Page 185 of Twisted Sins

Tantra started with some chants in the Kabali language and later they were a set of instructions. As he spoke in a calm yet impactful manner, she purposely made it a point to tune him out. Listening to those words meant her mind will be tuned and instead she shut her eyes and went to her happy place.

First, it was her childhood memories. Her mother’s smiles and hugs. Her brother’s playing with her even though she was much younger than them. Her father’s first hug with tears in both their eyes.

She then thought of Rudra. She was in Rudra’s arms as they stood behind the waterfall and looked at the lotus flowers in the pond. Her thoughts deepened as she imagined him on the streets of New York, walking hand in hand as she took him around the city to visit her favorite places.

She smiled remembering how his eyes deepened when their eyes met and her heart rate picked up when he was close by.

At that thought, her eyes flew open, and she felt her chest rise and fall rapidly. She placed her palm over her chest, and even as her heartbeat deafened her, she heard the call of the eagle.

“Rudra,” she whispered, terrified that Rudra was riding into danger but also happy knowing he had come for her.

Tantra stopped mid-chant and looked at her.

She could see not only the rage but also a slight disappointment in his eyes.

“Looks like that nephew of mine has won over your heart,” he said. “That leaves me no choice but to end his life in combat. I will gain my position as the Kabali clan leader first, and I will enjoy doing that because I will rip that nephew of mine to pieces.”

Nandni’s heart thudded sickly.

She got up from the ceremony and ran out of the tent to warn Rudra.

The wind had picked up, and the sand drifted into her eyes. Covering her face with the cloth, she kept running.

It was hard to see, but she felt fingers enclosing over her arm.

“You are mine, Nandini.”

Tantra’s touch made her skin crawl.

She heard a war cry and knew it was Rudra.

Before she could warn Rudra, she saw Tantra’s men surrounding him.

Nandini looked up as she watched Rudra slicing his spear through Tantra’s men until they fell away. But more poured in.

“Stop,” Tantra thundered.

This time Rudra stopped. He must have seen that Tantra held her.

“I am the rightful Kabali heir and clan head,” Tantra’s voice boomed. “I challenge you to fight you until death.”

Rudra stilled.

“I accept your fight,” Rudra declared. “But first, let Nandini go.”

Nandini felt Tantra’s fingers loosen. She quickly stepped away from him.

The howling of the wind was loud and the sand threatened to seep through the thin material that shielded her face. It got so dark around her and she didn’t know where Rudra and Tantra were even though she could hear them.

She gathered her strength to walk towards the sounds of physical fights and men growling and stopped when she spotted the men. Their arms interlocked, Tantra pressing down on Rudra’s neck while Rudra lay on the ground.

She was shocked.

She had never seen Rudra in such a vulnerable situation. He always won a fight within moments. She realized that Tantra must be equally strong.

Rudra pushed back, tackling Tantra face down on the sand. But Tantra let out a growl, pushed Rudra off of him, and stood up.

“I will end you and take my Nandini and what is rightfully mine… Singoor!”

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