The keeper of time

Chapter 22: Shadows of Doubt

The night air was thick with tension as they gathered around a small fire in their makeshift camp. Anaya sat cross-legged, her eyes fixed on the flames as they danced in the breeze, casting flickering shadows across Aryan's face. He was leaning against a tree, arms folded, his expression unreadable. Arjun was a few feet away, his gaze fixed on the perimeter of the camp, clearly on edge after the ambush.

Anaya felt the weight of their silence. She had grown used to their bickering, but tonight there was something different—a heaviness that hadn't been there before. She tried to push the thoughts away, but her mind kept circling back to the way Aryan had protected her during the fight. He hadn't hesitated, hadn't faltered. And then there was Arjun—fierce and loyal, always watching her with those warm, worried eyes.

She shifted uncomfortably, the memory of the fight still fresh in her mind. The adrenaline had worn off, leaving her feeling raw and exposed. She could still feel the weight of Aryan's gaze from across the fire, and it made her heart race in a way that had nothing to do with fear.

Aryan broke the silence first, his voice low and calm. "We need to figure out where those men came from. They knew we were here."

Arjun scoffed, his tone sharp. "Of course they knew. You weren't exactly subtle back there."

Aryan raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning. "Subtlety isn't my style. I prefer results."

"Results?" Arjun shot back, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "We barely made it out alive!"

"Yet here we are," Aryan replied, unbothered by Arjun's anger. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes glinting in the firelight. "Alive and kicking."

Anaya rolled her eyes, trying to stifle a smile. As much as their constant banter wore her down, she couldn't help but find it... amusing. Aryan's cocky demeanor grated on her nerves, but there was something undeniably magnetic about the way he handled himself. He was always so sure of everything, so confident in his every move. It was infuriating—and oddly reassuring.

"You two really need to stop," she muttered, shaking her head. "We're not going to survive much longer if you keep bickering like this."

Aryan glanced at her, a grin playing at the corners of his mouth. "You love it, don't lie."

Anaya shot him a glare, crossing her arms over her chest. "I love watching you two act like children? Sure."

Aryan chuckled, his eyes locking onto hers with that familiar spark of mischief. "Come on, admit it. You think I'm charming."

She felt her face heat up, but she wasn't about to let him get away with that. "I think you're infuriating."

"Infuriatingly charming," he added with a wink.

Arjun made an exasperated sound from across the camp, his frustration palpable. "Can we focus on the actual problem here? We were ambushed, and now we're sitting ducks if they come back."

Aryan's expression shifted, his playful tone fading as he turned serious. "They won't come back tonight. They've already lost too many men. But we need to be ready to move at first light."

Anaya watched the tension between the two men simmering just beneath the surface. Aryan was always in control, always calm, while Arjun was visibly on edge, his protectiveness making him more aggressive. She could feel the unspoken competition between them, and it made her heart ache. She didn't want to be the cause of this rift.

Suddenly, Aryan stood up, brushing the dirt off his hands. He glanced at Anaya, his expression softening. "You should get some rest. We've got a long day ahead of us."

Anaya opened her mouth to protest, but Aryan held up a hand, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I'll take first watch."

Arjun, clearly unhappy with Aryan's decision, stood up as well. "I'll take second. You're not the only one who can handle this."

Aryan gave him a nod, though the tension between them was still palpable. "Fine by me."

Anaya felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her chest. She could sense the unspoken emotions swirling around them, and it made her uneasy. She didn't want to be the reason these two were constantly at odds, but she wasn't sure how to fix it, either.

As she lay down on her makeshift bedroll, Anaya tried to calm her racing thoughts. She stared up at the stars, their distant light barely visible through the thick canopy of trees. The forest around them was alive with the sounds of insects and rustling leaves, but it did little to soothe the unease gnawing at her.

She rolled onto her side, glancing over at Aryan, who was standing at the edge of the camp, his eyes scanning the trees for any signs of movement. He looked so confident, so sure of himself, and she couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. Was he as calm on the inside as he seemed on the outside? Or was there something more behind that cool facade?

As if sensing her gaze, Aryan turned his head slightly, his eyes meeting hers. For a brief moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them thickening. Then, with a small smile that was more for her benefit than his own, Aryan gave her a nod.

"Get some sleep, Anaya," he said softly. "I've got this."

She wanted to believe him, but something told her that the night was far from over.

As Aryan stood guard, his mind drifted back to the fight, to the way Anaya had handled herself with more courage than he'd expected. He'd seen fear in her eyes, yes, but also something else—determination, strength. She wasn't just a scientist lost in a world that wasn't hers; she was a fighter, even if she didn't fully realize it yet.

And that intrigued him.

He couldn't deny the pull he felt toward her, the way she challenged him with her sharp wit and defiant spirit. It was refreshing—different from the submissive nods and obedient responses he was used to as the prime minister. She didn't care about his title or his authority. In fact, she seemed to enjoy pushing his buttons.

But there was also something about her that didn't quite add up. She was hiding something—he could feel it. And though he found himself growing more and more drawn to her, he couldn't shake the feeling that she was a threat to more than just his composure.

Aryan's gaze flickered to where Arjun sat, brooding in silence. The tension between them had reached a breaking point, and it wasn't just because of Anaya. Arjun was protective of her, sure, but Aryan sensed there was more at play—something deeper, something that made Arjun see him not just as a rival but as an enemy.

Aryan wasn't one to shy away from competition. He enjoyed the thrill of the chase, the challenge of winning. But this wasn't just about winning Anaya's attention. It was about survival—and figuring out what role Anaya played in the greater scheme of things.

Because as much as Aryan wanted to believe that this was all about the mission, he couldn't ignore the way his heart skipped a beat every time she looked at him with those fierce, determined eyes.

He just hoped he wouldn't regret it.