Stomp… Stomp…
Harsha froze. Footsteps echoed from the dark corner of the hallway. He squinted, trying to adjust his vision to the shadows.
“Who’s there?” he called out, hoping it was just one of the guards.
The footsteps grew closer. Then, under the pale moonlight, two bare feet stepped into view. Dread prickled across his skin as his gaze slowly traveled upward.
His face drained of color. Despite the cold air, sweat began to bead on his forehead.
It’s human… he thought with a sigh of relief—only for the feeling to vanish a second later.
Of course… it had to be her.The Queen.
“Harshaaa…” she purred, her voice silky and strange as she reached for his hand.
He gasped. He hadn’t noticed her clearly before, too consumed by fear—but now the tension melted into something else entirely.
She was draped in sheer, translucent fabric that left little to the imagination. Her skin shimmered under the moonlight. She pressed his hand against her cheek and sighed softly.
“Umm…” She met his eyes and kissed his thumb.
A twisted feeling stirred inside him.
She gently guided his hand to her neck, then slid it lower—down across her collarbone… and lower still.
“Ahhh…” she moaned breathlessly.
Harsha snapped to his senses, pulling his hand away. But the warmth of her skin lingered, silky and dangerous.
No… you need to control yourself.He chanted it like a mantra in his head.
He turned, trying to flee—but he wasn’t quick enough.
She wrapped her arms around him from behind, her body pressed against his back. He could feel her movement, her breath, her intent.
“Harshaaa…” she whispered, her voice low and husky.
More… The animal inside him stirred. A war raged in his mind—logic against instinct.
She knew.She knew he was on the edge.
Turning to face him, she saw his eyes shut tight, his whole body tense. His heart was pounding wildly—she could feel it.
Just a little more… soon, he’ll crave me too…
She took his hand again and pressed it against her lower hip, then slid closer, rubbing her body softly against his.
“Ahhh… more…”
Snap.He grabbed her roughly, yanking her closer, biting her ear.
“Ahh!” she gasped in delight.
More…His thoughts blurred—lust clouding his judgment.
Crack!A loud snap tore through the night—a gust of wind broke a tree branch nearby. It crashed to the ground.
Startled, Harsha’s grip loosened. The spell was broken.
He stepped back, eyes wide with panic—and ran.
He didn’t stop until he was far away, panting, shaking.
Another night at the waterfall…
………..
It had been three days since that night.
Chandra hadn’t seen him—not even once. It was as if he had vanished into thin air.
But her obsession only grew. The craving burned deeper now, more unhinged than ever.
That fleeting moment—the strength of his embrace, the way his teeth grazed her ear—played in her mind on an endless loop, fueling wild fantasies that blurred the line between memory and desire.
She longed to feel him lost beneath her touch, to surrender to his warmth as she melted into his.Chandra was no longer grounded in reality.She was utterly consumed—trapped in a world where only he existed.
………..
On the fourth day...
It was a cloudy evening, and Chandra was still looking for him. She had searched every corner of the palace, restless and desperate.
Then—there he was.
She spotted him in the garden.
But something felt off. He was behaving strangely. From a distance, it looked like he was… hugging a tree?
Curious and confused, she moved a little closer, keeping herself hidden behind the bushes. As she crept forward, she realized—he wasn’t hugging a tree. He was hiding behind it… waiting for someone.
Seconds later, he jumped out with full excitement, startling the person who had just arrived. Chandra's eyes widened. She had never seen him like that before—laughing freely, his eyes lit with mischief.
Who… who is that?A knot twisted in her chest.
From behind the tree, a pair of hands reached out and playfully smacked his arm.
No… Harsha caught those hands and pulled the person into a tight embrace.
…Nila. Chandra froze.
She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. He was holding Nila in his arms. Then they both burst into laughter as he tickled her waist and gently kissed her cheek.
Chandra stood motionless.
Staring.Shattered.
………..
Three days had passed since that night.
Harsha couldn’t stop thinking about it.
“It was lucky that wind came when it did… or I might’ve lost control,” he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair.
“The way she seduced me… she’s cruel.” He sighed, still annoyed.
“I had to sleep by the waterfall again that night.” He scoffed under his breath.
“Damn that woman.”
As Harsha passed through the garden, something caught his eye—Nila, kneeling by the lily pond, quietly minding her own business.
A wide grin crept across his face. “Hehehe… My lady…”
He knew he could never resist her when she was near. The sight of her filled him with warmth, with mischief. He began sneaking up behind her, carefully tiptoeing so she wouldn’t notice.
Just as he was about to pounce, he heard her soft giggle.
“Hehe… Silly Harsha. I missed you…” she whispered to herself, not knowing he was just behind the tree.
His heart skipped. His cheeks flushed.
“My lady… you’re teasing me. It’s getting harder to control myself…” he whispered, grinning as he hugged the tree in anticipation.
Then— “I’M ALL YOURSSSSS!” He leapt out with a yell.
“UWAAHHH!” Nila shrieked in shock, jumping as he appeared from behind the tree. Electricity ran through her body from the surprise.
“Why youuuu!” She started punching his arms in playful frustration.
“HAHAHA!” Harsha burst into laughter at her reaction.
“I missed you too!” He caught her hands and pulled her into a tight hug.
Nila’s face flushed deep red. She tried to hide it, covering her face with both hands.
It only made him want to tease her more. He leaned in and gently bit her shoulder, his hand slipping to her waist.
“Ahh!” She gasped as his fingers brushed against the bare skin near her stomach. Slowly, she lowered her hands and peeked at him through her lashes. Their eyes met. He leaned closer—she closed her eyes, waiting for a kiss…
But he stopped. Grinning wickedly.
She narrowed her eyes. Suspicious…
“Hahahahaha!” She couldn’t hold it anymore.
The tickle war began.
He held her tightly with one arm to keep her steady, while the other mercilessly tickled her stomach. They both laughed until tears rolled down their cheeks.
Finally, as their laughter softened, he leaned in and kissed her gently.
Not satisfied, he kissed her again—this time rubbing his nose and lips into her soft cheek, making her giggle more as it sank in from the pressure.
She looked up at him, eyes sparkling. “I love you,” he said softly.
“I love you too,” she replied.
They embraced again, holding each other as the world faded around them.
I want to protect her, Harsha thought, burying his face in her shoulder.