Chapter Three-A Debt to Pay

10 years later...

Inside Roshan's opulent study, the air thick with the scent of expensive cigars and aged whiskey, he spun lazily in his leather chair, a glass of amber liquid swirling in his hand. His gaze, however, was far away, lost in a reverie.

His assistant, also his third in command of his formidable demon army, Alex,a young demon with an unnervingly eager demeanor, droned on about his schedule, his voice a mere background noise to Roshan's thoughts.

"Now that the war with the mountain demons is finally over and we're back in the human realm, you'll need to resume your office as CEO of Lucent Industries," the assistant continued, adjusting his glasses and clearing his throat. "The board members are starting to lose their patience. I managed to concoct a plausible excuse for your absence, but they're growing restless."

Roshan barely registered his assistant's words. His mind was consumed by a single thought: his mate.

The door creaked open, and Damon, his second-in-command, strode into the room. "Roshan, " Damon announced, his voice low and urgent. "I found her."

A surge of adrenaline coursed through Roshan, he got up in a hurry. "Ready the helicopter" he commanded, his voice a low growl. "We leave immediately."

Damon bowed his head in acknowledgement as Roshan exited the study.

As Damon was about to follow, his gaze fell on Alex. "Alex are those glasses… medicated?".

Alex, startled, looked up. "Well, yes," he replied, puffing out his chest. "You like them? I think they add a certain… intellectual flair."

Damon filled with annoyance replied. "You're a demon, Alex. You have perfect vision. Take those off. You look ridiculous."

Alex, deflated, began removing the oversized spectacles, muttering angry curses under his breath as Damon exited the room.

Reina was by the window of her room writing on her journal, the rays of sunlight kissing her face.

The door creaked open and Camille barged in with two dresses hanging on her hands. The one on her right, was a red leather gown while the one on her left was a black strapless dress.

"Which do you think i should wear?" She asked Reina. "I don't want Marc to set his gaze anywhere else tonight". Camille said, her gray eyes beaming with excitement.

Camille has had this massive crush on Marc since high school and they've been dating since then. It was easy for Camille to get the most popular guy in school cause of her fame and killer looks.

Reina knows Camille would give anything to make sure she walks down the aisle with that dude but she has always seen Marc to be a bit coo coo in the head.

Like that one time she caught him strangling a stray cat on her way to school. She reported him to the police and Camille didn't speak to her for weeks. She kept making up excuses for him saying he was only trying to save the cat from choking...no Camille, he was doing the choking.

"Reina, I'm waiting". Camille's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"The red one". She finally gave her answer and watched as Camille left the room grinning from ear to ear.

She resumed writing on her journal when she heard a deafening roar that shattered the quiet. The sound seem to emanate from above.

Startled, Reina craned her neck upwards, her eyes widening as she took in the sight before her. A helicopter was descending rapidly, its powerful rotors churning the air above her front porch.

A fierce gust of wind whipped the air around her, tugging at her hair and clothes, the force of it ripping her journal from her grasp and sending it fluttering to the ground. The helicopter's landing lights illuminated her face.

Inside the cockpit, a figure sat motionless, his gaze fixed intently on Reina. It was Roshan. A low growl rumbled from his throat as he said in a calm tone. "Fuck, look at those eyes, Damon".

Reina's big icy blue orbs was fixated on Roshan's with innocent curiousity.

Damon, knowing very well he'll be slit in half if he dare as much as a glance at the girl below, decided he'll pass on the offer.

The helicopter finally landed and Roshan with his entourage stepped out.

The door to Reina's house barged open and Linda stepped out with a confused expression, "What in the devil's name is going on here?".

Damon approached her and started with an introduction, "Good evening ma'am. My name is Damon Patel and this is my boss Roshan Sage and his personal assistant Alexander Blackwood". He gestured at Roshan and Alex.

Alex gave a polite wave and flashed Linda his signature cute smile that Damon finds very annoying.

Linda stared at Roshan who was almost losing his patience waiting for Damon to finish being civil.

"We're here to speak with your husband, Bobby Zaretski. Is he home?". Damon asked.

Linda carefully assessed the men before her, noting their expensive attire and confident demeanor. She realized they were likely very wealthy and decided to play along, hoping to capitalize on the situation. A calculated smile touched her lips. "I'm Linda Zaretski, his amazing wife". She extended her hand to shake Damon with a fake wide grin hanging across her lips.

Damon took her hand and lowered himself to give her a gentle kiss on her knuckles which made her blush.

Roshan was this close to raining bullets on his best friend.

"Well my husband isn't around right now. He's probably out somewhere gambling and drinking himself to death but he should be back any minute from now. You can-"

Before she could offer them to go in, Roshan shoved her and entered inside the house.

Reina was descending the stairs as Roshan entered and their eyes met. Silver and blue, locked in a silent, captivating duel, a current of electricity passing between them. He was mesmerized, his senses assaulted by her intoxicating scent. She smelled like a breath of fresh air, crisp and clean with hints of citrus.

At this point, Roshan's demon was losing it. He wants to make her his right that very minute.

Damon noticed his change in demeanor and the almost imperceptible flicker in his eyes as they began to glow with an inner gold fire. He knew what that meant. "Roshan". He whispered. "Your eyes".

Roshan, with an air of practiced nonchalance, reached into his jacket, pulled out his pair of dark glasses and slid them on. A small, enigmatic smile curved up his lips.

Roshan settled into a chair without waiting for Linda's invitation, crossing his legs with an air of casual dominance. He plucked a cigarette from the table and lit it, the smoke curling around him like a shroud. Reina watched, bewildered by his almost unnerving confidence. His presence radiated power, and an unsettling sense of familiarity washed over her, a strange déjà vu.

She kept wondering who this stranger was and what he wanted from them.

"When will your husband return, Linda?" Roshan's voice was calm, yet a sharp edge of menace laced his words. "I have a distinct dislike for those who waste my time, particularly those who are in my debt."

Linda's brow furrowed in confusion. "Wait," she stammered, "my husband owes you money?".

Just then, the front door crashed open, revealing a drunk Bob with a bottle of liquor clutched in his hand, his movements unsteady and drunken.