ep 48

As the cool breeze swept through their campsite, Kiara lay beside Aryan, her head resting on his chest, her breathing steady. The peace of the moment wrapped around them like a protective shield, a brief respite from the storm they had been navigating for so long. But as Kiara's thoughts began to settle, something started to gnaw at her mind—a faint whisper of doubt, a shadow creeping in from the edges of her consciousness.

She tilted her head slightly, gazing at the man she had just shared one of the most intimate moments of her life with. His chest rose and fell softly beneath her touch, his face calm, almost serene in the dim light of the fire. But there was something in the air that felt… off.

"Are you alright?" Aryan's voice broke through her thoughts, gentle but tinged with concern.

Kiara blinked, trying to shake the strange feeling that had gripped her. "Yeah," she whispered, but the unease remained. She looked into his eyes, and for a split second, they seemed different—darker, colder.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his hand brushing a lock of hair away from her face, the same tender gesture she had grown used to. But something was wrong. Kiara's heartbeat quickened, a feeling of dread spreading through her.

Her mind started to piece things together—small details she had ignored before, the way he had been acting recently, the subtle differences in his behavior. He had been more distant, more intense. And now, as she lay there, it hit her like a wave.

This wasn't Aryan.

Her breath caught in her throat, her heart racing as realization slammed into her. The man lying beside her, the man she had just shared an intimate moment with, wasn't the person she thought he was.

It was Ethan.

A sharp gasp escaped her lips, and she scrambled back, her eyes wide with disbelief. "No… no, this can't be…"

The man in front of her—Ethan—sat up slowly, his expression a mixture of surprise and amusement. "You just now figured it out, didn't you?" His voice was smooth, confident, and cold, very different from the warmth Aryan had always shown her.

Kiara's mind was spinning. "How… how did you…?"

Ethan's lips curled into a smirk. "I told you once before, didn't I? I have my ways. Aryan and I… we've always had our battles, but this time, I decided to take what he holds dear the most—you."

Her stomach churned with nausea, the intimacy she had just shared now feeling tainted, wrong. Her eyes filled with rage and confusion as she looked at him, her mind trying to grasp how she hadn't noticed sooner. "Where is Aryan?" she demanded, her voice trembling with both fury and fear.

Ethan stood up, his movements slow, deliberate. "He's… resting, let's say. I had to make sure he wouldn't interfere tonight."

Kiara's fists clenched as she took a step back, anger boiling inside her. "What did you do to him?"

Ethan's smile faltered slightly. "He's alive, for now. But how long that lasts… well, that depends on you, Kiara."

She glared at him, her chest heaving with a mix of fear and fury. "You won't get away with this. When Aryan finds out—"

Ethan laughed softly, cutting her off. "When Aryan finds out? Darling, Aryan won't be able to save you this time. You see, he's too weak. Too… predictable. I've watched him for years, waiting for my chance, and now, I have it."

Kiara's heart ached, not just from the betrayal but from the realization of how deep Ethan's plan had gone. He had used her, manipulated her emotions, and taken advantage of her trust. She felt sick to her core, but she couldn't let him see that.

"I'll fight you," she said, her voice steadying with determination. "Whatever your plans are, I'll stop you."

Ethan's expression darkened, his smirk fading as he took a step closer. "Fight me? Kiara, you still don't understand, do you? You don't have a choice. Aryan can't protect you anymore. You belong to me now."

But before Kiara could respond, something shifted in the air. A sudden gust of wind blew through the camp, extinguishing the fire. The shadows deepened, and the temperature dropped, leaving the night cold and eerily silent.

Kiara's heart leapt as she heard a familiar voice—one that sent a wave of relief washing over her.

"She doesn't belong to anyone, Ethan."

Kiara's eyes darted to the edge of the campsite, where Aryan stood, battered and bruised, but very much alive. His gaze was fierce, his posture steady despite the clear toll Ethan's attack had taken on him.

Ethan's smirk returned, but it was weaker now, his confidence wavering. "Ah, Aryan. Right on time."

Aryan's eyes never left Ethan as he stepped closer, positioning himself between Kiara and his enemy. "You're done here, Ethan. Whatever you thought you could accomplish, it ends now."

Ethan chuckled, though there was an edge of uncertainty in his voice. "You're too late, Aryan. I've already—"

Aryan's voice was like ice. "I know what you did. And I'm going to make sure you never hurt anyone again."

Kiara could feel the tension in the air, the raw energy building between the two men. She knew that this wasn't just about the artifacts or the ancient battle they had been drawn into—this was personal.

Ethan took a step back, his smirk fading as the realization of his defeat set in. He had underestimated Aryan, and now, it was too late for him to recover.

"You'll regret this, Aryan," Ethan spat, his voice filled with venom.

Aryan didn't flinch. "The only thing I regret is not stopping you sooner."

In a blur of movement, Aryan lunged at Ethan, the two men clashing in a brutal struggle. Kiara watched, her heart pounding as the fight played out in front of her. But this time, Aryan was in control, his strength and determination overpowering Ethan's deceitful tactics.

Within moments, Ethan was on the ground, defeated.

Aryan stood over him, his chest heaving with exertion. "Leave. Now. And if you ever come near Kiara again, I'll make sure you regret it."

Ethan glared up at him, hatred burning in his eyes, but he knew he was beaten. Without another word, he slunk off into the shadows, disappearing into the night.

As the tension eased, Aryan turned to Kiara, his expression softening. "Are you okay?"

Kiara nodded, her heart still racing. "I… I thought I'd lost you."

Aryan pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "You'll never lose me, Kiara. I'm right here."

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Kiara finally felt safe.