Page 32 of Twisted Bonds

The muscled arm around her loosened, and her demon husband got down the horse first. Then, holding her waist, he picked her up and placed her feet on the ground. Her eyes met with the grey ones, and a sizzle passed through her.

“This is not Singoor,” she said in a mocking stern tone. “You can’t carry me away on your horse as you like or do what you want.”

His grey eyes flashed as his mouth twisted. “I am going to do a lot more with you tonight… wife,” he said in a low tone.

Her stomach fluttered with anticipation.

The sound of laughter broke the spell, and her cheeks heated, realizing their family was nearby. With a deep chuckle, her demon husband wrapped his arm around her waist, and they went towards where the family was gathered.

Bhairav beamed with happiness. And when he spotted her, his grey eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Ma, I won the race!”

Nandini hugged her son before planting a kiss on top of his head. “Congratulations, baby.”

Bhairav was five years old. But the top of his head was almost at her chest level. Bhairav was as tall as a ten-year-old. She knew he would be as tall as his father.

“Ma, can I play cricket?”

Nandini shook her head. “Bhairav, we have a long journey tomorrow. You’ll get tired.”

“I promise I won’t be tired, ma!”

Nandini looked at her son’s appealing grey eyes and melted. “All right. You can play. But sleep early tonight.”

“I will!”

With a happy squeal, Bhairav and his cousins, who were Rudra’s cousins’ children, went towards the cricket ground to play.

Nandini smiled. Her son was lucky to have two extended families in Singoor and London.

Their two-week stay in London was ending and they would be returning to Singoor the next day.

***

Later that night, Nandini went to the children’s room to check. Bhairav was fast asleep as he had a fun yet tiring day. The rest of the children were also fast asleep.

She placed a soft kiss on her son’s cheek before stepping out of the room.

The corridor was quiet as the rest of the family had also gone to bed after a fun-filled, noisy dinner.

Smiling, she went to the bedroom suite that was Rudra’s when he grew up in London.

He wasn’t in the bedroom. She knew he must be spending time with his grandfather and cousins, with whom he shared a close bond.

She sat in front of the dressing mirror and was applying cream when she heard the soft click of the door. Her heart started to race when her eyes met with the grey ones.

He came towards her and stopped right behind her. Only then did she notice he was holding a familiar velvet jewelry box.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were going to bid for the Kabali Hearts tiara?” she scolded.

His mouth twisted. “I wanted to surprise my wife.”

“A fifty million surprise?” she asked.

Her demon husband was as arrogant and outrageous as ever. But she knew the surprise bid had a reason. In the ten years since she began working as an art and jewelry curator, he only encouraged her but never interfered. Although bidding on an item wasn’t interference, he had never done it before as he knew all her work was well received and had enthusiastic buyers worldwide.

He didn’t say anything. She watched as he placed the jewelry box on the dresser and opened it. The heart-shapedblack diamonds sparkled as he held it up before placing the tiara over her head.

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