Ariana ke kidnappers use Nocturne ki tedhi-medhi galiyon se ghaseet kar le ja rahe the. Uska dil zor-zor se dhadak raha tha, par usne cheekhna nahi chuna. Har kadam ke saath Riven ka sparsh, uski warning aur uska vaada yaad aa raha tha.
“Woh aa raha hai tumhare liye,” usne apne aap se dheere se kaha, chahe dil ke kisi kone mein thoda sa doubt ghus aaya ho.
Upar, Riven tooti hui tower ke malbe ke beech khada tha. Dhuaan aur raakh uske coat se chipke hue the, baal uske chehre par gire hue. Uski aankhen laal jal rahi thi, cursed energy lehron ki tarah phail rahi thi. Jo zanjeeren use baandhe hue thi, woh uske gusse ke bojh se pighal chuki thi.
“Main unhe warn kar chuka tha,” usne gurra kar kaha, awaaz neeche se bhi zyada khatarnak.
“Koi bhi meri cheez ko haath nahi lagata.”
Jinhunters ne Ariana ko pakda tha, unhe der se samajh aaya ki jise woh sirf ek killer kehte the, woh ab na morality se bandha tha—na hi magic se. Woh soch se bhi tez hila, parchaiyan koede aur talwaaron mein badal gayi, unki lines ko cheer deti hui. Har vaar mein toofan ki taqat aur maut ki safai thi.
Riven ki awaaz galiyon mein goonj uthi.
“Use wapas le aao… ya phir sab jala do.”
Ariana ne apni qaid se dekha jab poori shehar afra-tafri mein badal gaya. Chandni Riven ke chehre par padi, aur pehli baar usne kahaniyon ke peeche chhupa aadmi dekha. Sirf ek killer nahi—
balki gusse aur pyaar ka toofan, jo na roka ja sake aur na samjha ja sake.
Hunters ka leader daant pees kar bola, “Woh unchained ho chuka hai… ye kaise mumkin hai?”
Ariana ke hont kaanp uthe. “Kyunki woh mujhse pyaar karta hai,” usne dheere se kaha.
Aur usi pal, gali par Riven ki parchai padi—laal aankhen jalti hui—badle aur hifazat ka aisa vaada, jo kabhi mana nahi hone wala tha.
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