moment and then rode them into the desert towards the north.

***

They only stopped once for a short break when they entered the harsh mountainous terrain of the north Singoor desert. Before they resumed their journey, the demon commanded her to eat some dates and drink water. She didn’t eat anything but took a few sips of water.

The soreness between her legs remained, reminding her of their passionate night, making her cheeks burn despite the cool desert morning breeze. But as they continued their journey, she leaned against the demon’s broad chest to close her eyes and once again dream of his touch.

The cool breeze turned warmer as the sun began to rise. The sun's harsh glare fell on her face while sweat dripped around her forehead.

Just when she thought of asking the demon to stop for another break, the horse began slowing down. They rode into a deep valley between the mountains. She didn’t recall riding through this path before. But she let out a relieved sigh as the sun no longer fell on her face, and the temperature significantly cooled down due to the shadows of the mountains in the valley.

They rode for some more time before he took another detour and rode through a narrow opening between two hills.

The horse slowed down, and she was shocked when nearly a dozen men stepped out of the shadows. For a moment, she was worried they were being attacked until she saw that the men wore Kabali attire and held familiar weapons.

The men greeted the demon.

Just as she wondered why the Kabali men were hiding in shadows and guarding inside a narrow pathway, they entered a stone arch, and the pathway was no longer narrow.

A shocked gasp escaped her, and her jaw dropped open.

“My God…” she whispered in shocked wonder.

There was a large settlement camouflaged within the mountain range. She could see dozens of people dressed in the Kabali clan attire. Instead of tents like the previous encampments, a massive stone building, a fortress, was carved into the mountain. Large pillars enclosed the front, and a massive eagle with an expanded wingspan, the Kabali clan insignia, was carved at the center.

She could see windows up to three floors, and the structure seemed to extend endlessly along the mountains.

The sounds of drums and conch shells filled the air, followed by a flurry of activity as people poured out and a crowd gathered. She realized that the sounds signaled her and the demon’s arrival.

There was a buzz of excitement and primitive sounds of welcoming cheers as the demon rode through the crowd.

The horse stopped in front of the stone fortress.

The demon got down and then held her waist to place her on the ground. He held her hand as the excited crowd enclosed them.

The people seemed happy to see their clan head. Most looked at her curiously, but a few had wary and openly hostile expressions.

Her fingers tightened nervously in the demon’s grip. She knew the Kabali clan didn’t trust her and thought she would spell trouble. And all of them hated the Thakvar clan due to the past.

“Rudra!” the children shouted and waved excitedly.

The demon waved back at them.

Why were the children and elderly kept away from the encampment?

She realized the demon was protecting them, especially because her presence increased the chances of an attack on the Kabali encampments. There were also elderly people in the crowd.

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