I can see you starin', honey
Like he's just your understudy
Like you'd get your knuckles bloody for me
Second, third, and hundredth chances
Balancin' on breaking branches
Those eyes add insult to injury
-Exile
(Taylor Swift)

Tanirika had her head rested on Zravasaya's chest from the back as they both enjoyed the water floating around their naked bodies. After a wild makes out session, he gave her a little time to calm her breathing down. He helped her in cleaning herself and her body while he did his. Zravasya was hugging tanirika from the back, their bodies moving in slow rhythm enjoying the coolness of the water around them.

In few intervals, he placed a few kisses down her cheek and neck making her smile in content.

"If I wished something today then will you complete my wish " He whispered biting her ear softly? Tanirika hummed in response holding his hands, wrapped around her waist.

"Say my name " She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion, turning around facing him. He cupped his face softly, brushing his lips with hers. He whispered the same thing again. Tanirika shook her head. He tightened his hands around her waist, squeezing her waist he challenged her. She is the Queen she was, challenged him back with the same glare he honoured her with. Both of them stood inside the water, naked bodies pressed against each other, eyes fighting the battle of words.

"I have seen wives calling their husbands by their name when they are in privacy, I am not pushing you to call me by my name in front of others, but when it's me and you, " He said pressing her right nipple lightly, she gasped closing her eyes her breathing uneven.

"My king " she teased holding her whine back. Zravasya chuckled darkly pinching her nipple harshly. She screamed lowly, pushing his hand away. He challenged her again tracing his index finger slowly down her stomach. Her eyes widened, she tried to hold his hand but he pushed her hand away pinching her waist in the instigation.

"Say," he said holding her chin harshly, pulling her face towards his. His other hand drew a random teasing pattern just above her vaginal line. She sucked hard holding his arm for support in the lake.

"What if I don't? " She fired back. His hold on her chin grew harder while his hand slowly travelled down.

"Then I will make sure that you won't be able to walk for a couple of days." He warned her smirking knowingly at her. She closed her eyes in frustration when he traced his finger in the outer region of her clit. While she was so powerful physically and mentally everything would start to fade away when he began to use his malicious tricks imported from Romania.

"I want to smack this smirk away from your face. I want to stop the effect you have on me. Because you take advantage of this. " She muttered.

"You can't, you know why? Because you love me " He raised his left brow mocking her little so responsive frame to his touch.

"We can end this. You have to just say my name"

"First you need to tell me why this is your name. It's different and very rare. " She replied holding his hand which was wrapped around her chin. He smiled placing his other hand near her waist, pulling her towards him. His hard length pressed near her thigh making her groan in response.

"Zravasaya has my mother's name hidden in it. " he placed soft kisses near her lips completely ignoring the lust of her dry lips which very much craved to kiss the life out of his body. Tanirika tried to push him away, to have a better look at his face but he held her firmly in his tight and stronghold.

"Guess " He muttered biting her cheek lightly, she shrugged her shoulders a little trying to push him back. she tried guessing the name of his mother, she played the whole conversation which she had with Palasha once again trying to hit on the particular word. Giving up she closed her eyes, moaning soundly as he sucked the soft spot near her neck.

"I d__ont know" she muttered holding his hand for support. Her legs were already jelly with a slight pain in her lower region which made it very difficult for her to hold herself still in the water.

"Call me by my name, to break the ice " He replied sucking her neck hard.

She threw her head back in pleasure created by his continuous teasing.

"Zra___zravasaya" She whispered huskily breathing against his chest. Zravasaya stilled in his actions, tilting his head a little he gazed at her hazy eyes, her dry lips quirked in need to which he obliged by claiming them between his. He deepened the kiss hastily, dominating her little frame. She pressed her body closer to his enjoying every little friction their corpses created.

"My name means glory, power. My mother's wish was to see me on the throne of Rakshatra claiming what is rightfully mine. She put me in mother Palasha's hands when I was just a few hours old making me vow that I will come back and pass the judgement by sitting on the throne which snatched everything from her. She lost everything ages ago but she gained more when we were born but people being people didn't allow her to live the moment with her children. Mother Palasha loves my mother the most. She named me Zravasaya inspired by the one who gave me birth, Saya. Mother of Zravasaya, Saya "

His turned glossy as hurt laced in his dark orbs. He was very proud of his mothers and family but the thought of not having the woman who deserved to be here with him was still fighting the odds of life or no more living the life made his pain heart. He facepalmed himself, shaking the emotions away. Tanirika rested her face softly on his left bicep, allowing him to live the moment.

"You will meet her one day, I believe that. "

"Mother thinks I have given up. She looks at me with dejection, she thinks I don't want to find her anymore. But trust me, Tani, I am scared. What if I discover something very painful while searching for her. What if they are no more. " Tanirika held his arm tightly squeezing it lightly she tried to calm him down. He rested his cheek on her head closing his eyes in frustration as a tear dropped down his eyes.

Tanirika silently prayed to god, to make her husband meet his mother. She closed her eyes and prayed to the almighty to grant her this wish. The only wish if it is.

"You didn't ask me why I pulled out today. " Tanirika's expression took a 360-degree turn turning stoic over his question. She knew he did that. Of course, she is attentive especially over something like that.

"We are right now standing in a web of the massacre Tani, Trust me I want to have a child especially with you, my love. But things are very chaotic right now. Our enemies are lurking around I need to put an end to the danger prowling around us and the kingdom. I cannot risk you and our child's safety right now. "
He made her face him by pushing her beautiful face with his index finger. Tanirika had a longing expression on her face, she was in her thoughts as he expressed his thoughts about the children.

She trusted him, she knew if he was saying this then he had a reason. He was the king and their kid would be the heir she knew her children would never be safe but there was a time for everything. Right now she needed to hold her status firmly and make things right before bringing a life into this world.

"Once Loki is back, we will be putting an end to a certain problem. I promise you once we are over this, we have children. Many children. " He winked. She blushed profusely, hitting him lightly on his chest.

" I trust you. But you need to tell me what's going on? I know something is wrong, you are hiding something. " He took her in another kiss breaking her speech in middle. Tanirika's chest heaved with a sudden cut in breath, she held his biceps to support her frame as he deepened the kiss. Her eyes closed in obedience allowing him to devour her as much he wanted.

He left her after few minutes completely breathless. Tanirika closed her eyes trying to catch her breath when she felt him picking her up in his arms. The night was long but they had spent a lot of time in the water.

Zravasaya wore his clothes and then helped Tanirika to wear her clothes and cloak. He fastened the strings of her cloak around her neck kissing her forehead lightly. After they both were dressed, he untied the horse and made her sit on it following her behind.

"I don't want to go back " She whispered. He sighed nodding with her. Truth to be told, he wanted to be selfish and take her away with him. Somewhere far away from all the conspiracies and politics. But his duties and vows bonded him with the Throne, the throne he could not leave idle.

"You still are due to reply, my king " she stated pinching his wrist lightly. Zravasaya nodded his head acknowledging her sentence. Of course, he knew that she won't give up after all she was the most stubborn woman he ever met.

"I_ I heard from mother that you were born with a sibling, I mean you were born as a twin. Do you have a brother? " She whispered as they rode out of the forest. After not getting a reply for few minutes she was about to apologize when he replied.

"No. I have a sister. She is older than you. " He said smiling as various scenarios of his sister's silhouette appeared in his vision.

"Oh, one day when she comes back to us. I will make sure she troubles you. " Tanirika giggled looking at him. Zravasaya glared at her making her giggle harder.

" she will listen to me, I am her brother. Not you. I am elder than her you are younger. "

She shook her head.

"But in relation, I am her bhabhisa, that means I am elder than her. The other thing is I am a woman, she is a woman we will match perfectly. "

Zravasaya never thought he could be so comfortable and happy while talking about his sister to anyone. He smiled staring at Tanirika, who was very happy while dreaming about all the things she would do with his sister.

"I don't even know her name, Tani, I hope she is happy and healthy right now. " Tanirika held his hand, she squeezed it lightly making hope run through his veins.

He was aghast with the effect she had on him, his simple words would lit his mind, the sound of her anklets would make happiness run through his heart. After all, she was everything a slave boy dreamed of when he laid in his mother's lap after taking the beatings of the day. His very own dream had come true.

"I just know, she would be blessed with the best name suitable for the princess of Rakshatra, Sister of King Zravasaya "

"Did you take my name " He teased kissing her head from the left side. She giggled pressing her back deeper into his chest.

Zravasaya and Tanirika rode back to the palace taking the same route they took earlier. He rode them past the dam and the villages making her smile broader reminiscing the night which was so dearest to her.

He slowed the horse when they entered the apple orchards for precautions. Zravasya held Tanirika from her waist as the horse neighed in delight.

" What happened to him? "

"I don't know" He replied caressing the neck of the horse lightly. The horse neighed again throwing its front legs in air, zravasaya held tanirika more tightly as they both were pulled up due to the weird behaviour of the horse.

"Tani! Are you back? " A loud voice caught their attention coming from the area where the stable stood. The sound of anklets rang in their ears making the horse madder.

"Tanirika holds me tightly, I will calm him down. " He fastened the rope and pulled it harshly. The horse felt a command running down his neck after repeating the same thing few times the horse calmed down neighing in sadness.

Zravasaya helped Tanirika to get off from the horse before the horse could go out of control.

"Tani, Tani! " Tanirika swivelled around looking at the person who was creating havoc in the paradise.

Her eyes fell on the very distressed lekha standing near the stable. Lekha looked at tanirika with worry sweeping down her face. Her whole appearance was dishevelled causing worry to run over Tanirika's eyes. Tanirika walked towards her with long strides as zravasaya tied the horse near the stable.

"What happened lekha? Are you ok? " Tanirika held her shoulders to calm her as she shook in fear.

Lekha was about to open her mouth when her eyes fell on Zravasaya who stood behind Tanirika with calculating eyes. She immediately cast her eyes down in respect.

"I apologise my King but you are urgently needed in the meeting room. The situation is out of the hands. " Lekha whispered shakily.

"My Queen, you need to come with me. No one should see you. Royal mother Palasha is waiting for you " She held Tanirika's hand and started pulling her towards the entrance.

"Stop right there. Tell me exactly what has happened. " Zravasya hissed in frustration when he saw the maid pulling his wife away from him. He went out for a night and there was another problem ringing into the palace. Can he have a break?

"Someone plotted to kill the queen, my king. But the scapegoat got sacrificed. Deha is dead Tanirika " She said making eye contact with Tanirika. Tanirika felt air slipping out the body when she whispered the last sentence.

Deha was dead!

The 16-year-old little girl was dead!

Poor little deha, we will miss you, honey!

Y'all made the little girl a villain but look at her being a scapegoat in the whole plot. I will miss the little girl she was nice.

Hey, burgers!!!!!!!

This looks so yummy. But all the shops are closed and I can't make this at home. So oh god please make everything back to normal.

I made pizza yesterday. It was delicious. I made it for my momma as it was mother's day yesterday.

Anyways, Ranisa crossed 20K reads and 2K votes. Thank you so much. Please share this book with your friends and vote on all the chapters. I would be very happy if y'all did this.

Hope you all liked this chapter. Much more shit will go down in further chapters. Just to tell y'all We are stepping into the climax starting. This doesn't mean the book will end soon. Many things have happened till now which will connect to the climax. Make your guesses!!!!!

To lighten the mood, mention a character here, you love and want to read I would write a particular scene for them.

Stay safe, wear a mask, use a sanitiser. GET VACCINATED.

Thank you so much for giving this book a chance. I am grateful to you all ❤.

Love Aditi ❤