As the thunder rumbled across the heavens, Yuvaan flicked his hand — the bindings trapping Vikram, Varun, and Mishka dissolved into faint trails of dark smoke.
Vikram rushed forward immediately, his knees hitting the muddy ground as he pulled his daughter into his arms. "Kiara!" he cried out, voice trembling. Varun joined him, holding both his father and sister tightly, as though afraid she'd vanish if he let go.
But Kiara stood motionless, her eyes dazed. Vikram's shaking hand rose to her forehead — the vermillion streak of blood glowed faintly, refusing to fade no matter how hard he tried to wipe it away.
"This… this is dark magic," he whispered in disbelief. "He's cursed you, beta."
"Papa…" Kiara's voice broke, barely a whisper.
"You're coming home with us," Vikram said firmly. "I'll never let that demon take you again."
Her gaze shifted past him — to Yuvaan. He stood still under the storm, rain sliding down his face, his crimson eyes calm and unreadable.
Kiara turned back to her father, her lips trembling. "Papa, please… if I fight him, he'll destroy everything — you, Varun, everyone. I can't let that happen."
"Kiara, don't—" Varun tried to stop her, but she stepped away from them.
Rain fell harder. The sound of thunder drowned her heartbeat as she said softly, "I've already made my choice."
Vikram stared at her in disbelief as she walked toward Yuvaan — slow, trembling steps through the rain. When she reached him, Yuvaan extended his hand silently, almost testing if she'd truly take it.
She looked up at him, her lashes wet, and said with quiet resolve, "I accept this marriage."
Her fingers slipped into his.
In that instant, the sky roared — lightning cracked — and the rain turned crimson for a fleeting second, as if the heavens themselves wept.
Vikram's shout tore through the storm, "Kiara!"
But it was too late.
Yuvaan's gaze softened briefly, a flicker of something human passing through those dark eyes before he looked away.
Standing beside him now, her sindoor gleaming blood-red, Kiara Shetty ceased to exist.
In her place stood Kiara Pratap Singh — the bride of darkness, bound by a curse disguised as love.
Their beautiful curse had only just begun.
Yuvaan's grip on Kiara's hand tightened ever so slightly, his eyes glinting with satisfaction as he turned to face the others.
The rain had slowed to a drizzle, thunder still echoing faintly through the mist-covered forest.
"Well," he said with a dangerous calm, "looks like Kiara made a wise choice."
His words were soft, but the menace beneath them was unmistakable. He let his gaze move from Vikram to Varun, then to the trapped Mishka, his lips curling into a faint, mocking smile.
"You all should be grateful," he continued, brushing a strand of wet hair from his forehead with casual arrogance. "Because of her decision, you're still breathing. Don't—" he raised a finger, his tone turning sharp, "try to act smart. If any of you even think of defying me… it won't end well."
The air around them grew heavier, the faint shimmer of his dark aura coiling like smoke. Vikram clenched his fists but said nothing — one wrong move and Yuvaan's threat would become reality.
Yuvaan gave one last glance at them before turning to Kiara. His voice softened, almost mockingly affectionate.
"Let's go home, Mrs. Pratap Singh."
Kiara's eyes filled with quiet dread as he led her away into the storm, her family watching helplessly — knowing that the battle had only just begun.
As Yuvaan led Kiara away into the mist, their silhouettes slowly faded into the shadows of the rain-soaked forest. The sound of thunder rolled one last time, echoing like a cruel reminder of fate's mockery.
Vikram stood frozen for a moment, his body trembling, his eyes locked on the path his daughter had vanished through. Then, his knees buckled. He collapsed onto the wet ground, the mud splashing against his trembling hands.
"Kajal..." his voice broke as he stared at the sky, the rain mixing with the tears streaming down his face. "I failed… I failed to protect our princess."
Varun fell beside him, clutching his father's shoulder, his own eyes red with helpless fury. But Vikram seemed lost in his grief, staring blankly into the storm as if speaking to the spirit of his late wife.
"I promised you I'd keep her safe," he whispered hoarsely. "And now she's… she's bound to that monster."
He clenched the muddy earth in his fist, his voice turning to a growl filled with rage and determination. "I swear on your soul, Kajal… I'll bring her back. I'll save our Kiara from him—" his eyes blazed as he looked toward the dark horizon where Yuvaan had vanished, "—and I'll kill that warlock with my own hands."
The wind howled through the trees, carrying his vow into the night — a promise that would set the heavens and underworld on a collision course.