Things were still frosty in Mayavan after Mini's arrival. I could see Saag's jaw tick every time Mini came into the room, especially when she was accompanied by her husband-husbands.

They had a pact. For one year, she'd only be the wife of one of them.

Seems fair.. I guess.. I cannot handle one wife.... Two husbands?

Please don't tell Devi I said that, but anyways, as we prepared that night to return, me and Saag were playing cards.

" Ha! I win again! " I slammed the last card down, as she frowned.

" You're not distributing them right-"

" Please Saag, don't be a sore loser. It's alright, after all, you can't be the best at everything, " I teased when Yudhishthir and Devi walked in.

" Ajatshatru, there is some news, " Yudhishthir said, his eyes we're far too serious for my liking, but then again, they were always serious.

" Yeah man, what is it? " I asked and looked up to see the scroll in his hands.

Devi looked just as worried.

" Devi? " I pulled her hand to mine as Saag got up, trying to look at the scroll over her husband's shoulder,  eyes flitting over the scroll and then she gasped, her hand covered her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief.

" What is it? " I asked and then, Yudhishthir smiled.

" Maharaj Ajatshatru, I hope we will still share the same ties with Pragjyotishpur as we did five years ago, " He said and I frowned.

" Obviously, why not, there isn't a reason to -" Which is when it hit me,I stood up immediately, nearly knocking the table, moving to snatch the scroll out of his hands.

I read it thrice.

I still couldn't believe it.

Pitashree had decided to hand the throne over. But why now?

" But -"

" You're a King! " Saag squealed, jumping to pull me into a tight hug.

What was with her... She's an empress, why's she so excited for this?

" Hold on. If I'm the king, then, " I looked over to Devi who had her head bent low, a shy smile on her face as opposed to her usual smirk.

" Could we have a few moments alone please? " I asked, eyes not shifting from hers. I watched Saag nod through the corner of my eyes as she left the room.

" You were my queen anyways, now you're also the queen of our people," I whispered to her and she looked up at me, her eyes warm.

" Will I be a good one? " She whispered and I laughed, pulling her into a hug, resting her head against my chest.

(INTIMACY AHEAD. READER DISCRETION ADVISED ALTHOUGH, IT'S NOT AS IF I CAN LOOK AT YOU THROUGH THE DEVICE )

" My dear darling wife, shouldn't I be the one asking this of you? You're the one who has grown up in royalty, I'm just a common man who got stuck here with this, you tell me, will I be a good king? " I asked and she smirked.

" Oh I don't know, maybe if you're just as good of a king as you are a husband, father and son, then definitely. Otherwise.... " She trailed off and I picked her up into my arms.

" Otherwise? " I whispered and she smirked, oh my dear wife... When will you let this man have peace.

" Well, I could just, murder you, then I'll become the sole good queen, " She said coyly and I dropped her on the bed.

" Murder me? " I mumbled, sitting by her side as she fell back, the her coy smile still there.

" I could yes, there are tons of poisons, " She sighed as I moved her hair off her face, spreading it around her like a halo.

Bending low, I murmured against her lips, " You've killed me with your love, I'm not sure if even amrit could save me now, " I met her lips with mine and my eyes dropped, a sweet peace washed over me.

I slowly moved my hands up her arms, tracing the paths of the veins I could see in the nook of her elbows.

Her beautiful fire mark, it shined on her arm near the edge of her elbow, a peaceful yellow it was.

What caught my eye was a shine and I looked down, breaking our kiss to see the flames move, gleam in the ligh of the diyas.

" Devi? " I whispered, her distracted hands moved off my chest as she raised herself, resting against one arm and gasped in surprise, then smiled at me.

" What's that! " I asked and she grinned, " I'm surprised you've never seen it before, " She smirked and i leaned up to wipe that smirk off her face, capturing her lips in a swift kiss till she smiled ,as if in a tizzy before running my thumb over the flame.

" What is it, don't play coy, just tell me, " I whispered, bending low to press my lips against it.

Her gasp made me look at her in surprise, before I continued, watching as she panted softly, before pulling me back up.

A soft pink blotch settled on her cheeks, spreading down to her neck.

" What are you hiding? " I asked, smirking this time .

" Well, this happens every time my flames are, well, fanned, " She whispered, moving to hide her face when I held down her wrists.

" Fan your flames? Like when you let your fire free? " I asked and she nodded, before the blush deepened.

" Yes, " She said, barely a whisper then tucked her face into her neck,
" It also happens when you fan, " She coughed, " My flames, " Now her cheeks were truly beet red, eyes closed, yet I knew she wasn't embarrassed, just confronted with it.

Nah, I can't have that. She needs to be red. Head to toe.

" Oh really? Fan your flames? " I asked, raising up on my elbows as I tucked my face into her shoulder, pressing soft kisses, " I didn't know that's how you expressed your live for me, if I knew that, I would hold your arm at every public event we had to attend, wouldn't it be -" I was shut up by her onslaught of lips, welcome yes, but an onslaught nonetheless.

" That's enough, no more games, " She said and I smirked, well, who am I to say no to a goddess?

" At your service my lady, " I said, bending low again, but this time, instead of a gently kiss, I lightly caught the flame mark between my teeth.

Ahem. You don't need to know more.

^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•^•

" So? Assessed my competence? Will I be a good king? " I asked as she lay by my side, her eyes closed in bliss as I held her by her waist.

" You will, and I'll make sure that we are stronger together, " She said over her lashes.

" I'm sure you will, after all, what else will you do, you won't hound about me with a stick would you? " I laughed as she slapped my chest in mock fury, her eyes ablaze.

" I'll have you know that if you ever think I'll be a rather side lined Queen, my dear husband, you'll soon find yourself without your crown, "

" And I have no doubt about it, "I kissed her forehead, when I heard a knock on the door.

" If we're really quiet, maybe they'll leave? " She said and the knocking grew louder.

" AJ! Mano! I know you're in there you love sick idiots! But get ready! We need to leave soon! Even if you're going to Pragjyotishpur! " Saag's voice shattered the gentle bubble we had.

Sighing, I got up when Devi held me back, a worried look crossed her face.

" What is it? " I cupped her face gently and she sighed, " I am worried about what this means fir our son, " She said and I frowned.

" What do you mean? " I asked and she got up on her knees.

" I -he'll become the Yuvraj now, won't he? You'll have to do that, but he's to young right now! " She cried and I couldn't help but laugh, " You find this funny! " She crossed her arms over her chest.

" Arre, Devi, " I said, gently pulling her into my own arms, " Even if Rudra is to be the Yuvraj, I won't do it before he's at least sixteen, secondly, I saw what Maharaj Dhritarashtr and Shakuni did, they raised their son to think he should be the king, when everyone knew that Hastinapur chooses the eldest for the throne. But we won't have that. If we have any more children, " Her eyes lit up for a bit, " If we have more children, I'll either divide the kingdom equally or I'll see who's the best at politics, but no one will be raised to think they are going to be the Yuvraj. They will grow up as children, all this comes later, " I reassured her and her eyes glassed over as she threw her arms around me, pushing me to nearly fall off the bed.

" Thank you, " She mumbled and I pinched her hand, a very loud 'Ow' broke out and she stared at me indignantly , " Does anyone ever thank their love, idiot, " I swatted her head and she smiled at me.

" Don't start crying now alright, I've reached my emotional vulnerability quotient for the day -"

If you want to ever know why I came out of our marital bedroom with bruises on my eyes instead of other places, you'd be delighted to know my wife packs a neat right hook.

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A very sweet and short chapter cause I was feeling fluffy.

Anyways, I will he having one more up tonight, since I forgot to put one out yesterday. 🤦🏽‍♀️

Anyways, tell me how it was and do vote.

Much love

Radhekrishn ♥