Page 56 of Twisted Sins

The demon’s muscled arm disappeared from around her as he got down the horse. Long fingers gripped her hips as the demon picked her up and put her on the ground.

Her legs felt shaky. And it wasn’t entirely due to the long horse ride.

Her legs shook because of the upcoming night.

Lowering her eyes, she hurried towards the tent. And then, pushing the entrance rugs aside, she stepped inside. Only to gasp in surprise.

She had expected a basic tent with flat bedding and furniture. But what she saw was an elaborate set up with not only bedding, low tables, and rugs but also fresh flowers placed on the stark white bed covers, trays filled with fresh fruit and nuts, and also tumblers filled with most likely water and fermented drinks that Kabali clan had with their meal.

How can there be fresh flowers and fruits?

It was only the previous evening that the seer must have told the demon to go to the holy land.

Then how did the demon have someone set up the tent so soon?

It would take a day for his people as well to reach the top of the mountain. And even if some of the Kabali clan people rode ahead, she would have come across them when they rode down the mountain after setting up the tent.

Which meant the tent was set up at least a day before. The demon must have already made a decision to take her to the holy land when she had asked him a couple of nights ago. It wasn’t her manipulation with the help of the seer that had changed his mind.

The thought unsettled her.

Because it would mean the demon was unpredictable and couldn’t be easily manipulated. He just did things as he wished.

Her heart thudded when the air inside the tent shifted, and she felt the presence of the demon behind her.

She turned and nearly screamed. With the sun setting behind him, all she could see was the shadowy outline of the demon’s tall, broad form with his demonic horns, headgear, and spear with the three-prong weapon.

“Tam hums manlam mam ornayi thikri dhani…gvanni,” he commanded deeply.

She had seduced the demon and had told him she would accept him as her husband in the holy land.

And now that they were in the holy land tent, it was time to pay.

***

Nandini stood frozen while the demon came towards her. He stopped in front of her. His grey eyes looked molten as he watched her face and repeated the words again.

“Tam hums manlam mam ornayi thikri dhani…gvanni,” he commanded again.

She sensed an underlying challenge in the tone of his words. Almost as if he expected her to break down crying or cower in fear.

It sent a bolt of anger through her.

Sucking in a deep breath, she raised her chin. And then, pasting an alluring smile, she replied.

“Havam, mam manlam ornayi thikri dhani.” She had managed to memorize the words she knew he would want to hear.

His grey eyes flashed, listening to her words.

Before the demon grabbed her and threw her on the bedding to consummate the marriage right at that moment, she quickly stepped further into the tent.

“Khayer,” she said in Kabali language. “Let’s eat first.”

She went to the low tables and lit the oil lamps using the thick matchsticks kept to the side. She then went to the low table, where a tray with food was kept. She took a bite of a sweet date and ate a few nuts before reaching for the copper tumblers. The first one had water. Ignoring it, she reached for the strong, fermented drink that the Kabali clan normally had with their meals. She slowly poured the liquid into a small, empty copper tumbler.

She turned slightly and nearly jumped in shock when she saw the demon watching her. He was slowly undressing and preparing for the night. He had removed the horn's headgear and kept his spear weapon aside. His black tunic was on the low table, and he removed the brown beads while watching her.

Her heart thudded crazily inside her chest.

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