Page 183 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

Nandani

The whole day passed as I waited for him, having heard no news. I stared at the stars while the night grew darker, but the moon shone brightly high in the sky, intensifying a strange fear within me, like a storm poised to erupt. The night breeze felt sharper, like a blade.

Despite the weakness in my knees and the throbbing in my chest, I stood quietly in the corner by a pillar of the courtyard, trying to swallow the anxious lump in my throat.

“Nandani, rest. He will scold each of us if he finds out you haven’t taken proper rest,”

I heard Suman say, and I turned to look at her.

She looked worried, too.

I shook my head in response.“I don’t know, but my fingers are shaking,” I said, showing her my trembling hands. I couldn’t explain it, but my instincts told me something was terribly wrong.

She held my hands and shook her head softly.“It’s just weakness.”

Fresh tears rolled down my cheeks, and I didn’t understand what was happening suddenly. Since morning—since he left—I had been feeling this constant twisting and turning in my heart and stomach. But —

“Nandani,” His voice pulled the reins of all my thoughts.

I looked past Suman and saw him walking in toward me. Unknowingly, my feet began to move. It was really him. He was here.

I saw him and stepped forward with a wide smile spread across my face, yet more tears streamed again. The sound of my anklet bells echoed through the room as I scurried toward him, and he immediately caught me in his arms.

I wrapped my arms tightly around his shoulders, and he hugged me back, lifting me off the floor. My face found its place in the crook of his neck, and with each shaky breath, I inhaled his intoxicating scent that instantly calmed me.

His touch sent a wave of peace through me. I was still trembling, but I felt so calm now.

“Hey, what happened?” he asked gently, caressing the back of my head. I shut my eyes, trying to balance my breath slowly.

“I don’t know,” I whispered, my heart hammering.

My fingers clenched the fabric of his clothes like I never wanted to let him go again. I couldn’t even imagine staying away from him for a single day.

He held me tighter, and I didn’t even realise when he carried me to the bedroom and settled us on the couch, keeping me in his lap. He slowly moved my head from his shoulder to look at me.

He cupped my cheek, and in the glow of the warm yellow candlelight, I spotted the bruises on his face. A tear slipped down my cheek as I reached for him, my fingers trembling.

“What happened?” I managed to ask.

He gave a soft smile, raising his brows.“What? What happened? Something happened?”

I frowned and said,“You have bruises,”

He held my hand and kissed it lightly.“These are the love marks you gave,” he teased, and I narrowed my eyes.

“What? No,” I said, remembering I hadn’t done that.

He leaned in and placed his forehead against mine. I could feel his warm, fresh breath against my lips—he’d just bathed.

“How are you feeling, love?” he asked. My lashes fell shut from the comfort of him being so close.

I took a deep breath as he kissed my nose.

“Who did this to you?” I asked, not opening my eyes.

“Have you had dinner?” he counter-questioned, and I nodded for the reply.

“Words,” he insisted.“Yes,” I replied.

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