Page 285 of A King's Oath

She quickened her pace and Samarth followed.

“Let’s go back, Rawal,” Hira ben smirked, stopping him mid-path.

He frowned.

“Rajmata’s orders. Let’s stick to some rules, at least.”

Samarth hung back on the last step in a staring match with Hira ben. She stood on the verandah, even more determined to have her way. Why did it feel like him walking her to the girls’ dorm all over again?

“Alright,” Samarth finally agreed. “I’ll make sure Ava has locked up and take Brahmi to Papa’s chambers.”

“Not necessary. I’ll take Brahmi. Do you want me to take you also?”

He huffed. Then chuckled.

“Give us a minute?”

Hira Ben’s face split into a smile — “I’ll help Brahmi change.”

As soon as Hira ben was inside the house and had shut the screen door, Samarth grabbed her wrist and tugged her close.

“There’s security around…”

“And they know the truth. Tomorrow all of Nawanagar will know it.”

“You are taking big risks, Rawal.”

“Bigger the risk, greater the reward,” he circled her bare waist as she stood on the third step, eye-to-eye with him for a change. “Saree suits you, Raje.”

She shrugged one shoulder and preened — “I know.”

He laughed.

“What?”

“That was Brahmi right there. How am I going to manage two know-it-alls?”

“I can’t wait to see how you do it.”

“I can’t wait to do it.”

Avantika sighed, looking at him with all the peace that had come and settled inside her breath. “I never imagined my life…ourlife would turn this way.”

“Neither did I. Routine in unhappiness has a way of lasting forever, and convincing you that thisisforever. My forever broke with you.”

“And Brahmi.”

His eyes shone, his eyebrow going up along with the side of his mouth — that killer smirk of her school Samarth. She wanted to touch it, to taste it, to rub her thumb across that raised edge of his lips. Avantika held her fingers back with immense control and shot him a smile — the one that he claimed she only ever smiled for him.

“Mama, where is my snugly?” Brahmi’s yell echoed from inside the door.

“In the cabin luggage you packed,” she hollered, not breaking eye contact with him. And his smirk softened into a smile.

“Will you be ok here alone, by yourself?”

“Oh, I’ll be in bliss. I am getting a night to myself after ages. It’s a bathtub, music, wine if I can find some, and sleep like a bachelor night.”

His eyes darkened. He opened his mouth to say something when Brahmi came scuttling out. She pulled out of his arms as he stood back, bracing for Brahmi as she jumped from the top step and right into his chest.

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