Page 61 of Twisted Deceit
Aadhya batted away happy tears as she bent to touch the clan leader's feet. She was surprised to see Nakul do the same with the clan leader. “May you both be blessed with an heir soon.” She straightened her back, a broad smile on her face at the thought of a baby, their child but quickly pushed that thought away.
There was a lot to be done for the region to stop the suffering before she could think of her selfish needs and desires. Aadhya watched as Nakul spoke to the Jodha clan representatives while she half followed the conversation between her uncle and Jodha bai. She could not avert her eyes from her husband. The man she thought had deceived her into marrying him for his gains. She was so wrong and was glad that was the case.
“Maaho,” Aadhya looked away from her husband when Jodha bai addressed her. Her cheeks flushed from being caught staring at her husband by her uncle and the older woman. “Please spend the night here. It is past sunset and you have a long distance to go. Allow us to serve the Kanwar Maaho.”
The woman’s affection moved Aadhya. “Jodha bai, I’m thrilled to receive your affection. My husband and I need to return tonight. We will be back soon to accept your hospitality.” She knew Nakul had his nightly meetings and had to return to the mansion.
“We look forward to your visit. We send our prayers for thePeaceritual!”
She smiled as the older woman left with her lead members. Her uncle came to stand next to her. “Aadi, are you sure about performing the ritual?”
“Mama, I see no reason why not. It will be hard but the reality is I should have thought of performing it sooner, especially when I know that was their dying wish.”
Her uncle nodded. “Tell me dear, when you’d like to perform the ritual with your husband, and we will be waiting.”
Nakul joined them a moment later and her uncle bid goodbye and left the tent with his men, leaving them alone. She smiled as he held his hand out to her to take the back of her hand to his lips. “Thank you!”
She stepped closer to him, her hand on his shoulder. “I need to say that. I’m so glad I came to this meeting. I never once realized that my parents left their last wish unfulfilled. And, I’m so glad you are—”
He hushed her. “Let’s get out of here. We can talk on the way.”
She followed him to the awaiting vehicles and she noticed there was more security than the other times they had attended meetings. Maybe it was because of the recent attack on him by the Kabalis.
Aadhya scooted closer to him as he slid next to her in the back seat. “I declined an invitation to stay over at Jodha’s tonight. I hope we can come back soon. I’m told this part of the region is extremely beautiful.
He nodded. “That’s not a bad idea.”
Her eyes widened. “Sorry, should I have accepted the invite? Would that have helped with the relationship?”
Nakul’s eyes were unreadable as he smirked. “You’ve rebuilt the relationship by agreeing to perform the ritual. I commend your resolve in this matter.”
She leaned closer to him. “Compared to what you’re doing, it’s nothing.”
He let out a chuckle. “Do you still want to check out the region in the morning?” His tone was playful so she could not tell if he meant it.
She pulled back to look at him. “Seriously?” She laughed. “Are we going to go back and insist we take her offer tonight?”
“We could,” he winked and that set off something in her. “Or we could stay on the holy lands and come visit the region in the morning.”
Her eyes widened. “Is that possible?”
“I’ll make it happen.” He reached for his phone and sent out a few messages. A moment later, his screen flashed and he smirked. “We are all set.”
She let out a squeal of joy. “But, what about your meeting?”
He shook his head. “Nothing is more important than pleasing my wife at this moment.”
Her heart skipped a beat but she managed to laugh it off. “Not cheesy at all.” Her nerves were high-strung when he was close and she didn’t know what that meant as they worked on other goals.
What Aadhya felt between them was powerful and had the strength to steer them in any direction, but given where they were headed, she wanted to be with him forever.
A solid need to break the contract consumed her but she pushed away the selfish thought.
Chapter 25
A short ride later, Aadhya caught sight of lights at a distance. Before she could ask what town or settlement it was, their convoy took a detour toward the lights. “Where are we?”
“We are on holy lands. We will spend the night here to tour the region in the morning.” He met her eyes in the dim light of the SUV, and she couldn’t help but smile.
