Page 177 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

The man stepped closer, pointing his knife right at me, piercing it slowly through my chest.“Your death,” he simmered, his voice low and venomous.

I let out a soft chuckle.“You came uninvited.”

He shoved the blade harder into my skin, but I inhaled deeply, puffing out my chest, and stared him down.

Reaching for his wrist, I gripped it tightly and pushed the knifein further myself.

His confidence wavered, and he blinked, unsure. My lack of fear had unsettled him.

“Whoever you are, death, demon, or damnation, don’t test me today,” I warned, voice calm but edged with fire.“I’ve got something more important to do. I need to see someone... and get back to my wife. We’ll play your little game—some other day,”

He clenched his jaw and signalled his men. They began to advance. One of them screamed as he lunged forward, swinging his sword.

My hand shot up, stopping the blade mid-air, my palm pressed against the steel as I locked my fingers around it.

The soldier stared at me, wide-eyed. Now they were testing my temper.

“Now, you all leav—”

A sudden blow slammed into the side of my head.

The world around me began spinning as the pain exploded.

Everything faded in a blur, voices echoed, and my knees buckled. I fell on the ground and everything went dark.

?? ? ? ?

My lashes fluttered as my head throbbed, the darkness engulfing me in its cold.

I inhaled a shaky breath as I felt unbearable pain, and tried to move, to bring my hand to my forehead, but I was bound. Something around my body was restraining my movements, clamping to my skin, trapping me tightly.

“Arrrghhhhhh!” I cried out, the agony ripping through me.

Slowly, as consciousness returned, I forced my eyes open, trying to look through the darkness.

Silence. A suffocating silence enveloped me, yet it left my body drenched in cold sweat.

When I finally lifted my lashes completely, a sharp ray of light stabbed through my vision, making me flinch and whimper.

Where the hell was I?

I blinked hard and looked down. My wrists were locked with cuffs, the ends of the chains fastened to iron handles on the brick walls. I tried to scan my surroundings, but it was impossible to see much of anything.

Suddenly, I heard faint footsteps approaching and slowly turnedmy head. The truth hit me like a punch.

It wasn’t just any room. It was a dungeon.

Dust coated the floor, insects and spider webs surrounded me, and mosquitoes buzzed in the humid air. I was locked up.

As the footsteps stopped, I heard iron chains rustling, and the heavy door creaked open. I took a deep breath and focused on the figure stepping in.

It was the man I’d met in the forest.

“Seems like I’m kidnapped,” I muttered with a smirk.

He scowled, his irritation sharp and immediate. He strode over, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and yanked my head back with a vicious twist, his teeth gritted.“You’re alive only because the Prince wants to kill you himself.”

I laughed softly.“Your PRINCE—definitely a coward. Do you even know who I am?”

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