Page 27 of Twisted Alliance

A trickle of something fine and gritty slid into his nose, making him realize it was sand. He tried to move, but something restrained his movements. His fingers brushed against something. A cloth. He was wrapped in a cloth bag, and based on the weight he felt on top of him, he was buried under the sand.

Rage filled him.

But he controlled himself because he couldn’t afford to use up the small amount of oxygen trapped around him within the cloth bag. Darkness was threatening to overcome him again.

His mind went into overdrive as he slowly turned his right hand until he felt the tightness on his wrist, indicating that his watch was still on him. He was glad that the attackers didn’t rob him. The watch was too simple in design to be thought of as expensive. But it was quite expensive, and it also had something he needed at the moment more than any shiny, expensive-looking watch.

The signal he let out from his watch while he was in the tent should have alerted the standby security in the city. He had sent out the alert as soon as he saw the first attacker entering the tent. At that time, even though he felt he could tackle the attacker by himself, he didn’t want to take chances because he had prioritized his innocent bride’s well-being. He wanted help to arrive in case something happened to him.

But his bride wasn’t innocent, and her life was never at risk.

Rage filled him again as he recalled his bride’s treachery.

She had drugged him and led him towards death with no remorse. She was evil disguised as an innocent beauty.

Even now, when he lay under a sandy grave counting moments until he lost consciousness again, he couldn’t help but visualize her beauty behind his eyes—her delicate features with large eyes and cherry-red lips that trembled. Her soft, alluring fragrance of jasmine could still be recalled under the dry smell of the sand.

The way she stood still and looked frightened had made him want to protect and cherish her at any cost.

All lies.

He lost control of his rage, and his head nearly exploded, threatening to push him into darkness again. He swallowed and brought his breathing under control. Instead of his beautiful, treacherous bride, he recalled his mother’s gentle smile.

His breathing calmed immediately.

Slowly, he tried to move his hands again. The sand moved around him as he shifted. Although he still felt the effects of the drug, and it took considerable effort for a simple movement, he continued to move his fingers. He was able to find the opening of the cloth bag on the top of his head. Sand poured around his face and entered his nose while he made clearance for his hands. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to hold his breath for long, he moved his hand upward.

Soon, his fingers met with air. The attackers must have thought he was dead to have buried him in a shallow grave. Or they must have left him in a shallow grave with an open cloth bag hoping wild animals would attack him and finish him off without a trace.

The thought of Ishani Gujjar condoning such a savage end to her unwanted husband enraged him. But this time, the anger drove his adrenaline, and he propelled his body up until his head and shoulders surfaced above the sand.

Breathing in the much-needed air, he looked around to see the vast stretch of desert in the moonlight. Using the last of his energy, he dragged the rest of his body out of the sand. Just when he thought he might lose consciousness again and become prey to the wild animals, he heard something. The sound grew louder after a few moments.

It was a helicopter. The rescue team had arrived.

Shivay’s eyes opened.

He wasn’t in the desert or at the hospital where he had spent the next two and a half days recovering from his injuries.

He was in the Thakvar mansion. The sun was beginning to rise, and the bedroom glowed with soft sunlight streaming in through the large windows. But what caught his attention was the woman asleep next to him.

Barely two feet away was Ishani Gujjar. His wife.

Despite the faint shadows under her eyes and the slight frown of worry even in her sleep, she looked breathtakingly beautiful.

He didn’t have to remind himself that her beauty came with a price, and he had nearly paid with his life when he thought of her as an innocent who had to be protected at any cost.

No more.

She might be beautiful, but she was untrustworthy and dangerous. Unfortunately for her, he was no longer taken in by her deceptive innocence or beauty.

He recalled her reaction when she discovered he was alive. She had nearly fainted and tried to escape before he carried her into the Thakvar mansion.

She was terrified of him. She trembled during the festivities in the mansion. She trembled during the meal. She trembled when she found herself alone in the bedroom with him. She trembled when he tied her hands together to prevent her from escaping him.

But unlike the last time, he didn’t feel the need to reassure her. All he felt was satisfaction and dark anger.

He would make her pay for her betrayal in every way possible.

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