Dhriti woke up slowly, her eyes fluttering open to the soft, golden light of the late morning sun streaming through the curtains. She stretched languidly, feeling unusually well-rested. In years, she couldn't recall ever sleeping this late-especially after the tumultuous events of the past few weeks. But today, there was a different sense of peace that hung in the air. Her body felt lighter, her thoughts less clouded.

Yet, as she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, something didn't sit right. She frowned and glanced around the room, noticing the subtle shift. It took her a moment to register what was wrong, but then it hit her: her personal pillow-Tavish-was gone.

The sudden emptiness beside her sent a sharp pang through her chest. She ignored the unease gnawing at her insides and quickly pushed herself off the bed. She glanced at her wrist, where the mark that had once bound them, the one that tethered them in a complicated dance of power and connection, was now completely gone. She hadn't even noticed when it had faded-perhaps it had been a gradual thing. Perhaps it had disappeared during the night when he had gotten his powers back.

A surge of happiness flooded her chest at the thought of him. He had been so close to losing everything, so close to being stripped of his identity, of his power, and yet-he had regained it. She should have felt a sense of triumph, but instead, there was a quiet satisfaction within her, one that she couldn't quite explain. Despite herself, she smiled softly.

She may not show it on her face-hell, she wouldn't let him see it, not in a million years-but Dhriti knew one thing for certain: she loved him. She loved him with all the fire and intensity she had. And what's more, she had a strange certainty that he loved her too. After all, he had told her countless times, in his own gruff and demanding way. And she believed him-she believed every word.

Though she couldn't confess it to him directly, not yet at least, Dhriti decided that today would be a special day. Today, she would celebrate him-not just his return to full power, but also the bond they shared, however complicated it might be.

With determination, she set about making the day perfect.

Her first task was the cake. She had baked it herself, carefully following the recipe, and ensuring every detail was as perfect as possible. It was a simple cake-blueberry, his favorite flavor. She remembered a time when Tavish had mentioned, almost casually, how much he loved blueberry cake. At the time, she hadn't given it much thought, but now, with everything that had happened, she wanted to make sure it was perfect for him. She smiled to herself as she finished frosting the cake, the delicate blue topping a reflection of the sky on a clear day.

Next, she turned her attention to the ring. It had taken her weeks to decide on the perfect one. Money had never been an issue-she had the resources to get whatever she wanted-but finding something that suited Tavish's dark, powerful persona had been a challenge. After much searching, she had finally ordered the perfect design-a bold ring, one that echoed both strength and elegance. It wasn't just a gift; it was a statement. A subtle way to tell him that, despite the stubbornness, the distance, and the fiery exchanges, he mattered more to her than anyone else.

She had ordered it with the hope that the timing would be just right-perhaps today would be the perfect occasion.

Everything was ready.

But as the hours passed, Dhriti found herself waiting. There was a strange discomfort settling in her chest, an anxiety she hadn't expected. Tavish had disappeared earlier in the day without a word. He hadn't told her where he was going, which, to be fair, wasn't unusual for him, but today felt different. Her unease only deepened as the afternoon wore on.

Her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, her heart lifting when she saw Tavish's name. She quickly opened the message.

"Back by 5 pm."

Dhriti exhaled, relief flooding her. She typed back quickly. "I'll be waiting."

She couldn't help but smile as she read her response, even though her mind kept racing with questions. Why had he left without saying anything? And where had he gone? She dismissed the worries, telling herself that Tavish had his business to attend to. It was always this way with him-secretive, unpredictable, but always there when it mattered.

She glanced at the clock. 4:30 pm. She had time to freshen up.

An hour later, she was dressed in a traditional outfit-a soft, black anarkali with golden embroidery that draped elegantly around her. Tavish had always mentioned that he liked her in these kinds of clothes. She wasn't sure why, but today, she thought it was the perfect choice.

By the time 5 pm arrived, the cake was set, the ring was carefully placed in its box, and the room was lit with warm, golden lights. Dhriti was standing by the window, anxiously waiting for Tavish's return.

When the door finally opened, her breath caught in her throat. Tavish stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable at first, but his eyes immediately scanned the room. The soft glow from the candles and the delicate decorations in the room caught his attention, and his gaze moved to her.

Dhriti stood still, trying not to let the nervous flutter in her chest show on her face.

"Well?" she asked, her voice steady despite the rush of emotions inside her. "Do you like it?"

Tavish's eyes widened for a moment, clearly taken aback. Then, a slow smirk spread across his face. "You did all this for me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

She nodded. "Of course," she said simply. "After all, after three centuries, you got your power back. That definitely deserves a celebration, doesn't it?"

Tavish's gaze softened just a little as he stepped forward into the room, his eyes scanning the cake on the table. "Blueberry," he murmured, clearly surprised. "You remembered."

Dhriti smiled, her heart fluttering. "I don't forget things like that."

They sat down together at the table, and Tavish cut the cake, handing her a slice before taking one for himself. The quiet moment was comfortable, but Dhriti knew it wouldn't last long. She was eager to give him the next part of his gift.

Her hand reached for the small, velvet box. "I also have something else for you."

She placed the box in front of him, and Tavish's expression faltered for just a split second. He opened it, his eyes widening as he saw the ring.

"Dhriti..." he whispered, his voice low with surprise.

"I thought it suited you," she said softly. "A gift to mark the occasion."

His fingers brushed over the ring, and for a moment, there was a tenderness in his eyes that was rare, almost fleeting. "You didn't have to," he murmured.

She shrugged, trying to hide the sudden flutter of warmth in her chest. "I wanted to."

Then, without warning, Tavish's gaze darkened, his smirk shifting into something far more dangerous. "Now, it's my turn to give you something."

Dhriti raised an eyebrow, curious but cautious. "What do you mean?"

He motioned toward the television, his voice colder now. "Switch it on."

Dhriti's stomach clenched as she turned toward the TV. As the screen flickered to life, the image of a towering building filled the screen. But this was no ordinary building-it was one of the most important properties of Trehan Enterprises, the company Dhriti had a history with. Smoke poured out of the windows, and flames licked at the sides. The building was on fire.

Dhriti froze, her eyes wide with shock. "You did this?" she demanded, her voice trembling.

Tavish's smirk deepened, his eyes gleaming with malicious delight. "Of course," he said, his voice laced with a dangerous, almost wicked pleasure. "Consider it a return gift."

Dhriti's heart thudded in her chest, and for the first time that evening, she felt a real chill in the air. Something about his smile-something in the darkness of his eyes-sent a shiver down her spine.

She wasn't sure if she was prepared for what was coming next.

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The room felt suffocating. The air, thick with tension, wrapped around Dhriti like an invisible hand. She stared, numb, at the television screen, the flames devouring the building in front of her, licking at the walls with a fury that mirrored the storm inside her chest. The crackling of fire was deafening, and yet, the silence between her and Tavish was even louder. She couldn't comprehend what she was seeing.

Her breath caught in her throat.

"You're joking, right?" she asked, her voice trembling, a desperate plea for something - anything - that could bring her back to the reality she thought she understood.

Tavish's face remained stone-cold, unyielding. His gaze never wavered, piercing her with an intensity that made her heart thud painfully in her chest. And then, his lips curled into a smile that sent chills down her spine - it was not playful, not teasing. It was cruel.

"No," he said, his voice dark and dangerous, as though the very words could cut through her. "I'm not joking, Dhriti. You really think you can get away with toying with a demon king? You made me your personal assistant, your errand boy. And you thought you could just walk away unscathed?"

Her entire body trembled. The world seemed to tilt on its axis. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't the Tavish she knew... not the man she had loved.

She shook her head, her chest tight with disbelief. She couldn't understand. What did this mean?

"No... No... Tavish, you loved me... You loved me, right?" She felt her voice crack, her chest tightening with the rawness of her words. Her heart screamed inside her, hoping for some kind of answer - a reassurance that this was all some horrible mistake.

Tavish didn't answer immediately. His eyes remained cold, unreadable. The silence between them was thick, suffocating, and the weight of it pressed on Dhriti, suffocating the last remnants of hope she had clung to.

"You loved me, right?" she repeated, her voice desperate, pleading for him to say something, anything, that would make sense of this madness. "You loved your little warrior, didn't you?"

She stepped toward him, her hands trembling as they reached out, as if she could touch him, reach him in some way. But Tavish only stared at her, his expression unwavering, his silence like a slap to her face.

"Why, Tavish?" The words tore from her throat, a desperate cry. "Why after everything? After everything I did for you? After helping you regain your powers? After trusting you with my heart, my soul? Why are you doing this to me?"

Her chest heaved with the force of her emotions, the weight of betrayal choking her. She had fought for him, stood by his side when no one else would. She had loved him - and this? This was how he repaid her?

Tavish's voice was low, almost too calm as he answered. "Because you were never more than a means to an end. I needed you, Dhriti. I needed your trust, your love. The emotions you've suppressed - the ones that were holding my power back."

Her breath hitched in her throat. Her love had been holding him back?

Her heart slammed against her chest as the truth began to sink in. "What? You used me?" she whispered. The words felt foreign on her tongue, unreal. "All of it-everything-was a lie?"

"No." His gaze softened ever so slightly, but the coldness still lingered in his eyes. "I never lied, Dhriti. I used you. I needed you. For me. For my power. And now you're just... another casualty of it."

She staggered back, her legs giving way beneath her. It felt as though the floor had been ripped out from under her, her entire world falling apart. He used her. He had taken everything she had to offer, everything she believed in, and turned it into a game - a game to regain his strength.

Her voice broke as she whispered, "But... you kissed me. You promised me. You said you loved me, Tavish. You said you would wait for me-for eternity."

She swallowed thickly, her hands shaking at her sides. "When you kissed me on my forehead... When you made me laugh with your silly nicknames... When you said you didn't like the side of me that walked in the fire... Was that all just a game?" She clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms, but it didn't stop the tears that welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill.

Tavish stepped forward, his eyes never leaving hers. His gaze was cold, impassive, and yet there was a flicker of something - something almost painful - deep within them.

"No, it wasn't a game," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It was real. You were real. But love, Dhriti, love is a weakness. It's fragile. I needed you to trust me. And you did. Now you're nothing but a casualty of it."

The pain surged through her like a storm, swallowing her whole. No. This wasn't what they were. They couldn't be. She couldn't accept it. She refused to.

She took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to hold herself together, but her voice cracked as she spoke again. "Tavish, I was never just a pawn. I wasn't just a tool to you. I was your little warrior. Your Mrs. Agnihotri. Your demon queen. I-" Her throat closed up, and she couldn't finish the sentence. The words felt hollow now, slipping through her like sand in an hourglass.

"I was everything you wanted me to be," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I stood by you when no one else would. I loved you... How could you do this to me?"

The emptiness in her chest was consuming her. The raw, aching hurt twisted inside her, and she couldn't breathe. Why? Why would he do this?

Tavish's eyes narrowed, a cold, dangerous glint flashing across them. "This is just the beginning, Dhriti. You, a mortal, thought you could toy with me. You thought you could manipulate me. You thought you could control me. And now, you will learn what happens when you forget your place."

Without another word, Tavish reached out, gripping her wrist with an iron hold. The air around them seemed to shift, crackling with power, and before she could react, the world around them shattered.

Everything around her blurred as she felt the ground shift beneath her feet. She was no longer in their home. No longer in the space where they had shared laughter, love, and dreams. She was somewhere else - somewhere dark, ominous. The heat of flames seared her skin, and the smell of smoke choked her.

She looked around, disoriented, her heart pounding in her chest. The building was burning - the same one from the news. The one Tavish had set on fire.

"This," Tavish said, his voice low and dripping with venom, "this is what happens when you think you can mess with a demon king."

He stepped closer, his cold breath fanning across her face. "This is what happens when you forget your place." His lips curled into a dark smile, and the fire reflected in his eyes, turning them into something unrecognizable.

Dhriti's heart was in pieces. Her chest ached with the weight of his betrayal.

"I loved you," she whispered, the tears finally spilling from her eyes. "I gave you everything... and this is how you repay me?"

Tavish laughed - a cruel, hollow sound that made her shiver. "Love? You think that's what this was about? No, Dhriti. This was never about love. You were always just a stepping stone. A means to an end."

Her knees buckled beneath her, and she crumbled to the floor, her body trembling with shock, with pain.

"Now," Tavish said, his voice low and deadly, "you will learn what it means to cross a demon king."