The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the echo of the gunshot that still seemed to linger in the air. Mahir's breathing was steady, but his eyes were sharp, every muscle in his body taut and ready. The weight of what had just transpired settled over us like a dark cloud, but there was no regret, only a cold satisfaction in the way Rudra's lifeless body slumped against the wall.

I felt a rush of adrenaline and something darker-something that thrummed with the satisfaction of seeing justice served. Mahir's eyes met mine, and in them, I saw the same hunger, the same thrill of having protected what was ours.

But Isabella wasn't done.

She stood frozen for a moment, her face a mask of shock and fear as she stared at Rudra's body. Then, slowly, her expression shifted-rage, jealousy, and desperation twisted her features as she turned her gaze on me.

"You... you ruined everything!" she screamed, her voice shrill, filled with the kind of madness that comes when someone loses everything they thought they had.

Isabella lunged at me, her movements wild and uncoordinated, but before she could reach me, Mahir stepped in front of her, his hand catching her wrist mid-air. His grip was firm, unyielding, as he pulled her close enough for her to feel the ice in his voice.

"Enough, Isabella," Mahir growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You're out of your depth. I won't let you harm her."

Isabella struggled, her eyes wide with fury, but she was no match for Mahir's strength. "She doesn't deserve you! I was always the one who stood by your side, who understood you!"

Mahir's expression didn't waver. "You were never by my side, Isabella. You were just another pawn, and you should have known better than to play against the queen."

His words cut deep, and I could see the realization dawn in Isabella's eyes-a realization that she had lost, completely and utterly. Her resistance crumbled, and she sagged in Mahir's grip, her anger giving way to a bitter, hollow despair.

Mahir released her wrist, letting her stumble back, her eyes filling with tears as she looked at me one last time, then at Mahir. "You'll regret this, Mahir," she whispered, but the threat was empty, a last desperate grasp at power that had long slipped through her fingers.

Without another word, Isabella turned and fled the room, her footsteps echoing down the hallway until they faded into nothingness.

The tension in the room eased, but the weight of what had just happened remained. I walked over to Mahir, my steps slow, measured. When I reached him, he looked at me, his eyes searching mine for something-for reassurance, for understanding, for a shared resolve.

"I told you," I whispered, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me. "No one touches you."

Mahir's lips quirked into a small, almost sad smile. "And I told you, no one touches you either."

We stood there, in the aftermath of the chaos, two forces that had torn through everything in our path to protect what was ours. The world outside was quiet, the storm inside the room having finally passed.

Mahir reached out, his hand brushing against my cheek, his touch grounding me in the reality of the moment. "It's over," he murmured, and for the first time, I heard a hint of relief in his voice. "We're free."

But freedom came at a cost. The battle we had fought had left scars, some visible, some buried deep within. Yet, as I looked into Mahir's eyes, I knew that we had survived. Together.

"Let's leave," I said, my voice firm, resolute. "Leave all of this behind. It's time to start anew."

Mahir nodded, his hand slipping into mine, our fingers intertwining in a silent promise. We turned to leave, our footsteps echoing in the now empty room, the weight of everything we had done and everything we had become pressing down on us.

As we stepped out into the cold night, the air felt different-crisper, cleaner, as if the world itself was offering us a fresh start. The rain had stopped, and the sky was clear, the stars above twinkling like a thousand distant promises.

Mahir pulled me close, his arm wrapping around my waist, and I leaned into him, feeling the warmth of his body, the steady beat of his heart against mine. We had fought battles, lost allies, and emerged victorious, but now, as we walked away from the darkness, I knew that the true victory was in the love we had found and the future we were ready to build.

"I love you, my little fox," Mahir whispered, his voice full of a tenderness that was just for me.

"And I love you, my saint," I replied, my heart full as I looked up at him, knowing that whatever came next, we would face it together.

And with that, we walked into the night, leaving behind the echoes of a past that would never haunt us again.

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AN : It's the end guys 🤧

I really hope you guys liked the story.. Thank you so much for reading and supporting 🦋✨

Love you all🌷

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But...
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Do you think Rudra is actually dead? 👀

I mean.. Just asking.. It was an easy death right..
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Anyways thankyou so much for coming this far.🤧🫶🌷

Stay tuned for the bonus chapter and epilogue.
You will like it..

Love you, butterflies 😘🦋