Rudra's body trembled as a sharp, searing pain shot through him. His hand instinctively went to the spot where Mahnoor had torn him apart moments ago. The area was raw, the wound still fresh, blood trickling down his side. His face twisted in agony, and for a brief moment, the facade of his composed, vengeful self faltered.
A low hiss escaped his lips, his eyes narrowing as they flashed from human to serpent. His pupils elongated into slits, his once ordinary features morphing into something more primal, more dangerous. The pain only seemed to fuel his anger, his muscles tensing as he glared down at Mahnoor with an intensity that made her shrink back in fear.
Suddenly, his face glowed—an eerie, unnatural light radiating from his forehead. Mahnoor's breath caught in her throat as she watched, wide-eyed, unable to tear her gaze away. The light grew brighter until something began to emerge from the center of his forehead.
The Nagmani.
Mahnoor had heard of it in ancient stories—this legendary jewel, said to be the life source of the most powerful serpent beings. It held incredible power, the ability to heal, and even bring immortality. To witness it in real life was both terrifying and mesmerizing.
Rudra's hand reached up, and with a slow, deliberate motion, he pulled the glowing Nagmani from his forehead. The moment it left his skin, Mahnoor felt the air grow heavier, as though the atmosphere itself was responding to the presence of the jewel. It pulsed with energy, casting a ghostly light across the room.
With the Nagmani now in his hand, Rudra pressed it against the bleeding wound on his side. Mahnoor watched in shock as the jewel seemed to melt into his flesh, the light surrounding it intensifying. His body convulsed for a moment, his sharp intake of breath betraying the pain he was still in, but within seconds, the wound began to heal. The skin knitted back together, smooth and unblemished, as if he had never been injured at all.
The glow of the Nagmani faded as it re-entered his body, disappearing into the darkness of his chest. Rudra let out a slow, satisfied breath, his gaze never leaving Mahnoor. The momentary weakness she had glimpsed was gone, replaced by the cold, dangerous predator she had come to know.
He stood tall once again, his massive form casting a shadow over her, and with a swift motion, he grabbed her by the arm and yanked her up from the bed. Mahnoor yelped in surprise, the sudden force of his grip sending a jolt of pain through her already aching body.
"You're lucky," he growled, his voice low and venomous, "that I'm sparing your pathetic human life." He pulled her closer, his face inches from hers, his breath hot and laced with fury. "If it weren't for the fact that you amuse me in bed, I would have torn you apart limb by limb for what you did."
Mahnoor's heart raced, her pulse hammering in her throat. She could feel the raw strength in his grip, the threat in every word he spoke. Her body trembled under his touch, the weight of his anger suffocating her. She was teetering on the edge of disaster, one wrong word away from pushing him over the line.
"I—" she stammered, her voice shaking as she tried to find the right words, the ones that might save her. "I'm really sorry, Rudra. I didn't mean to—" Her words caught in her throat as tears welled up in her eyes. "I was scared. You were hurting me."
Rudra's eyes flared with fury. "You wanted to kill me, Mahnoor," he spat, tightening his grip on her arm until she winced. "Don't think I've forgotten that."
"No, I didn't… I just… I wanted to feel a snake," she pleaded, her voice desperate, the words tumbling out of her mouth in a frantic attempt to explain. "Sexually. But you were hurting me. You were too much…"
Her voice trailed off as she looked up at him, her face a mixture of fear and regret. She had wanted the thrill, the danger of being with something so inhuman, something so forbidden. But now, faced with the full wrath of the serpent prince, she realized she had underestimated the consequences.
Rudra's expression remained hard, unyielding, his eyes flickering with a dangerous intensity. For a long moment, he said nothing, simply staring at her with an unreadable look on his face. Then, slowly, his grip on her arm loosened, and he let out a dark, humorless chuckle.
"You wanted to feel a snake sexually," he repeated, his tone mocking as he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her ear. "Well, congratulations, Mahnoor. You got what you wanted. But now you're mine. And if you think that was too much, you've seen nothing yet."
He pulled back, his sharp features twisted in a cruel smile, his eyes glinting with a predatory gleam. "You belong to me now. You don't get to decide what's too much. I do."
Mahnoor's body shook with fear, the weight of his words pressing down on her like a suffocating blanket. She could feel his power, the raw, untamed force of his serpent nature, coiling around her like invisible chains. There was no escape from him, no way out of this nightmare.
"I'm sorry," she whispered again, her voice barely audible as she looked up at him, her eyes pleading for mercy. "Please, Rudra… I didn't mean to…"
He silenced her with a single, piercing look, his eyes narrowing as he stared down at her. "You will be sorry," he said softly, his voice laced with menace. "Because now, I'm going to make sure you never forget who owns you."
With a swift motion, Rudra lifted her up and threw her back onto the bed, his body looming over hers as he pinned her down with an iron grip. Mahnoor gasped, her heart racing as she felt his hands on her, his touch cold and possessive.
"From now on," he growled, his voice low and dangerous, "you do exactly as I say. You don't get to question me. You don't get to resist. You're mine."
Mahnoor's mind raced, her body trembling as she looked up at him, her pulse hammering in her throat. She was trapped, ensnared in the web of a creature far more powerful than she had ever imagined. And now, she was bound to him—body, mind, and soul.
And there was no escape.