The night air turned suffocating as Chandni stared into Rudhra's dark, unreadable eyes. His grip wasn't just on her wrist—it was on her soul. A cold, ruthless possession that sent shivers down her spine.
"You can't keep me," she hissed, voice laced with defiance.
Rudhra tilted his head, amusement flickering in his gaze. "You still don't understand, do you, Princess?" His fingers tightened around her wrist, just enough to remind her of his strength. "I don't need permission to own something that already belongs to me."
Anger surged through her veins, white-hot and reckless. "I'd rather die than belong to you."
His smirk deepened, his free hand lifting to brush a loose strand of hair from her face. The touch was deceptively gentle, but she knew better. Rudhra Rajvansh wasn't a man who believed in softness.
"Such dramatic words," he mused, eyes drinking her in. "But tell me, Chandni… would you still prefer death when you see what I can do to you?"
A chill ran down her spine, but she refused to let him see it. She lifted her chin, her gaze steady. "You don't scare me."
He laughed—low, dark, and full of something terrifyingly intimate. "Liar."
Chandni's stomach twisted as he leaned in, his lips brushing just near her ear. "You should be scared, Princess. Because I don't forgive. And I don't let go."
Before she could react, Rudhra's grip shifted, and suddenly she was lifted off her feet. A sharp gasp escaped her as he threw her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing.
"Rudhra!" She thrashed against him, fists pounding his back. "Put me down!"
His fingers pressed into her thigh, holding her in place as he strode through the dark alley. "Not a chance. You sealed your fate the moment you crossed me."
She twisted, trying to kick, but he barely flinched. "You bastard! You can't just—"
"I can." His voice was absolute. "And I will."
Venice blurred around her, the sound of water lapping against the canals mixing with the distant hum of the city. Chandni's heart pounded as she realized where he was taking her.
Not back to her father.
Not to a prison.
But to his world.
To him.
The thought sent panic rushing through her veins. Chandni knew who Rudhra was. A man feared even by her father. A man who built his empire on blood and vengeance.
A man who would never let her go.
She swallowed hard. "If you think you can break me, you're wrong."
Rudhra didn't stop walking, but she felt his grip tighten. "I don't need to break you, Princess." His voice was velvet over steel. "I just need to make you see—there's no escaping me."
The promise settled deep in her bones.
And for the first time that night, real fear curled in her chest.
Because she knew Rudhra Rajvansh never made empty promises.
He meant every word…