The keeper of time

Chapter 13: The Push and Pull

The campfire was slowly dying down, the embers glowing faintly as the night deepened. Anaya sat alone, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions. Aryan's teasing and banter had always frustrated her, but there was something more beneath the surface now, something that unsettled her in a way she couldn't quite explain. The tension between them was undeniable, but she wasn't sure she was ready to face what it meant.

As she stared into the fire, lost in thought, she heard footsteps approaching. She looked up, half expecting Aryan to come back with another smug grin and a snarky comment. But it wasn't him—it was Arjun.

Arjun sat down beside her, his expression serious. He didn't speak right away, and for a moment, they just sat in silence. Anaya could feel the weight of his presence, the unspoken words hanging between them.

"You okay?" he finally asked, his voice soft, his eyes searching her face.

Anaya nodded, but her heart wasn't in it. She could tell that Arjun was worried—worried about her, worried about the dynamic between her and Aryan. And she hated that she was causing him any pain. Arjun had always been there for her, steady and reliable. But now, everything felt more complicated than it used to be.

"You don't have to pretend with me," Arjun added, his voice gentle. "I can see something's bothering you."

Anaya sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's just... everything's so messed up right now. Aryan, this whole situation... I don't even know what to think anymore."

Arjun frowned slightly, his eyes darkening. "Aryan... he's not good for you, Anaya. I can feel it."

She glanced at him, startled by the intensity in his voice. "What do you mean?"

"I mean..." Arjun paused, choosing his words carefully. "He's dangerous. Maybe not in an obvious way, but I don't trust him. The way he looks at you, the way he gets under your skin—it's not right. He's hiding something."

Anaya bit her lip, her mind spinning. She knew that Aryan was a mystery, but was Arjun right? Was Aryan dangerous? Or was there something else at play, something deeper that neither of them fully understood?

"You don't trust him because you don't know him," Anaya said quietly, unsure if she was trying to convince Arjun or herself.

Arjun shook his head. "It's not just that. It's the way he manipulates situations, the way he uses charm to get what he wants. He's got an agenda, Anaya. And I don't want to see you get hurt because of it."

Anaya stared at the fire, her stomach churning. She knew that Arjun was coming from a place of concern, but she couldn't deny the pull she felt toward Aryan—the tension, the chemistry, the way he made her feel alive in a way she hadn't in so long.

"You know I'd never let anything happen to you, right?" Arjun added, his voice soft but full of conviction.

Anaya glanced at him, her heart aching at the tenderness in his words. Arjun had always been protective of her, always looking out for her. But she could see the pain in his eyes now, the fear that he was losing her to someone else.

Meanwhile, Aryan's POV

Aryan had stepped away from the fire, needing a moment to clear his head. He was used to being in control, used to having the upper hand. But with Anaya, things were different. She challenged him, defied him, and that only made him want her more. But it wasn't just about the chase—there was something deeper that pulled him toward her, something he couldn't quite explain.

As Prime Minister, Aryan had always lived a life of structure and power. He thrived on the control he had over his environment and the people around him. But Anaya was different. She didn't fall in line, didn't bow to his authority. And that fascinated him.

But it also frustrated him. He didn't like feeling out of control, didn't like the way she got under his skin. And yet, every time they bantered, every time she shot back with one of her sarcastic remarks, it made him want her even more.

Earlier, when he had teased her by the fire, he had felt the tension between them crackling like electricity. Her eyes had flashed with defiance, her cheeks flushed with frustration—and something else. Something that told him she wasn't as unaffected by him as she pretended to be.

"She's different," Aryan thought to himself as he walked through the dark woods, the cool night air brushing against his skin. "She's not like anyone I've ever met."

But there was something else nagging at him, something he couldn't ignore. The mystery surrounding her—the way she had appeared in this world, her strange knowledge of things she shouldn't know—it all made him suspicious. He had his own reasons for being cautious, for keeping his guard up. But every time he looked at her, those walls seemed to crack just a little.

Back at the Fire

Aryan returned to the camp just as Anaya and Arjun's conversation was winding down. He could see the tension between them, the way Arjun's shoulders were tense, the way Anaya looked torn. For a moment, Aryan felt a pang of guilt. He knew that his presence was causing friction in the group, but he couldn't walk away. Not now.

"Miss me?" Aryan said with a smirk as he approached, breaking the silence.

Anaya rolled her eyes, but there was a flicker of something in her expression—something that made Aryan's chest tighten. "Hardly."

"Ouch," Aryan mock winced, placing a hand over his heart. "You wound me, Anaya."

Arjun stood up, his jaw clenched. "We were having a conversation."

Aryan raised an eyebrow, his smirk never faltering. "So serious, Arjun. Lighten up."

Arjun's fists clenched at his sides, and Aryan could see the anger simmering beneath the surface. But before things could escalate, Anaya stood up between them, her hands raised in a gesture of peace.

"Alright, that's enough," she said, her voice firm. "Both of you. We're all on the same side here, remember?"

Aryan's eyes met hers, and for a moment, the world seemed to narrow down to just the two of them. There was a challenge in her gaze, a spark that made him want to push her just a little more. But he held back, knowing that this wasn't the time.

"Fine," he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "I'll behave. For now."

As the night wore on, the tension between the three of them remained, but Aryan couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He wasn't going anywhere—and neither was this strange pull he felt toward Anaya. But he could also sense Arjun's growing unease, and that only made the situation more interesting.

There was a storm brewing between them, one that none of them could escape. And Aryan was ready for whatever came next.