UNWILLINGLY HIS

Throne of Shadows

“You…” Samaira’s voice trembled, her breath hitching as her chest tightened. She stumbled back a step, her wide eyes locked on the man before her. “Uncle Vikram… it’s you?”

Vikram turned to her fully, his smirk cold and devoid of any warmth. “Finally,” he said, his tone mocking. “The brilliant Samaira figures it out. Yes, it’s me. Surprised?”
Samaira’s heart raced. Of all the possibilities, this one felt like the cruelest betrayal. This wasn’t just a rival or an outsider—it was family. “Why?” she demanded, her voice breaking. “Why would you do this? To your own brother? To Advait?”

Vikram let out a low chuckle, stepping closer, his shadow stretching across the dimly lit room. “Why? Because I was tired of living under someone else’s rule, of being overlooked, underestimated. I had ambitions, Samaira. Dreams. But in this family, there’s no room for second sons. Everything was always about Adhrit—the golden child. And after him, Advait. I was done playing second fiddle.”

Samaira’s fists clenched. Her voice rose, shaky but fierce. “So you killed him? You killed Uncle Adhrit—your own brother—because of your ambitions? What kind of monster does that?”

Vikram’s smirk deepened, his eyes glinting with something darker. “A man who understands the cost of power. Adhrit was too strong, too righteous. He wouldn’t bend to me, wouldn’t let me carve my own path. So I removed him from it.”

Samaira shook her head, disbelief etched into her features. “And what did you get from it? The business stayed with Uncle Mahendra—”

“ Mahendra,” Vikram interrupted with a sneer, “is a puppet. Spineless, weak. I let him think he’s in charge because it’s easier that way. He does what I want without realizing it.” He stepped closer, his tone growing colder. “But Adhrit… he wasn’t like that. He was a wall I couldn’t break through. So I tore him down.”

Samaira’s eyes burned, but she refused to let the tears fall. Her voice dropped, biting and accusatory. “And Advait? Why go after him? He wasn’t even involved in all this when you killed his father.”

Vikram chuckled again, the sound low and venomous. “Advait… Advait became a problem the moment he decided to rebuild what I destroyed. Don’t be naive, Samaira. The Shekhawat empire isn’t just a legitimate business. We’ve ruled the underworld for decades, and that’s where the real power lies. After Adhrit’s death, I thought I’d take the throne, but your precious Advait had other plans. He clawed his way back, piece by piece, and now he thinks he’s the king.” His voice turned ice cold. “But there’s only room for one king, and tonight, I’ll make sure it’s me.”

Samaira’s stomach churned. She felt a mix of revulsion and anger boiling inside her. “You think killing Advait will fix everything? That it’ll make you a king? You’ve destroyed this family, Vikram. You’ve turned it into a nightmare!”

Vikram’s smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered, his eyes narrowing. “This family was always a nightmare, Samaira . I just decided to stop pretending it wasn’t.And now when you are too desperate to destroy him, to destroy them, let's do it together."

A slow, deliberate clap broke the tension.

“Well said, Uncle,” a cold, mocking voice interjected.

Samaira whipped her head toward the doorway, her breath catching as Advait stepped out of the shadows. His presence was commanding, his expression unreadable as his piercing gaze locked onto Vikram.

Vikram stiffened. “Advait… how long have you—”

“Long enough,” Advait cut him off, his voice sharp and cutting. He stepped forward, his movements deliberate, his eyes never leaving Vikram’s. “Did you really think I wouldn’t figure it out? That I wouldn’t uncover the truth about the man who betrayed my father, who’s been scheming against me from the shadows?”

For a moment, Vikram faltered, his confidence wavering. But he quickly straightened, his expression hardening. “You’re clever, Advait. I’ll give you that. But it doesn’t matter. You’re too late to stop me now.”

Advait tilted his head slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. “You think so?” His tone was calm, almost mocking. “The game is over, Uncle. And you’ve lost.”

Vikram’s hand moved in a blur, pulling a gun from his pocket. His face twisted with desperation as he aimed it at Advait. “If I can’t win, then neither will you!”

Samaira’s breath hitched, her body freezing in place.

Before Vikram could pull the trigger, a single shot rang out, shattering the silence.

The gun fell from Vikram’s hand as he stumbled backward, clutching his shoulder.

Rhea stepped into the room, her gun raised and steady, her expression cold and unyielding. “Not on my watch,” she said, her voice firm.

Vikram let out a guttural growl of pain, his eyes darting between Advait, Samaira, and Rhea.

Samaira exhaled shakily, relief momentarily washing over her. She turned toward Advait, her lips parting to speak.

But something in the room shifted. Advait’s sharp instincts flared. His gaze darted toward the shadows in the corner, catching a glint of metal.

“Samaira, get down!” he shouted.

Before she could process his words, a gunshot echoed. Samaira’s eyes widened as she realized the bullet was heading straight for her.

Advait moved in a blur, barging in front of her. The bullet struck him, piercing through his temple.

“Advait!” Samaira screamed, the world around her shattering. Time seemed to stop as he staggered, blood trickling down his face.

The sound of slow clapping brought her back. Aarav stepped out from the shadows, his gun still raised. “Talking wastes time,” he said mockingly. “I learned that lesson the hard way.”

Before he could say another word, a shot rang out, and Aarav crumpled to the ground.

Rohit stood in the doorway, his gun smoking, his face etched with fury.

Samaira barely noticed. Her world had narrowed to Advait, his blood staining her hands as tears streamed down her face. “Advait,” she whispered, her voice broken. “Please, stay with me.”

Rhea barked orders at the guards, her voice sharp and urgent. “Get him up! Now! We’re taking him to the hospital!”

As the guards lifted Advait, Samaira followed, her legs trembling beneath her. She glanced back at Vikram, who sat slumped against the wall, his plans reduced to ashes.

Samaira climbed into the car beside Advait, her mind spinning. She pressed a hand to his chest, as if willing his heart to keep beating.

The car sped through the dark streets, and Samaira whispered, “You can’t leave me, Advait. Not now. Not like this.”