LUST ROYALE

Chapter-11

-----Chapter-11-----

The night of the sangeet had been a delicate dance between celebration and preparation. Nandita and Ekaksh, caught in their silent war against The Circle, had to juggle the role of guests at a grand wedding with that of soldiers planning an assault on an invisible but powerful enemy.

Nandita stood by the large mirror in her room, fastening a pair of delicate earrings to her lobes. The emeralds matched her lehenga, but as she looked at herself, it wasn't her appearance that concerned her—it was the thought that tonight, everything would change. She would either strike a blow against The Circle that they would never recover from, or she'd become their prime target.

The wedding celebrations had provided the perfect cover for her and Ekaksh's operations. Most of The Circle's members wouldn't expect an attack during such a high-profile event. Their guard would be down. But the risk remained high. If anything went wrong, The Circle could retaliate in devastating ways—using her, Ekaksh, or even Inaya and Vidyut as pawns in their game.

Her thoughts drifted to Ekaksh. He had become an unexpected ally, someone who, against all odds, had broken through her walls. Nandita had sworn to keep her heart out of the battlefield, but Ekaksh had changed that. He made her feel alive in a way she hadn't felt in years. And while she knew they still had to face The Circle, part of her was starting to believe they could make it through this together.

There was a soft knock at her door. "Come in," she called, pulling her shawl over her shoulders.

Ekaksh stepped inside, dressed in a sleek black sherwani. His eyes were focused, serious—this wasn't the Ekaksh who had held her close on the dance floor last night. This was the man who had built an empire, the man ready for war. But as soon as he saw her, a small smile softened the hard lines of his face.

"You look beautiful," he said, his voice low.

Nandita smirked, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "We have more important things to worry about tonight than my looks, Ekaksh."

He crossed the room in a few strides, stopping just in front of her. "You're right. But I couldn't not say it." He reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against her arm, sending a familiar warmth through her. "Everything is in place. The team is ready."

Nandita nodded, her mind shifting gears. They had spent the past few weeks positioning their allies, planting key players at strategic points within the wedding venue. While Vidyut and Inaya were blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around them, Nandita and Ekaksh had woven a web of protection and offense. Tonight, they would lure out The Circle's key players and deliver a blow that would cripple the organization.

"We'll move when the ceremony starts," she said, her voice calm but sharp. "That's when they'll be distracted. Their leaders will be here tonight—if we can take out even one of them, it'll shift the balance."

Ekaksh's eyes darkened. "And if we fail?"

Nandita's gaze hardened. "We won't."

The evening began like any other wedding celebration. Guests gathered in lavish attire, the air filled with the scent of roses and incense. Musicians played traditional songs, and there was an atmosphere of joy and festivity that belied the tension underneath.

Nandita moved through the crowd with ease, greeting old friends and business associates, her eyes always scanning the perimeter. She knew The Circle would have spies among the guests—men and women who looked innocent but were trained to observe and report every detail.

Ekaksh stayed close, always within her line of sight. He was playing the part of the dutiful cousin, but she could see the way his eyes darted around, his body coiled with tension. They were both waiting for the moment to strike.