Searching For The Cursed (Shattered Souls #1)

Chapter 12

"Yuvraj has sent a gift for you."

Maru said looking at Dhundumar before releasing the gift from the wrapped red cloth.

With a thud, the gift fell on the ground before rolling and rolling. As it stopped just beside the feet of his, Dhundumar found Mayasur's decapitated head staring blankly at him.

A few eyes went wide along with Dhundumar's. Dhundumar had ordered Mayasur to find Nishav using his magic. As Nishav had been in the heavily guarded structure where Arudra was held captive, the magic there was tainted with his presence. And Mayasur said he could follow the trail to find Nishav.

"And he has sent his gratitude for sending Mayasur behind him and saving him the trouble to go after the Asura himself."

"If anyone still has questions regarding the verdict of Yuvraj, I suggest you to go in search of him to validate it."
Arudra stated staring at the decapitated head.

Bhargav restrained himself from snorting in amusement. He was suggesting to go after Nishav when the head of the last person who did, was still in plain view. One thing Dhundumar wasn't wrong about was the verdict. Arudra was bluffing. Nishav had not contacted him in any way. Not after the blunder he had released.

His eyes went to the girl. And he couldn't stop the grimace from appearing on his face. With each passing second, she was turning more and more ugly. The smoky bean-like creatures covered most of her visible skin, eating away the flesh. It was not visible to every eye. To everyone she appeared normal, but only those who had attained siddhi (certain powers) could see the flesh eating beans consuming her. This body too was wasting away like the previous five times.

Though her real appearance wasn't the cause of his grimace. No, he had seen things far worse than this without even blinking. The thing that made him scornful of her was the fact that this woman was his brother's mate. The one who bore his soul. He had been worried for Arudra the moment they got to know that Sree was his mate. He was quite young at that time. But there was nothing to be done. Arudra was too trusting. He easily believed her when she said she would change. She would fight for him.

But lie it was! Instead of fighting, she gave up every time and put Arudra through a fate worse than death. A fate he wouldn't wish upon even on his worst enemy. But here, he could do nothing but watch silently. Five times! His brother had gone through this torture five times already and this time would be no different, it seemed.

And he couldn't imagine what Arudra must be feeling right now. No wonder his brother hadn't even glanced once at her. Even though he was certainly tuned with each and every breath she took.

"Arudra! You think you can put me down? You!?" Dhundumar's laugh echoed through the open space. "It's good actually that you interrupted. In the name of your ancestors, you people are flying too high! Tonight everyone will see how false your claims are! Tonight I will crush you under my feet!"

"Really?" Arudra asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. And then I will do the same with that half brother of yours!"

Dhundumar spatted out to instigate him. And it was working as Arudra's face hardened.

"You're such a pathetic one, Arudra. Choosing him over your own brother!" Dhundumar said again making a sound of pity with his tongue.

"He is my brother." Arudra said calmly, trying to relax his tense muscles.

"Really! But your mother will disagree, won't she?" Dhundumar whispered so his words could be heard by him only.

"Don't!" Arudra warned him, closing his eyes.

"Everyone knows what a pathetic characterless woman your mother was! Dragging a mated wolf into her bed!" Dhundumar continued to whisper, stepping closer to him.
"If it wasn't for her, Samrat Kaushik wouldn't have committed suicide!"