The Cursed Princess of Suryagarh: Book 1

43. Without blinking an eye

Aarush narrowed his eyes at the high priest because of the strange remark he had just made. "Shreya. We are focusing on finding Shreya."

Jagdish blinked a few times before his frown lines cleared, and a smile formed on his lips. "Of course. Shreya, yes. I was talking about her only."

Aarush was a bit flustered, raking his hands through his hair when Jagdish didn't stop grinning at him, and he deftly looked away. "What is it now?"

Jagdish chuckled and picked up the chalice containing a mixture of their blood. "Nothing. I am... amused. That's it."

Aarush huffed and glowered at the man. "Get me in, Kaka. Stop dawdling."

Jagdish couldn't control the snort and ended up sniggering. "Sure, Your Highness."

A red tint crept up Aarush's neck at the manner in which the old man seemed to be teasing him, and he huffed again before stepping away. "You are growing senile with each passing day. Considered retiring yet?"

Jagdish snorted before assuming a serious facade. "Of course not, Your Highness. I still need to conduct your wedding."

***

Shocked she was when the same deep and cold masculine voice fell in her ears from behind her, and she knew she was caught. Dread filled her up yet again, and Shreya swerved at her spot instantly. In the illumination flitting through the windows from the streetlamps outside, she clearly perceived her captor's features. A sharp nose, a head full of black hair, a handsome and clean-shaven face, and dimples on his cheeks as he grinned at her.

He was walking up to her with a lazy gait as delight shone in his eyes. "Freed yourself, I see." He chuckled. "Feisty you are. Is this how you charmed Aarush?"

She took a step backwards, her nose flaring in a rage. "Don't you dare come closer. I will," she glanced around the hall, "create a ruckus. I will scream and shout. I will," her gaze darted back and forth the area to spot something she could use as a weapon, "raise an alarm."

He smirked at her. "Who do you think will come to save you here?"

She glowered at him. "Perhaps I don't need anyone to save me. Perhaps I can escape myself like I fled that dank, dirty chamber."

He chuckled and gestured at the corridor leading down to his right. "Instead of holding you captive in that dank, dirty chamber, how about I treat you as my esteemed guest?"

"Let me go. What part of these three words does not make sense to you?"

His cheerfulness dropped, and a frenzied wrath took over his countenance. Gritting his teeth, he pointed at the corridor again. "I am going to ask you nicely one more time before I lose my patience. Come with me. We will talk over a nice and warm dinner. And I will personally drop you off at your grandparent's place once we are done."

She was going to die a brutal death, and she knew it. Her gaze swept around the dark hall yet again in a bid to locate an exit route, but she couldn't comprehend what she could potentially do in this situation. She couldn't even gauge what place it was. A villa? A manor? Was she even in Rajasthan anymore? She did know the door lay behind her, but even if she was planning to lunge and sprint, the tall man in front of her was surely going to take her captive yet again. Her shoulders slumped and she frowned at him. "Why can't you just let me go? Will save you money and energy instead of dropping me personally. Not to mention, some fuel as well."

Lines of confusion marred his face. "What?"

She put up a saccharine smile. "I will get going then?"

He chortled and gesticulated at the corridor again. "Let's have dinner. We will sit down and converse like two mature adults instead of throwing tantrums, yes?"