Page 15 of Twisted Alliance

One of the men tried to get past Shivay, but Shivay didn’t allow the man anywhere near his bride. He kicked the man in the stomach, making the man fall back and gasp in agony.

“Tell me,” he commanded. “Who sent you all!”

The attackers didn’t reply. They stood in an attack position, and one of them spoke.

“How the hell is this city man fighting like a demon!” a man frantically remarked.

“Did you not drug him?” another man asked.

Before Shivay wondered if his wedding feast near the temple was drugged, a shaky feminine voice replied.

“I-I did,” his bride replied. “He drank an entire glass of that juice a few minutes ago. I-I don’t know why he is still conscious.”

Shock ripped through Shivay.

His bride had deliberately drugged him. The drink she insisted he finish was why a haze and gloom were settling over his head and body.

Shivay whipped around and met his bride’s beautiful yet treacherous eyes.

She looked terrified at the expression on his face. The split-second cost him because something hard smashed against his head.

Pain exploded. Shaking his head, Shivay held the sword and attacked once again. This time he knew he didn’t need to protect his bride from the attackers because she was one among them.

He was surrounded by the men. Holding his sword, he slashed it downward, cutting off a man’s finger, causing him to scream in agony. More men entered the tent.

Shivay held the sword in both hands and continued to slash around him. But with every stroke, the sword began to feel heavier. His mind began to fill with a fog. He shook his head to stay awake and continued fighting.

There were more screams of agony when the sharp end of his sword caught his attackers.

“My God,” a man remarked. “He isn’t falling. Call in all of our men!”

More men entered, and at least a dozen men surrounded him. He continued slashing through them until something hard crashed against his head once again. Blood seeped through his hair and poured down his eyes, temporarily blinding him. He didn’t want to give up, but the next step he took, his legs gave way, and he fell to the floor on his knees.

His sword was seized, and he was held by a dozen men. He struggled violently, but they managed to hold him down.

His gaze then fell on his bride still frozen on the spot and watching him with terror on her beautiful face.

Anger erupted inside him. “You will pay for this,” he growled at her. “Pray that I die because if I live, I will not spare you.”

She let out a frightened sob and took a step back, even though he was held down by her men. “Y-you don’t belong in Singoor,” she whispered.

Before he could respond to his treacherous bride’s words, another hard blow landed on his head. Pain radiated from his head, and this time darkness enveloped him completely.

CHAPTER 5

Ishani Gujjar was at her favorite spot in her family home. It was inside a garden by a water fountain. She often spent considerable time at the place since it offered her privacy to do her favorite things. She was currently feeding the peacocks and rabbits.

It was a beautiful picture-perfect day, and she wished she had a camera with her to capture the moment as she would miss it soon.

She looked around with a smile, soaking in the beauty. The bin musical instrument she played each morning was set on the pedestal next to the God Shiva statue. On the other side of the garden, under a shaded nook, was her recently purchased book placed on the garden bench.

Although she would miss the garden and the place she grew up in, she was looking forward to the new life she planned.

I’ll come back soon to visit.

She had never lived outside of her home. The thought of it made her excited as well as nervous.

A few more days.

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