The keeper of time

Chapter 12: Unraveling the Bonds

The night air was thick with tension. The crackling of the fire was the only sound as the group sat in an awkward silence. Aryan leaned back against a tree, arms crossed, his usual smirk barely visible in the dim light, but his eyes were focused on Anaya. She sat on the other side of the campfire, her body stiff, arms hugging her knees to her chest, trying to ignore the feeling of his gaze burning into her.

Aryan couldn't help himself. Teasing her was becoming his favorite pastime. There was something about the way Anaya fought back, the sharp wit in her words, that made it impossible for him to resist pushing her buttons. But tonight, there was something else beneath the banter. Something heavier. He knew he was getting under her skin, but the truth was, she had gotten under his.

Aryan's POV

As Prime Minister, Aryan was used to being in control. His life had always been about discipline, order, and responsibility. He had power, respect, and a position of authority that most men could only dream of. But being around Anaya was different. She didn't care about his title or his status. She challenged him, mocked him, treated him like just another person—and somehow, that made him want her more.

Their banter earlier had been fun, but he could feel something shifting between them. When she snapped back at him, refusing to be intimidated, it sent a thrill through him. But it wasn't just her defiance—it was the way she looked at him, like she saw through all the layers of control and power, like she knew there was more to him than the role he played.

And that scared him.

He hadn't meant to get so caught up in her, but there was something about her that made it impossible to stay away. The way she handled herself, the way she fought back with every ounce of strength she had—it intrigued him. And yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that she was hiding something, something deeper. There were moments where she seemed vulnerable, where her walls slipped, but just as quickly, she would pull them back up. And Aryan wanted to know why.

Anaya's POV

Anaya could feel her pulse pounding in her ears as she sat by the fire. Her mind was racing, replaying every word, every glance Aryan had thrown her way tonight. She hated the way he made her feel—off-balance, unsure, like he could see right through her. But there was no denying the pull between them, even if she refused to admit it.

Why does he always have to be like this? she thought, gritting her teeth in frustration. Aryan seemed to take pleasure in getting under her skin, and she hated how easily he could do it. The way he teased her, the way he smirked like he knew exactly what she was thinking—it was infuriating. And worse, it was making her feel things she wasn't ready to feel.

She tried to distract herself by watching the fire, focusing on the way the flames flickered and danced in the dark, but her mind kept wandering back to him. To the way he had looked at her earlier, the way his voice had softened for just a moment, like he was letting his guard down.

Stop it, she told herself. You can't get caught up in this. There was too much at stake. She couldn't afford to let her emotions get in the way.

The Conversation

Out of the silence, Aryan's voice broke through. "You've been quiet tonight," he said, his tone casual, but his eyes still sharp, observing her.

Anaya shrugged, not looking at him. "Just tired."

"Hmm," Aryan hummed, unconvinced. "Tired, or avoiding me?"

She finally glanced up, meeting his gaze across the fire. "What makes you think I'm avoiding you?"

"Because every time I try to talk to you, you find a reason to walk away." He leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with that familiar mix of amusement and something more. "Afraid of me?"

"In your dreams." She shot back, rolling her eyes.

He chuckled, leaning back again. "If you say so."

But there was a challenge in his eyes, one that made her stomach twist. Anaya could feel the tension between them rising again, and she hated that it was so easy for him to get under her skin.

"You really think everything's about you, don't you?" she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I mean, isn't it?" Aryan grinned, enjoying the banter.

"Wow," Anaya said, feigning shock. "You really are full of yourself."

"What can I say?" Aryan's grin widened. "It's part of my charm."

"Charm?" She raised an eyebrow, looking at him like he'd lost his mind. "You mean arrogance."

Aryan laughed, the sound deep and rich. "You wound me, Anaya."

"If only," she muttered under her breath, but her lips twitched into a reluctant smile.

He noticed, of course. "See? You like me."

"I tolerate you," she corrected, but her heart was racing, and she hated how much she enjoyed their back-and-forth.

"Tolerate, huh?" Aryan's voice dropped, and he leaned in just a little closer, his eyes locking onto hers. "Is that what you call this?"

Anaya's breath hitched, and for a moment, she couldn't find the words to respond. His proximity, the intensity of his gaze—it was too much. But she refused to let him see how much he affected her.

"Call it whatever you want," she finally said, her voice steadier than she felt. "It doesn't change anything."

"Doesn't it?" Aryan asked, his voice low, and for a moment, the world seemed to shrink to just the two of them. The crackling of the fire, the distant sounds of the night—they all faded into the background as Aryan's eyes bore into hers, searching for something she wasn't sure she was ready to give.

Arjun's Unease

Arjun watched from the sidelines, his jaw clenched as he observed the interaction between Anaya and Aryan. The way Aryan's presence seemed to dominate the space, the way Anaya bantered with him—it made Arjun's chest tighten with unease.

He had always been close to Anaya, always felt like he understood her better than anyone else. But now, with Aryan in the picture, everything felt different. Aryan's confident, almost cocky demeanor, his ability to command attention with just a glance—it made Arjun feel invisible in a way he never had before.

And then there was the way Anaya responded to Aryan. The way she fought back, the way she seemed to rise to the challenge of his teasing. It was different from how she acted around Arjun—more intense, more charged. And Arjun couldn't help but wonder if he was losing her to this man who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

Aryan's Flirtation

Aryan, on the other hand, was enjoying every minute of it. He loved the way Anaya fought back, the way her sarcasm matched his own. But underneath the teasing, he could feel something more—a connection, a tension that neither of them could deny.

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You know, for someone who claims to tolerate me, you seem pretty flustered right now."

Anaya narrowed her eyes at him, refusing to back down. "I'm not flustered."

"No?" Aryan's grin widened. "Then why are your cheeks turning pink?"

Anaya opened her mouth to argue, but before she could, Aryan chuckled softly and stood up, stretching his arms overhead. "I'm going to take a walk. Don't miss me too much while I'm gone."

"Oh, please," she muttered, watching as he walked off into the darkness. But as soon as he was out of sight, she let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

What was it about him that got to her so easily? Why did he have this effect on her, making her feel things she hadn't felt in a long time—if ever?

Arjun's Dilemma

Arjun, still sitting by the fire, couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in his gut. He cared about Anaya deeply, more than he had ever admitted to her or himself. But Aryan's arrival had thrown everything into chaos.

He wasn't sure if he was ready to compete with someone like Aryan—someone who seemed to have it all.