The road stretched ahead in a long silver ribbon, the forest slowly giving way to the outskirts of the city. Inside Kiara's car, the atmosphere was an odd mix of tension and exhaustion. Yuvaan drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting lazily near the gear, his expression unreadable.
Kiara, for once, was silent—staring out the window, knees pulled slightly inward, eyes wide and exhausted.
Yuvaan flicked a slow glance at her.
"Why so quiet, wifey?" His voice was lazy, but there was an undercurrent of concern. "How did you even run into such danger in the first place?"
Kiara let out a long, shaky breath. "I was… going to college. Like a normal human being." She gestured vaguely. "I bumped into this old woman who said her granddaughter was in danger. I thought—maybe she needed help, maybe I could save someone."
Yuvaan raised a brow. "So you played heroine."
Kiara's mouth fell open. "I was trying to be a decent person!"
He gave her a pointed look. "Next time, don't play heroine. You attract trouble like I attract darkness."
Kiara threw her hands in the air. "It's strange, you know. In real life or movies, when a girl gets married, the only drama she faces is either her husband's exes coming back or her in-laws scheming against her."
She jabbed a thumb at her chest.
"But in my case? Extremely special. Every day is a new episode of The Kaal Vansh versus Kiara."
Yuvaan smirked. "Good title."
Kiara ignored him, her voice rising.
"Your entire dark association is after my life! Yakshinis, demonic shrubs, shadow creatures, ancient curses—OH, and let's not forget the ones who crawl out of wells and trees! Now I don't even know who or what I can trust. Any random person could be a dark force in disguise waiting to kill me!"
Yuvaan tapped the steering wheel, amused. "Mm-hm."
Kiara glared. "Don't 'mm-hm' me! My life has become a horror serial and I didn't even get a trailer!"
He finally looked at her fully, crimson eyes softening just a fraction.
"If any dark force wants your life," he said smoothly, "they'll have to take it from me. And you already saw how that ends."
Kiara's lips pressed into a thin line, her fear slipping through the sarcasm.
"You say that… but your world is huge, Yuvaan. Dangerous. I feel like I'm walking blindfolded through a battlefield."
Yuvaan's hand moved, resting over hers lightly.
"Then walk with me, not alone."
Kiara blinked—caught off guard—but before she could respond, he looked back at the road, villainous smirk returning as if nothing affectionate had ever escaped him.
Kiara leaned back in the passenger seat, arms crossed, eyes narrowing at the road ahead. "You know what, Yuvaan? You really need to hold a meeting with your… dark association. A gathering, a summit, a full council. Whatever it takes."
Yuvaan raised an eyebrow, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. "Meeting? For what?"
"To get me off the hit list!" Kiara snapped. "Seriously, every day is a new episode of The Kaal Vansh vs. Kiara. I don't know who I can trust anymore. Your entire dark association—your minions, your forest aunties, your yakshinis, whoever—is out to kill me!"
Yuvaan smirked, his crimson eyes glinting in the morning sunlight. "Wifey… you're a Reevavanshi. Naturally, you're still their enemy. They wouldn't even think twice."
Kiara groaned. "Perfect! My life depends on instincts of creatures who probably don't even know how to brush their teeth."
Yuvaan leaned back in his seat, a dark, amused curve on his lips. "Also… I think you were wrong about something."
Kiara raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Enlighten me."
"I have… an ex." Yuvaan said it as casually as if he were commenting on the weather.
Kiara's eyes nearly popped out. "WHAT?!"
Yuvaan shrugged, smirk widening. "Yes. Aish…"
Kiara immediately held up her hand, a sharp glare piercing him. "Aishwarya. Stop calling her Aish. And don't even think about making it sound cute. She is not Aish. She is Aishwarya. Full name. Do you understand?"
Yuvaan blinked innocently, voice dripping with teasing mischief. "Mm… why? Still jealous, wifey?"
Kiara snapped. "Jealous?! No! I'm not jealous! I'm… I'm… irritated! That's a huge difference!"
He let out a low, villainous chuckle. "Sure, wifey. Totally irritated."
Kiara muttered under her breath, glaring at him through the windshield. "First, demons, monsters, yakshinis. And now, your ex. God really did give me a full packaged deal, huh?"
Yuvaan's smirk turned sly, almost predatory. "Packaged deal, wifey… but only one part matters to me."
Kiara shot him a sharp look, but her heart betrayed a tiny flutter.