Chapter 19
The walls shook with the force of the explosion.
Anvi's breath caught in her throat.
The air was thick with smoke and gunpowder, the sharp scent burning the back of her throat.
The echoes of gunfire rang through the mansion, screams and shouts blending into chaos.
And Agastya was gone.
Off to fight the war that had just come knocking on his door.
She should have stayed in the room.
She should have locked the door and waited.
But something inside her refused to sit still.
Because the last time Agastya had walked into danger, she had seen the monster inside him.
And this time?
She wasn't sure if he would ever come back from it.
---
Anvi pushed through the thick smoke, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.
She followed the sounds of gunfire and rage, her fingers gripping the edge of her saree as she rushed through the grand halls of the mansion.
The chandeliers swung violently, glass shattering onto the marble floors.
The air was heavy with fear.
And then-she found him.
Agastya stood in the center of the main hall, a gun in his hand, his face splattered with blood that wasn't his.
His white shirt was stained red.
His knuckles bruised.
His jaw locked in pure, lethal fury.
And in front of him?
A man, kneeling.
Face beaten beyond recognition. Barely breathing.
The moment Anvi stepped closer, Agastya's gun cocked.
Her stomach dropped.
"Agastya, stop!"
His shoulders tensed.
But he didn't turn.
Didn't blink.
Didn't breathe.
"Who sent you?" Agastya's voice was lethal. Sharp as a blade.
The man on the floor spat blood.
Laughed.
"You think you're untouchable, Hukum?" His voice was weak, but mocking. "You think she's safe?"
Anvi froze.
Her?
The man's swollen eyes flickered toward her, a smirk curling his busted lips.
"This is just the beginning."
And then-he lunged for the gun in his boot.
Anvi barely had time to scream-
Because Agastya pulled the trigger.
A single gunshot rang through the hall.
The man collapsed, blood pooling beneath his body.
The world went silent.
Anvi's breath hitched, her entire body frozen in place.
And then-Agastya turned to her.
His eyes burned with something untamed, something unhinged.
Not remorse.
Not hesitation.
But a hunger for war.
"He was going to kill you." His voice was eerily calm.
She staggered back.
"You killed him."
A slow, dark smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Of course, Pari. That's what I do."
Her stomach twisted.
Because she knew-this wasn't the last time.
And the worst part?
She wasn't sure if she was afraid of him...
Or if she was afraid of how safe she felt when he was like this.
---
The mansion was quiet again.
The bodies had been cleared, the blood washed away, but the air still felt heavy with violence.
Anvi sat in the corner of her room, staring at her hands, still trembling.
She hadn't spoken since they had come back upstairs.
Hadn't looked at him.
Because she didn't know who he was anymore.
Or worse-who she was becoming.
The door creaked open.
She didn't turn.
Didn't move.
But she could feel him.
Standing there. Watching. Waiting.
And then-he spoke.
"You shouldn't have followed me."
Her chest tightened.
She swallowed hard before whispering, "You shouldn't have killed him."
Silence.
A long, heavy pause.
And then-a chuckle.
Low. Deep. Unhinged.
"I will kill anyone who dares touch you, Pari."
A shiver ran down her spine.
Because he meant it.
Every single word.
"I don't need your protection."
His jaw clenched.
"Then why did you run to me when the bullets started flying?"
Her breath caught.
She turned to him, her eyes burning. "Because I was afraid of what you would do!"
His expression shifted.
The teasing was gone.
The amusement had vanished.
And what was left?
A man who had already decided she would never leave him.
His voice dropped to a whisper. "You should only be afraid of one thing, Pari."
Her fingers clenched. "And what's that?"
His lips brushed against her ear as he murmured-
"What I'll do to you if you try to leave again."
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
And as he turned to leave, closing the door behind him-
She realized something terrifying.
He wasn't just obsessed with her.
He was ready to burn the world for her.
And the worst part?
She didn't know if she wanted to stop him.
---
A Cage with No Way Out
Anvi sat by the window, staring at the dark sky, her thoughts tangled in a storm she couldn't escape.
She had seen him kill a man.
Without hesitation. Without mercy.
And yet, as much as she wanted to fear him, she couldn't ignore the truth.
He had done it for her.
And that was the most dangerous part of all.
Because somewhere deep inside, a part of her didn't hate it.
A part of her felt... safe.
She squeezed her eyes shut. No. She couldn't let herself fall into this.
But how could she fight a man who had already decided she belonged to him?
And worse-what if a part of her was starting to believe it?
---
?? A Lock with No Key
The next morning, Anvi woke up to silence.
The mansion, which was usually filled with murmurs of the house staff, was eerily still.
Something was wrong.
She got up, wrapping a shawl around herself, and stepped out of the room.
That's when she saw them.
Guards.
Lined up along the hallways.
Armed. Unmoving.
Her stomach twisted.
She turned toward the stairs, but before she could take a step-
"Going somewhere, Pari?"
Her breath caught.
Agastya leaned against the railing, dressed in a crisp black shirt, sleeves rolled up, watching her like a predator who had set a trap.
She swallowed hard. "What is this?"
He smirked. "Security."
Her fingers curled into fists. "You mean a prison."
He shrugged, walking toward her, his movements calm, effortless.
But his eyes?
His eyes burned.
"You tried to run again." His voice was low, measured. "Now I'm making sure you won't make that mistake a third time."
Her chest tightened. "You can't keep me here forever."
His lips brushed against her ear as he whispered-
"Watch me."
---
?? A Queen with No Escape
Anvi tried everything.
She refused to eat.
Refused to speak.
Refused to look at him.
But Agastya?
He didn't break.
Instead, he waited.
He watched.
He let her fight.
Because he knew-eventually, she would lose.
And when she finally snapped, throwing the untouched tray of food across the room, her breath ragged, her body trembling-
He just smiled.
A slow, dangerous, triumphant smile.
"Are you done, Pari?"
She wanted to scream. "Why are you doing this to me?"
He took a step closer. "Because you don't know what's best for you."
Her breath hitched. "And you do?"
His fingers brushed against her cheek, a ghost of a touch.
"Yes."
She shoved his hand away, her pulse betraying her.
"You're insane."
His smirk deepened. "I warned you."
Her stomach twisted. "Warned me about what?"
He tilted his head, eyes glinting. "That once I had you, Pari... I would never let you go."
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
Because the worst part?
She knew he meant it.
---
That night, she lay awake, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing.
She couldn't stay here.
Couldn't let him win.
So she did the only thing she could.
She waited.
Until the house was silent.
Until the guards outside her room had changed shifts.
And then-she ran.
Through the dark hallways.
Down the stairs.
Through the grand double doors.
She made it outside, the cool night air hitting her skin.
Freedom.
She ran.
One step.
Two.
And then-arms wrapped around her waist, yanking her back.
A scream caught in her throat as she was spun around, slammed against a hard chest.
Agastya.
His grip was tight, his breathing ragged.
And his eyes?
They were burning.
With fury.
With possession.
With something far, far more dangerous.
Her heart pounded as his grip on her waist tightened.
"You really thought you could leave me, Pari?" His voice was low, dark, deadly.
Her breath shook. "Let me go, Agastya."
His fingers slid to her chin, tilting her face up.
"No."
Her chest rose and fell in sharp gasps.
Because in his eyes, she saw it-
The final warning.
She had pushed him too far.
And now?
Now, he wasn't just going to keep her here.
He was going to make sure she never even thought of leaving again.