“Pitraj  why are you doing this?” she demanded, anger hot in her veins as she watched her father bind the cursed shackles around her once more. She sat in the dungeon; black stone walls climbed toward a sky they could not see, veins of shadow running like tattoos across the rock.

“You and I both know why,” Kalnarth said, his voice a low echo in the hollow chamber.

Vahini stared at the iron that bit into her skin. “I was keeping my promise to her,” she snapped, trembling as she grabbed the shackle  and pain shot through her like a living curse. Her eyes widened. “You put a forbidden curse,” she whispered, the scent of burnt demon-flesh searing the air as she forced a healing mantra through clenched teeth.

“Am I not your blood, Pitraj?” she asked, desperate now. “I am a princess, then why?” Her voice cracked. Kalnarth’s face hardened; for a moment a flicker of helplessness passed through him, something he never let show.

“You betrayed our army to save humans, Vahini,” he spat, stepping closer. Outside, the Shatagini stood with heads bowed at his command.

The air thickened with tension; the metallic tang of blood hung between them.

“I didn’t,” she said. “I kept my promise.” Her eyes went bloodshot, a mirror of his contempt. “I did what I had to.”

Kalnarth, the king who never lost his composure, ground his teeth. “I swore an oath. I am king. Betrayers must be punished.” His voice turned cold. “If you run again I will have you put to death myself.”

Vahini looked at him, amused more than afraid. A slow smirk curled her lips. “Try,” she whispered.

She let the word hang there: a dare, a threat, and a promise all at once while the dungeon listened and the cursed iron hummed against her wrists.

Rivaan walked through the palace of Samvritta with heavy strides. He could visit the court later, greet Rani Maa later, tell Arunik about how he’d slain the demon later and even meet the King of Samvritta later.

Right now, there was someone far more important to see.

He crossed the palace gardens, heading toward the back where a small, secluded building stood  the same one she’d been kept in for years. The air grew colder as he entered. Soldiers stood guard inside, their expressions unreadable. Rivaan’s eyes narrowed; his jaw clenched. He pushed past them, ignoring their startled glances,and then he saw her.

“Maa,” he breathed.

The woman lay on a broad wooden bed, her left leg shackled to the high chandelier chain that hung from the ceiling.

“When did you come back?” she asked softly. Her calm tone stood in stark contrast to her son’s fury the fury directed not at her, but at the gods he served.

“Who did this to you this time?” Rivaan demanded, drawing his sword. With one swift motion, he sliced through the chain and knelt beside her, scanning for wounds. His jaw tightened when he saw the bruised marks around her ankle.

“It was Rani Maa, wasn’t it?” he asked, looking up.

Sarvanya, his mother, wasn't  as old as she should have been; her beauty had defied time. Rivaan had her eyes, the same calm gaze that once made people call her the daughter of gods. But when Rivaan was born, heaven called it a curse — for he carried Martyunetra, the eyes of death. A power only demons possessed. If used it could put someone consciousness into there worst Nightmare

That curse  or gift made Rani Maa imprison her own sister, treating her as something unholy, something to be hidden away in a building she dared to call a fort.

Sarvanya smiled faintly, brushing her fingers against his cheek. “I asked you something, Rivaan.”

“I came this morning,” he said quietly.

She nodded, rising to her feet and walking closer. “You don’t look happy, my son. Did something happen?” she asked, cupping his face gently.

Rivaan exhaled, closing his eyes, letting himself breathe in the scent of the room  flowers, calmness, and the faint trace of her presence that had always soothed his restless mind.

“I did kill the demon,” he said finally, “and destroyed his inner core.” His voice dropped, his gaze lowering to the floor.

“But…” Sarvanya pressed softly, noticing the tension in his shoulders as she fixed the cuff around his arm. It was tight, too tight  leaving a raw mark on his skin.

“I’ll have to bring you a new one,” she murmured, slipping the metal cuff off and setting it aside.

Rivaan’s hands clenched. “But that demon princess… She killed the High Priest. She entered the temple,” he said, his tone thick with hatred.

Sarvanya’s eyes widened. “What? How?”

Rivaan sat on the wooden chair beside her and began recounting everything, the temple, the panther, the girl with red eyes, her power that felt older than fire itself.

Neither of them noticed the shadow in the corner of the room, the man who had been listening all along. A slow, cold smile curved across his face as he heard every word.

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Did you like it huh???

Tell me in comments

And when do you think I should post the chapters like once in week ot twice in a week,

💕💕💞

Let me know also like and share to that one friend who like romance Fantasy.

(I am also Writing it in hindi on Pratilipi app, if you want you can check out there) and to be ture I guess this one Gonna slay in hindi. ✨✨

And as always love you goblins ✨✨