Embers of Desire: A Dark Triad's Affair

Chapter 12:

~Don't forget to read the promo of the next chapter at the end 🐥✨

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Neha's POV

I was sitting on the edge of the bed, absently twisting my fingers in my lap when Vikram entered the room. He stood by the doorway for a moment, his eyes scanning over me as if he was deciding something important. Finally, he walked over and knelt in front of me, taking my hands in his.

“Neha,” he began, his voice softer than usual, “you’re coming with us today.”

I blinked. Vikram and Dev rarely took me to their business meetings. They always insisted that it wasn’t necessary for me to get involved in that part of their lives. So why now? Specially they are tensed when they heard the name python. Whats about that? Are they hiding something from me? Is there something I should know?

“Is everything okay?” I asked, trying to read his expression.

Vikram’s lips curved into a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Everything’s fine, Moon. We just want you with us.”

Before I could press him further, Dev appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed. His gaze was intense, as if he was studying me, trying to gauge my reaction.

“Vikram’s right,” Dev said, paused for a moment and again continued. “We want you to come with us. It’s important.”

There was something in his tone, something that made me feel like I was being told more than asked. But I trusted them, so I nodded.

“Okay,” I agreed softly.

A flicker of relief passed over Vikram’s face as he stood up, pulling me to my feet. “Let’s get you ready then.”

He led me to the walk-in closet, where a beautiful dress was laid out for me. It was a deep, rich black that reminded me of the night sky, the kind of dress that made you feel like you were wearing a piece of art. Vikram held it up to me, his eyes appraising.

“This will look perfect on you,” he said with a nod of approval.

I took the dress from him, feeling the luxurious fabric between my fingers. “Okay,” I murmured, touched by their thoughtfulness.

As I changed into the dress, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The way they were both watching me, as if I was a precious object they needed to protect, only added to my unease. But I pushed the feeling aside, focusing instead on getting ready.

Once I had the dress on, I turned to face them. Dev was the first to approach, his eyes dark and serious. He stepped closer, his hand gently brushing a loose strand of hair from my face.

“Let me help you with this,” he murmured, reaching for a hairpin on the dresser.

I stood still as he carefully pinned the strand back, his fingers lingering a moment longer than necessary. There was something in his touch that made my heart skip a beat, a tenderness that contrasted with the tension in the room.

When he stepped back, Vikram took his place, his eyes locking onto mine. There was something different in his gaze, something deeper and more intense. He leaned in, his breath warm against my skin.

“You look stunning,” he whispered, his voice low and filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite place.

Before I could respond, he closed the distance between us, his lips capturing mine in a soft, lingering kiss. It was the kind of kiss that spoke of unspoken words, of promises and secrets. When he finally pulled back, my head was spinning.