Page 23 of Twisted Alliance

Ishani’s eyes fell on the white satin bedding. Although they were beautiful with handwoven laces at the edges, all she could think of was how her blood might stain them when her husband killed her that night.

She sucked in a breath, trying to stop her fear from taking over.

She stood in a daze while the women joked and talked about wedding nights and their experiences with their husbands.

“Look at the Thakvar bride’smehndi,” someone pointed. “It’s still so dark even after four days. It shows that your husband is virile.”

“Yes, you are very lucky to have such a handsome, virile husband,” someone else told her.

“My husband was not at all handsome,” another woman added. “In fact, he looks like a human toad! But it didn’t matter. Once the lights were turned off, only virility mattered.”

There was more laughter.

Ishani remained in a daze when the women quickly undressed her in the bathroom and pushed her into a bathtub with rose-scented water. She could barely relax or breathe freely while they washed her hair and scrubbed the fine sand from the journey off her body.

She was then pulled out of the tub, and her hair was dried using aromatic herbal smoke while scented oils were rubbed on her body. Although she was used to and enjoyed similar ministrations at home, she felt even more so like a lamb led to slaughter right then.

At least I’m going to look beautiful and be clean when I die.

She suppressed a hysterical laugh from escaping her at the ridiculous thought.

She was wearing a beautiful, long dress that carried the Thakvar colors of dark red and yellow along with simple jewelry. Her hair was left loose for the occasion, and the veil covering her was too sheer to be considered a veil.

“You look so beautiful!” a woman said with excitement. “The Thakvar heir won’t be able to resist you!”

“If you haven’t conceived a Thakvar heir from your wedding night, you will tonight in the Thakvar mansion for sure!”

Ishani wanted to laugh hysterically once again.

I betrayed him on our wedding night. And now he will kill me!

She wanted to shout those words, but no one would believe or support her. They would not believe her even if she declared Shivay Thakvar a ruthless businessman who was only pretending to be the heir of the Thakvar clan.

Oh God. Please save me.

But her prayers didn’t seem to work that night because suddenly there was silence, and the air felt charged. All the women gasped and looked in awe towards the door.

Ishani didn’t have to turn to know who was standing at the entrance of the bedroom suite.

Slowly, she turned, and through the thin veil, her eyes met with Shivay Thakvar’s. Ishani’s breath froze inside her chest as her husband watched her with hooded eyes.

He had also changed into a different set of clothes and wore the Thakvar clan turban with the bejeweled insignia.

He was accompanied by a group of men laughing boisterously and cheering the groom. But she barely paid attention to the cheering or words from the men or women around her. All of her focus was on the man she feared the most—the man who would possibly murder her that night or hurt her badly.

Her heart pounded inside her chest, and her stomach trembled looking at the long, bejeweled sword he held at his side that was a part of tradition within their clans. She recalled the last time he had used the ceremonial sword to fight back his attackers on their wedding night.

Oh God.

She knew he planned to kill her or maim her using the same sword.

“Thank you, ladies, for helping my bride. You may leave now.”

His deeply spoken order was met with blushing smiles and giggles before the women around her began leaving the suite.

Don’t go! He plans to kill me tonight!

She wanted to shout those words, but her voice froze. Even after the women left, the men remained, patting him on the back and cheering him on.

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