Taamsi's laughter echoed through the mansion, cold and sharp like the crack of thunder. Her eyes gleamed with venomous delight as she turned toward Kiara.
"Stop pretending to feel his pain, little Reeva," she said with a cruel smirk. "You should be more concerned about your own bloodline. Don't you want to know what really happened to your mother?"
The words sliced through the air like a blade. Kiara froze. Varun and Vikram's expressions shifted — confusion giving way to dread.
"What do you mean?" Vikram demanded, his voice trembling with suppressed rage. "What did you do to my wife?"
Taamsi rolled her eyes dramatically. "Ah, Reeva, still as temperamental as ever. Calm down, old man — or should I say, mighty hunter of light who couldn't even protect his family?"
"Say what you have to say!" Vikram barked.
Taamsi leaned back in the chair, crossing one leg over the other, her voice dropping to a mocking calm. "Your dear Kajal knew something no one else did. She knew the identity of the reincarnation of the one being the dark clan feared the most — the destroyer of our kind. The one the gods themselves favored."
Kiara's heartbeat thundered in her chest. "Who are you talking about?" she whispered.
"The divine warrior," Taamsi said, smiling cruelly. "The one destined to end the shadow reign forever. The one called Jishwa — the god's gift to the Reeva dynasty."
The name echoed through the hall, ringing like a forgotten prophecy come alive. Kiara's eyes widened; the air around her seemed to grow heavier, charged with memories she didn't know she had. Vikram staggered back, the color draining from his face.
"Kajal knew," Taamsi continued, savoring every word. "She knew who Jishwa's reincarnation was. And because she refused to reveal it, we came for her. It was such a beautiful day — the Shetty family's peaceful picnic turned into a nightmare."
Varun clenched his fists while tears flows freely from Kiara eyes while Taamsi's smirk deepened. "Your mother held you, little Kiara — barely six years old — while your father shielded your ten-year-old brother. You were crying, clinging to her dupatta, begging her to wake up after I pulled her into the abyss. The look in her eyes before she vanished... ah, unforgettable."
"Enough!" Varun shouted, his voice breaking with fury. He drew his bow, his aura flaring with divine fire, and released an arrow straight toward Taamsi's heart.
But the shadow witch only raised a hand. The arrow froze mid-air — then spun back, darting toward Varun with deadly speed.
"Varun!" Kiara screamed.
Before it could strike, Yuvaan appeared, his eyes burning crimson. He raised his palm and the arrow disintegrated into dust. Dark mist spiraled around him as his voice thundered, "Don't forget who I am, Taamsi. I am Kaal's reincarnation — the King of Evil. Do not test my patience."
Taamsi's grin widened. "Then prove it. Prove you deserve that title. Join me. Reclaim the Dark Stronghold and lead the Kaal Vansh to glory. That should be your only obsession."
Yuvaan's gaze hardened. "My obsession," he said softly, stepping closer to Kiara, "is my mother… my family… and my wife."
The two locked eyes — her tears glimmering, his rage dissolving into something fragile and real. For a brief moment, the chaos stilled.
Taamsi's smile faltered, then returned sharper than before. "Foolish king," she whispered. "You'll seek the Dark Stronghold whether you want to or not. Because that's the only way to lift the sigil from your mother's soul."
She paused, watching Kiara's face pale as realization dawned.
"And tell me, dear," Taamsi purred, "did you really think Yuvaan married you out of love? No. He bound himself to you because of your Reeva bloodline — because through you, he could access the power needed to save his mother."
Kiara's heart twisted. She already knew the truth — that Yuvaan had married her for the Reeva connection, for the Stronghold. But she had always believed it was power he sought, not love.
Now, hearing Taamsi's words, the truth struck like lightning. He hadn't done it for greed… but for his mother. To save her.
Kiara turned toward Yuvaan, her voice barely above a whisper. "So it wasn't for power… it was for her."
Yuvaan said nothing, his silence a confession more painful than words.
Tears welled in her eyes, but this time, they weren't of betrayal — they were of heartbreak, of understanding the depth of his sacrifice.
Taamsi clapped mockingly. "How touching. The demon king and his Reeva bride — united by duty, divided by truth. I could almost cry."
Yuvaan's aura flared again, dark flames licking his hands as he snarled, "Say another word and I'll end you, Taamsi."
Taamsi rose slowly from her seat, her form radiating sinister power. "End me?" she said, smiling dangerously. "No, Yuvaan. The game has only just begun."