Page 14 of Twisted Alliance

Surprisingly, she joined next to him in the small area where a spread of fruits and other delicacies were laid out. He watched as she poured what looked like juice into a copper tumbler. Some of it splashed on the table as her hands were shaking.

“P-please have this…” she whispered, coming towards him.

He could not avert his eyes and stared at her as she held up the copper tumbler. “I-It is a tradition to drink the nectar that will increase my chances of conceiving tonight.”

He looked at the beautiful yet terrified face in front of him.

“I’m not going to touch you tonight, Ishani,” he said softly.

There was a shocked confusion in her eyes.

Hoping to relax her and make her comfortable, he took the copper tumbler from her hand and sipped the drink. “It’s very good.” It tasted like thick fruity wine. “Why don’t you have some too?”

She shook her head. “It’s only meant for the men,” she whispered. “T-to improve their v-virility. Women should not have it.”

He doubted it but didn’t push her to break the tradition. He finished the drink and set the empty tumbler on the table.

He expected her to serve food for herself, but she stood still, watching him nervously.

“Aren’t you hungry?” he asked. “What would you like to have?”

She jumped slightly, and with trembling hands, she hurriedly served a few fruits into a bowl. She held it but did not eat any of it. He knew she was too nervous and scared to eat.

“Let’s sit near the couch,” he suggested, hoping the distance between them would help her relax. “I need to speak with you about our marriage.”

But instead of taking up the offer, she froze completely and then began visibly trembling.

He frowned, wondering what terrified her. Just when he was about to ask her, he heard something.

The sound of the wind suddenly got louder. Becoming alert, he turned towards the only opening in the tent. That’s when he saw the door open and two masked men enter the tent. The two men held knives in their hands.

Shivay’s first instinct was to protect his innocent bride. He looked at her.

“Ishani,” he instructed her calmly. “Go and hide under the bed. Don’t come out until I say so.”

She continued to stare at him in frozen terror.

Knowing she was in shock, he stood in front of her, blocking any oncoming attack while she escaped.

By then, one of the masked men lunged towards him with a knife. Shivay kicked the man hard in the stomach, and the man gasped before crashing to the floor.

It was like déjà vu from the time he was in Africa. But unlike the first attack, this time there were multiple attackers, and two more men entered the tent, making a total of four attackers.

“Ishani, go!” he commanded.

Hoping his bride snapped out of the shock, he pulled out the ceremonial sword from his side. They were on God’s land, and no one was supposed to take a life. Unfortunately, the attackers wouldn’t have such scruples.

They attacked him with the intent to kill.

He fought back. Holding the sword, he slashed through the three men making them jump back.

He stepped forward, leading them away from his bride. And then, he attacked again.

“Who sent you?” he demanded as his sword met with a masked man’s knife.

The man didn’t reply. Shivay had to turn quickly and ward off the knife attacks from the other men. They tried to surround him, but he held the sword and continued slashing around, drawing blood from nearly all the attackers.

He thought he had the situation in control, but a strange feeling crept into his mind. His arms began to feel lethargic, and he felt a strange tiredness that made him want to close his eyes and rest. Shaking his head, he held up the sword.

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