Page 66 of Twisted Sins

She tried to scream in terror, but no sound emitted her throat.

Nandini woke up with a gasp while a silent scream of terror remained lodged in her throat. She was shaking and sweating while the remnants of her dream lingered.

“Nandini?” a concerned voice called out to her.

Blinking her eyes and inhaling a deep breath, Nandini turned to see Uma inside the tent.

“Are you all right?” Uma asked.

No, I’m not all right. I want to go home instead of being the demon’s captive wife.

“Yes, I’m fine,” Nandini replied. “I just… had a nightmare.” She stuck to the partial truth.

Uma nodded in sympathy.

It had been three days and four nights since she and the demon were rescued from a dark cave. After her brothers left, and the demon dragged her into a tunnel of caves, he passed out on her.

She had been terrified that the demon had died and she would be left alone with the dead body stuck in a cave. But a few hours later, she heard the sound of an eagle followed by the Kabali men who came into the cave and rescued the demon and her.

The demon remained in and out of unconsciousness while she was terrified that his people would kill her for being the reason for the attack on their leader. She had remained frozen and silent while they took her back to the Kabali lands.

They moved the encampment to a different location, choosing a foothill of a different mountain. The demon was taken to a different tent where he was being treated for his gunshot injuries.

For three days, she remained inside the tent, not knowing what fate awaited her. Uma and Rumi had come in to assist her with baths and meals, but they remained largely grim and silent. It was on the third night that Uma came in with a relieved look.

“Rudra has gained consciousness and is out of danger. He said that you accepted him in the holy land and are not responsible for the attack on him.”

Nandini was shocked by Uma’s words.

She had no idea why the demon hid the truth from his people that she had planned the escape to the holy land, and it was her brothers who had shot him, causing him to bleed and nearly die.

“I want to see Rudra,” she stated. “I… want to know how he is doing.”

Uma nodded. “I will check again if you are allowed to see him. But first have a bath and eat a good meal. You haven’t eaten well due to worry for your husband.”

Nandini forced a smile and nodded. It wasn’t her worry for the demon that caused a loss in her appetite. It was the failed escape attempt and worry for her own life.

She had, however, asked about the demon the last three days, but she was told that he was still recovering from his injuries and she wasn’t allowed to see him.

But she to see him somehow. She had a ton of questions that he had to answer.

How did he know to speak British English? Did he have a tutor? Or did he go outside India and get educated like her father had done?

Then how did someone educated turn into a brutal, savage leader?

And most of all, why the hell didn’t he communicate with me in that language until then?

Rudra Kabali had a damn lot to answer.

Sucking in another deep breath, she let out a tentative smile. “Yes, I am anxious to see… my husband.”

***

After a bath and a meal, she was told that she could join Uma outside.

The encampment was slightly bigger than the previous two she had seen. She noticed there were a few more tents added. She saw a couple of new women as well.

She tried to smile at them, but they returned her greeting with a glare.

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