"What is it?"

A sweet voice filtered through the tense silence before two lithe arms wrap around his naked abdomen. He relaxed at the contact and silenced his phone.

"My father wouldn't leave me alone."

Raghuveer complained and she tensed. Her grip loosened and she started to pull away, but he held her arms and brought her in front of him. Clad only in his shirt, she was every man's erotic dream. Her long wild hair was tied in a messy bun. She looked different from that uptight version. Always stiff and alert. He leans to steal a kiss before lifting her onto his lap and presenting her with a hot mug of coffee.

"Good morning."

She hesitantly took it and took a small sip.

"Good morning." Her reply was not as enthusiastic and he knew why.

It's been three weeks since they dealt with Surya Narayan. The bastard was found guilty in court and got charged with sexual assault in addition to corruption and fraud. With a sentence of 13 years, Raghuveer doubted if the old man will make it out alive. He was sure that rats would feed on his rotting cadaver. Mandakini was healing slowly, both physically and emotionally. She still had nightmares and in the past week, he caught her strolling the living room at the dead hour of the night. She was anxious if Surya Narayan would sign divorce papers. She sent them to central jail two weeks ago with her signature at the bottom. The jerk had refused to sign right away. He was adamant to ruin her life but Raghuveer won't let that happen.

He would extract his signature anyhow, even if it took him to personally cut Surya Narayan's thumb and stamp it on the papers. Because in a matter of a month, Raghuveer was planning on proposing to her. Although, Surya Narayan wasn't his main concern. It was his father. The news of Raghuveer beating Surya Narayan and eloping with his young wife has spread like wildfire across the nation. Everybody knew about this and didn't waste another moment labeling them with colorful names, especially Mandakini. He didn't want to recall how many men or the corrupt business associates of Surya Narayan has come forward in the old man's support and revealed all the shenanigans related to the couple. They had barked how Mandakini married the poor man for money and when failed to earn sexual satisfaction, she often threw herself on his clients. Though the man was deeply hurt, he kept forgiving her.

Raghuveer wanted to snap their necks and cut their tongues for badmouthing a woman like that.

He knew Mandakini was none of those things and in fact, was a victim of someone else's greed.

When the news broke on television, she refused to leave their little apartment. Her paranoid mind restricted her otherwise sharp intellect to step out and fight this battle. But she was a broken woman who was going through cycles of mental angst. He couldn't force her into doing things that might permanently devastate her. For now, she deserved comfort and protection.

Kissing her forehead, he hummed in her ear. She smiled lightly, making his heart beat faster.

"I think you should talk to your father. Tell him the truth and how you feel, then listen to him. Don't reach assumptions just yet. He is probably worried about you." She shared her concern and he nodded halfheartedly.

How he wish to tell her that their relationship was forbidden and fragile. Right now, they need to work on themselves and build themselves stronger. Raghuveer's father has already expressed his sincere disapproval of her. He was reading into what the world was saying. Rajyavardhan has not seen her from up close, otherwise, he would have read her truth in those innocent eyes. She was so bloody pure from inside that Raghuveer felt he didn't deserve her kindness. He has crushed hearts more than he could count on his fingers, but when he touched her bleeding one, the warmth it emitted extinguished the cold in his kernel. She was the wildfire that inspires him to wake up every morning and face the world.

"I will when I feel it is right. For now, let me focus on you. Remember one thing at a time." Raghuveer reminded and she sighed, but it soon turned into a gasp when he started trailing his lips on the marks of love he gave her last night. Fearing she might spill the coffee, she slides the mug on the counter and decides to indulge him for a few minutes. Curling her fingers in his silky hair, she guides his lips to her and they lose themselves in a battle of passion where they both lost. Her hands were busy tracing the contours of his hard muscles, and his fingers were making their way inside her shirt.

Suddenly, the bell rang. Mandakini jumped at the sound but Raghuveer shushed her and brought her lips back to his. But the visitor on the door was persistent as he kept ringing the bell again and again.

"I know you are in there. Open the door." A faint voice reached him and he instantly pulled away. Glancing at the hallway leading to the main door, Raghuveer guided Mandakini out of his lap and nodded towards the bedroom.

"Get dressed," She didn't need to be told twice as he made his way toward the intruder.

With a click, he twisted the knob and came face to face with Aryan, his younger brother.

"Long time no see," Aryan smirked as he pushed past Raghuveer and entered the luxurious apartment. His eyes instantly searched for the person responsible for his father's high blood pressure.

"What are you doing here?" Raghuveer grumbled as he lifted a t-shirt from the couch and wore it lazily. Aryan faced him and rolled his eyes.

"Don't kid me. The world's on fire and father's going crazy over the recent curry you so graciously spilled. Since he was sick to travel, he asked me to escort your royal ass back to the Fort. Please don't fight me on this. I have to buy a ring for my lady love." The little brother sassed as he opened the cap of a water bottle and gulped heftily. Raghuveer fell on the couch and rubs his forehead, feeling a headache building.

"I can't come home right now. There's so much work."

Aryan shrugged his shoulders as he fell beside his brother and eyed him in irritation.

"Ask your employees to do it. Don't give me a hard time. Have mercy on me. Father wants you back in the house before evening."

"I can't leave Mandakini alone. She is not in shape to..."

"Bring her along with you. Do you seriously think that our old man will kick her out? He doesn't deal with the matters of women, remember? You are his only concern. He is worried something might happen to you during this powerplay. Maybe Surya Narayan is behind the bars but his minions are still out, salivating for blood. Don't be foolish and risk your life. What if a bunch of hooligans attacks you right now? You don't even have security outside your apartment. Is this how you are going to protect her? Just come home, and let all of us deal with it like a family. You can't do this- face the world alone shit. Brother, you need us." Aryan reasoned, trying his best to change his brother's mind but before Raghuveer could answer, the door to the bedroom opened and Mandakini steps out.

The younger brother's jaw dropped at the woman in jeans and jacket for he never saw such a peaceful face before.

"Hello." She greeted him with a polite smile and he instantly stands for a handshake.

"Hi, I am Aryan. You must be Mandakini. How are you holding up?"

She nodded and sat on the single couch. The dark circles around her swollen eyes and messy hairdo gave away the stress she is going through. Her pupils were dilated and he instantly collected she was on heavy medication or painkillers. A fading bruise was decorating the left side of her jaw making his stomach churn. Her fingers were fidgeting in his lap and he knew she was barely holding herself from running away. Addressing her restlessness, Aryan smiled gently.

"Mandakini, I hope you bring it in your heart to forgive us. We didn't know what was going on. Raghuveer never shares openly. But I figured you were in pain. Stay assured that no harm will come from us but it isn't safe to stay in Chennai any longer. Come home. I am sure that dad will like you."

Mandakini shivered and looks at Raghuveer who was busy eyeing his brother suspiciously.

"Oh no. You don't have to apologize. I am happy that you came all this way to see me. I'm sorry for troubling you..."

Raghuveer cleared his throat, cutting her off in the middle.

"We will go to London."

"Don't be crazy," Aryan shouted and turned to face him. "Pull your shit together. Don't you see, she needs professional help. Her face is delivering symptoms of depression. We have the best doctors. Also, father would very much like to whoop your ass for putting yourself in harm's way. If you'll run away now, this will prove his suspicions right. He already thinks that she is a gold digger after your wealth. He has no idea what she has been through. I've already collected she means something to you for ignoring father's calls. The moment I saw her, I know you did the right thing. Let father discover the truth as well. The honor of family can be protected later."

Aryan extended his hand in Raghuveer's direction and looked into his eyes sincerely.

"Come with me, brother."

Raghuveer gasped as air filled his lungs.

The senior doctor orders the nurse to immediately get an oxygen cylinder because the patient's levels were dropping fast.

Outside the ICU, in the hallway, a man paced the corridor, rigid as ice. The two females settled on the bench held each other's hand, not trying to lose the thread of reality for their overthinking mind was ready to drown in worries and imagination of inexplainable scenarios.

Gauri blamed herself for the thousandth time for putting her father-in-law in a difficult place. She should've never opened that journal or read with him. If something bad happens, it will be a dark spot on her bloody conscience.

On the outside, Vasundhara maintained her composure, but her insides were churning. The words of the holy saint only aided her troubles. He had mentioned two deaths in the house before the eclipse. What if Raghuveer was one of them? Deep in her heart, she wanted him gone for it was unbearable to watch such a powerful man rot on a cot and travel using a wheelchair. When he was healthy, everyone feared him, followed his orders, and respected him, but now, he was a dead weight with no hope of recovering. She didn't want him to suffer more. But a tiny selfish part of her didn't want to lose hope. He was her husband, and she was hungry for his affection. She was waiting for the day he embraces her. She wanted to cry in his arms as he holds her close, gently cooing how things would be fine.

But it was wishful thinking.

Her soul curls when the events of the past knock at the back of her mind. Though he never loved her like a husband, he was always there as her friend, protecting her from the evil lurking at every corner. He has been her pillar and savior for a long time now, it was her time to stay strong and pray for his health.

Her sniffing daughter-in-law, who has somehow become close to Raghuveer lays her head on Vasundhara's shoulder and shuts her eyes.

After what felt like hours, the doctor emerged from the ICU and confronts the restless family.

"The high King has suffered a minor stroke. His condition is stable for now, but we must keep him under observation for the next 24 hours." The doctor informs the troubled family and left the three to deal with the aftermath. Yagya embraces his weeping mother and wife and kisses both their foreheads.

"He is a fighter, mother. The old man isn't going anywhere anytime soon until you are ready to kick him in the grave. The man loves you too much to leave you alone." Vasundhara nodded with tears of her own and cupped his cheek.

"You and Gauri must go and rest. It is evening now. I will join you over dinner." He ordered and ushered them both towards the exit. Exhausted and relieved, they reluctantly left the medical wing to retire in their respective chambers.

Once they disappeared, Yagya fell on the metal chair like a dead weight and took deep breaths. The stress was making him hungry and restless. The animal beneath his flesh was clawing to be let out. It took great restraint to not give into the call of the wild and let all the bones snap until the mare of night measures his territory while howling to the moon.

Rubbing his forehead, he stands from his chair and walks towards the door of the ICU slowly. He wanted to see his father for a brief minute to quench his worries. But the moment he opened the door, dread attacked all his senses. His breathing ceased and his body went cold. The scene in front of him forced him to believe he was living his worst dreams, far away from virtual reality. No sound escapes Yagya, as he blankly contemplates the situation at hand.

An unmistakable shadow of a woman stood at the foot of his father's bed, lost, and staring at the unconscious man.

Ice blocks filled his limbs and no matter how hard he tried to move, didn't budge from his position at the threshold of the room. The shadow floated around the bed, till she reached Raghuveer's side and caressed his head.

"Who goes there?" He whispered.

A chilly atmosphere shrouds the dimly lit surroundings, breaking the spell and in no time, a horrible face turns to glare at him with so much hatred that he unconsciously took a step back. Her mouth opened inhumanly, and she screamed so loud that he popped a vessel and his ears started to bleed. Yagya stumbled back and tried to hold his bearings when the ground beneath him rotated.

The distress was enough for the monster in him to jump at the opportunity and in no time, he was transforming. After an agonizing moment later, the Pharoah of night escaped through the window and howled at the moon outside.

His thunderous pitch caught the attention of many, one of them being Ambika. She jolted awake in another room of the same corridor and sat panting heavily. Her bones ached less and only tiredness persist. She slowly climbed out of the covers and rushed to see what was happening outside. In her peripheral vision, she registered a large pall rushing past the luxuriant forest. Breathing deeply, the loyal handmaiden adjusts the curtains and returns to the bed, but not before hiding the small voodoo doll beneath her pillow properly.