Page 72 of Twisted Alliance

One of the clan heads reached for a small container in his pocket. Then dipping his three fingers in the holy ash, he pressed the blessing onto Shivay Thakvar’s forehead. “The protector of Sands of Singoor,” he declared.

Soon after, the other clan heads approached them, and took off their turbans as per their tradition, and placed it in his hands in offering. It was a sign of yield in war or a gesture of seeking help, and as if her husband knew every one of the ways, he held the turban and placed it back on the clan leader’s head.

Soon, all of the clan heads gave their allegiance before leaving the meeting. Most of them came on camels and a few on horses. Once they all left, only the Thakvar vehicles remained near the makeshift tent.

Shivay Thakvar looked at her. “Let’s go. We are done with the meeting.”

She nodded and allowed him to lead her to the vehicles.

He held open the SUV door for her, and just before he closed it, he looked at her for a long moment. The intensity in his eyes was unreadable.

Biting her lip, she waited while he sat next to her, and the vehicle began moving.

Why is he not saying anything?

Was he still angry with her? She expected him to say something cutting, such as not to betray the smaller clans by revealing details of the peace treaty meeting to her brother, but he was silent during the drive.

The convoy of vehicles drove through the desert. She could see the SUVs moving in a line with their vehicle at the center. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a gust of wind blew sand on the windshield, reducing the visibility.

Even with the wipers pushing away the sand, she saw the sand rising in the air and blowing around in circles.

A sandstorm.

She had seen a few sandstorms, but they were less intense and gone within a few seconds. But the one they were caught up in had winds increasing in speed.

Her heart thudded as all the vehicles slowed, trying to wade through the storm.

Shivay Thakvar dialed a number on his phone.

“Is there a different route we can take to avoid the sandstorm?” Shivay asked someone.

She turned to see he was listening to the other person speak on the phone.

“Let’s take shelter there until the storm abates,” he replied.

She didn’t know what was spoken, but the vehicles began diverting to a different route.

The sandstorm hit them harder, and she felt the vehicle jolt at its initial impact, followed by minimal visibility. They continued to move slowly until they came to a stop somewhere.

Ishani couldn’t see anything. Shivay Thakvar got down, and moments later, the door to the SUV opened on her side.

“Come,” he instructed.

His muscular arm wrapped around her waist while she lowered her head, pulling her veil closer to her body to avoid the spiraling sand.

His arm kept her grounded because the wind was so strong that her body swayed backward. She moved unconsciously closer to him while he led them somewhere. After several moments, they stepped inside a place and immediately she heard the sound of a door closing shut.

She felt the loss of his muscular arm when he moved away. Immediately, she began to dust off the sand from her clothes. Knowing no one else but her and Shivay Thakvar were in the place, she pushed up her veil and dropped the long cloth.

Her eyes met with Shivay Thakvar. He had sand on his clothes and in his hair too. But his dark gaze was on her, watching her intently.

Feeling conscious without her veil and strongly drawn to him, she looked away, only for her heart to jerk violently.

They were in one of the tents on the holy land. It was the same tent they had spent their wedding night in. The night she had betrayed him.

***

A shiver rippled through Ishani as she stood and faced her husband in a place that held dark memories.

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