Bound by Fate

Chapter 15: "Storm on the Horizon"

The morning sun cast a dim light through the windows of Natasha’s room, but the warmth it brought felt distant compared to the heat she had experienced the night before. She lay in bed, her heart still pounding from the raw intensity of her moment with Rajvir. Every part of her ached for him, even though she knew the danger that came with such a bond.

As she slowly sat up, the weight of the world returned to her. The night had been filled with passion, but it had also awakened something inside her—something darker. Her connection with Rajvir had deepened in ways she couldn’t have imagined, but with it came a flood of questions. What was she becoming? Would she still be the same Natasha in the end?

A soft knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts. "Natasha, it’s me," Aryan's voice came from the other side, a mix of concern and impatience. "We need to talk."

She quickly gathered herself, pulling on a sweater to hide the evidence of her sleepless night. Her head was still clouded with Rajvir’s touch, but she had to focus. Aryan had been worried for weeks, and rightfully so.

As she opened the door, Aryan’s eyes searched her face. He knew something was different, but she could see the restraint in his expression, trying not to push her too far. He wasn’t alone—Aisha stood beside him, her arms crossed, looking more anxious than ever.

"We’ve been trying to figure out what’s happening, Tash," Aryan started, walking into her room uninvited. "And it’s getting worse. There’s something coming, something dark. And we think it’s tied to you."

Natasha swallowed hard, trying to push the memories of last night out of her mind. She hadn’t told them the full truth about Rajvir, not yet. How could she? How could she explain that the villain from another realm had captured her heart and bound them together in a way that defied all reason?

Aisha sat on the edge of Natasha’s bed, her expression softening. "You haven’t been yourself, Natasha. Ever since you met him... It’s like you’re changing. We’re scared for you."

"I’m scared too," Natasha admitted, her voice small. "But you don’t understand. Rajvir... He’s not what you think."

Aryan’s eyes darkened. "He’s dangerous, Natasha. You’ve seen it. Whatever power he has, it’s consuming you. And now we’re caught in the middle of something we don’t even understand."

Natasha felt a surge of guilt. They were right. She had dragged them into this without fully realizing what it meant. But it was too late to turn back now. Her heart was entangled with Rajvir’s, and she couldn’t sever that bond, even if she wanted to.

Suddenly, the air in the room shifted, a dark presence sweeping over them like a storm cloud. Natasha’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized the sensation. It was Rajvir—his energy was close, but something was wrong.

The door swung open before any of them could react, and Rajvir stood there, his expression fierce, his eyes blazing with anger and fear. His presence was overwhelming, filling the room with a tension so thick it was suffocating.

"Rajvir—" Natasha started, but he cut her off with a sharp look.

"Get your things. Now," he commanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Aryan stepped forward, blocking Natasha instinctively. "What the hell is going on?"

Rajvir ignored him, his eyes locked on Natasha. "They’re coming for you. We don’t have time to explain. You need to leave. Now."

Natasha’s blood ran cold. "Who’s coming?"

"The Harbinger’s forces," Rajvir said, his voice edged with urgency. "The ones I warned you about. They’ve found us, and they won’t stop until they have you."

Aisha stood up, panic flashing across her face. "What do you mean, found us? What are we supposed to do?"

Rajvir’s gaze flicked to Aisha and Aryan, his expression unreadable. "You two need to stay out of this. They’re after Natasha because of our bond. This has nothing to do with you."

Aryan scoffed, his fists clenched. "Like hell it doesn’t. We’re not leaving her with you."

"Stop!" Natasha’s voice cut through the tension. "Rajvir, if this is real, if they’re coming, then we all need to leave together. We’re not splitting up."

Rajvir’s jaw tightened, but he nodded, knowing he couldn’t fight her on this. "Fine. But you have to trust me. If they catch up to us, I can’t promise I’ll be able to protect everyone."

A cold wave of dread washed over Natasha. The reality of what was happening hit her with full force. She was no longer just a girl caught in a whirlwind romance. She was the target of something far more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.

Without another word, Natasha began gathering her things, her hands trembling as she threw clothes into a bag. Rajvir moved to the window, keeping watch, while Aryan and Aisha hovered close by, whispering in frantic tones.

As Natasha zipped up her bag, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Rajvir, his expression softer now, but the intensity in his eyes still burned. "I won’t let them take you," he murmured, his voice so low that only she could hear.

Her heart ached at his words. Despite the chaos, despite the danger, all she wanted was to be with him. "I trust you," she whispered back, her fingers brushing against his. "I just don’t know if we can outrun this."

Rajvir’s grip tightened. "We have to try."

The four of them moved quickly, exiting the house and slipping into the dense forest behind it. The night air was thick with tension, and Natasha’s skin prickled with the awareness that they were being watched. The Harbinger’s forces were closing in, and she could feel the darkness pressing in from all sides.

They walked in silence, the only sound was the crunch of leaves beneath their feet. But then, a sharp crack split the air, followed by the rustle of something moving through the trees. Rajvir stopped abruptly, his body going rigid.

"They’re here," he whispered.

In an instant, the air around them erupted in chaos. Dark figures materialized from the shadows, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent. Natasha’s heart raced as she clutched Rajvir’s arm, fear gripping her.

Rajvir stepped forward, his power flaring as he prepared to fight. "Stay close to me," he growled, his voice deadly serious.

Aryan and Aisha fell into defensive stances, but Natasha could see the fear in their eyes. They were outmatched. These creatures were stronger, faster, and more ruthless than anything they had faced before.

Rajvir unleashed a wave of dark energy, blasting the creatures back, but more kept coming. Natasha felt the pull of the bond between them, the raw power that connected her to him, and without thinking, she reached out, letting his energy flow through her.

The world around her seemed to slow as she unleashed her own power, sending a shockwave of energy toward the oncoming horde. The creatures shrieked as they were obliterated, but Natasha barely registered the victory. She was too focused on the dark presence looming just beyond the trees.

And then, she saw him.

The Doom

He stepped out of the shadows, his violet eyes locking onto her with an intensity that made her blood run cold.

"Natasha," he purred, his voice dripping with malice. "You can’t run from me forever."

Rajvir growled, stepping in front of Natasha, his power flaring dangerously. "You won’t touch her."

The Doom’s smile was slow, sinister. "We’ll see about that."

In the blink of an eye, chaos erupted once more, and Natasha’s world descended into darkness.