The keeper of time

Chapter 15: The Shadows of Truth

Anaya felt like the ground had been pulled from beneath her. "Your Highness?" The words echoed in her mind as she stared at Aryan. His usual smirk was gone, replaced by a guarded expression that sent shivers down her spine. The men before him, clad in ancient warrior attire, knelt as if in the presence of a king. This couldn't be happening.

Her breath caught in her throat as she tried to process the sudden shift. Aryan wasn't just some arrogant, irritatingly handsome stranger; he was someone with power, influence, and a past far more complex than she had ever imagined.

"You're... royalty?" Anaya's voice barely rose above a whisper, and she felt her hands tremble at her sides.

Aryan remained silent for a moment, his eyes scanning the warriors before him, then landing back on her. His dark eyes softened, but there was still something unreadable in them.

"It's complicated," he finally said, his tone low, as though it was all he could offer.

Anaya's heart pounded in her chest. Complicated didn't even begin to cover it. This wasn't just about his identity—it was about the very fabric of time they had now found themselves in. She had trusted him, bantered with him, even allowed herself to be drawn to him, but now she felt as though she had been deceived.

"Complicated?" she shot back, her voice shaking with a mix of fear and anger. "You brought me into this without telling me the truth. I—" she paused, swallowing hard, trying to regain her composure. "I don't even know what to believe anymore."

Aryan stepped closer, his eyes softening even further. He reached out, and for a second, Anaya thought he might touch her arm to calm her. But he stopped, his hand hovering in the air between them. "Anaya, you have to trust me. I didn't know this would happen, not like this."

"Trust you?" she snapped, stepping back. "You've been keeping secrets since the beginning!"

The warriors still knelt in front of them, their eyes on Aryan, their presence a reminder that the stakes had been raised higher than ever. Arjun, standing just behind them, had been watching the exchange with barely concealed frustration. He couldn't stand it anymore.

"Anaya's right," Arjun said, stepping forward with a hardness in his voice. "We've been kept in the dark, Aryan. If you knew anything about where we're headed or what's happening, now's the time to be honest."

Aryan's jaw tightened. His gaze flickered between Anaya and Arjun, the tension between them thickening the air. It was a battle between his need to protect and his responsibility to reveal the truth.

"I didn't lie to you," Aryan said, his tone more serious now, the teasing edge gone. "But there are things that are bigger than us, bigger than you or me."

Anaya crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. She didn't like being patronized, and Aryan knew that. But still, she found herself wanting to understand.

"Then explain," she said, her voice quieter now, though the defiance remained.

Aryan glanced over his shoulder, toward the ruins they had left behind, before returning his gaze to her. "In this time, I am part of something... bigger. A royal lineage tied to the very foundations of this kingdom. The altar we found—it wasn't just a relic; it was a key. To bring us here, back to this point in history."

Anaya's head spun. "You knew this was going to happen, didn't you? You knew you'd be brought back here."

Aryan shook his head. "No, I didn't. I wasn't supposed to return to this time. But now that we're here, I need to finish what was left undone."

"And what exactly was that?" Arjun interjected, crossing his arms and stepping between them, his protectiveness over Anaya more obvious now. His eyes glinted with suspicion.

Aryan turned to face Arjun fully, his gaze sharpening as their silent rivalry flared once again. "Anaya's safety. And the fate of this kingdom."

The words hung in the air between them like a blade. Arjun's jaw tightened, a muscle twitching as he weighed Aryan's words. But it was clear he didn't trust him.

"You think you can just swoop in, throw us into some kind of ancient power struggle, and we'll follow you blindly?" Arjun's voice was full of heat now. "You might be used to being in charge, but don't think for a second I'll stand by if Anaya gets hurt because of this."

Anaya could feel the tension rise like a tidal wave between them. Aryan was used to commanding respect, but Arjun was protective, and neither of them was willing to back down.

Before Aryan could reply, Anaya raised her hand, cutting through the silence. "Enough. Both of you." Her voice was firm, though her heart was still pounding from the revelation. "I'm not some pawn in this game, and I'm not going to stand here while the two of you fight over who's in charge."

Aryan's lips curled into a small, teasing smirk. "I wouldn't dare underestimate you, Anaya." He shot a glance at Arjun, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "But if you're ready to get serious about this, I think you'll find I'm a better ally than Arjun here is willing to admit."

Anaya rolled her eyes, unable to stop the faint smile that tugged at her lips. "I'll decide that for myself, thanks."

Aryan's smirk widened. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

Arjun huffed, clearly annoyed at Aryan's continued flirtation. But there was something deeper in his eyes—something pained. Anaya could see it, even if he wouldn't admit it out loud. Arjun didn't just want to protect her; he was afraid of losing her.

As they moved forward, following the warriors who had come to escort them, Aryan fell into step beside her. His presence was overwhelming, a mix of confidence and mystery that both frustrated and intrigued her. She could feel the warmth of his body close to hers, and despite everything, she couldn't deny the strange pull she felt toward him.

"You know," Aryan said quietly, his voice filled with teasing warmth, "you look cute when you're angry."

Anaya shot him a sidelong glance, her lips pursed in mock irritation. "Keep talking like that, and you'll see just how angry I can get."

Aryan chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'll take my chances."

Despite herself, Anaya felt a laugh bubbling up inside her, though she fought to keep her expression stern. Aryan had a way of getting under her skin, of making her forget the danger they were in, if only for a moment. And maybe that was why she couldn't stay angry at him for long.

But as they walked deeper into the heart of this ancient kingdom, Anaya knew one thing for certain: whatever secrets Aryan was keeping, they were going to change everything. And if she wasn't careful, they might just tear them all apart.