The palace corridors felt colder after midnight.
Like the walls themselves carried secrets buried beneath gold and marble.
Aadhira walked alone through the silent hallway, her black heels echoing softly against the floor. Outside, thunder roared across the city while rain continued drowning the world beyond Blackthorn Palace.
But the storm inside her heart was louder.
Much louder.
She should have stayed away from him.
She knew that.
Every second near Zayan Khan was dangerous.
Not only because he was the enemy.
But because he made her feel things she was never allowed to feel.
Weakness.
Longing.
Safety.
And mafia princesses were never taught how to survive emotions like those.
As Aadhira reached the end of the hallway, she stopped near one of the palace windows.
Rain slid down the glass slowly.
Beautiful.
Broken.
Just like her.
“You always disappear when something hurts you.”
Her breath caught instantly.
She didn’t turn around this time.
Because somehow…
Her heart already recognized his presence before her eyes ever could.
Zayan stepped beside her quietly.
Close enough for his warmth to reach her.
Far enough to pretend this wasn’t destroying both of them.
For a moment, neither spoke.
The silence between them felt heavier than words.
Then finally—
“Why do you keep coming near me?” Aadhira whispered.
Zayan looked out toward the storm outside.
“Because staying away feels worse.”
The answer shattered something inside her.
Simple.
Honest.
Dangerous.
Aadhira looked down at her trembling fingers.
“My brother would kill you if he saw us together.”
Zayan gave a quiet, humorless smile.
“Your brother already wants me dead.”
“That’s not funny.”
“I’m not joking.”
His voice had changed.
Softer now.
Tired.
As if carrying years of pain alone.
Aadhira slowly turned toward him.
For the first time tonight, she truly looked at him.
Not the feared mafia heir.
Not the enemy kingdom prince.
Just…
Him.
The shadows beneath his eyes.
The scars hidden near his collarbone.
The loneliness he buried behind arrogance and coldness.
And suddenly, her chest hurt.
Because powerful men like Zayan Khan were never born cruel.
The world made them that way.
“You look at me differently,” he said quietly.
Aadhira froze.
“How?”
“Like you’re trying to understand me.”
The truth terrified her because he was right.
She was trying.
And that was the beginning of every downfall.
“You shouldn’t let yourself care,” she whispered shakily.
Zayan stepped closer.
Now only inches separated them.
“But I do.”
The air between them became suffocating.
Aadhira’s heartbeat turned painfully fast.
This was wrong.
Every part of this was wrong.
Yet for the first time in years…
Something inside her felt alive.
Thunder crashed loudly outside.
Almost immediately, the palace lights flickered once.
Then darkness covered the hallway completely.
Aadhira gasped softly.
Before fear could settle in—
Zayan’s hand found hers instantly.
Firm.
Protective.
Warm.
The darkness around them suddenly didn’t feel frightening anymore.
Neither moved.
Neither let go.
Somewhere far away, guards shouted as backup generators struggled to restart the palace power.
But inside that dark hallway…
It felt like the entire world had disappeared.
Only them.
Only this moment.
Aadhira could hear his breathing.
Feel his heartbeat through the silence.
And maybe that was the most dangerous thing of all.
Because enemies were never supposed to feel this familiar.
The lights finally returned seconds later.
But neither stepped away.
Zayan looked down at her hand still trapped in his.
Then slowly…
Very carefully…
He lifted her fingers toward his lips.
Aadhira stopped breathing.
His gaze never left hers.
“You’re going to ruin me,” he whispered.
The words weren’t angry.
They sounded broken.
Like surrender.
And for the first time, Aadhira realized something terrifying—
Zayan Khan wasn’t only dangerous to her heart.
She was dangerous to his too.
Suddenly—
A loud gunshot echoed somewhere inside the palace.
Both of them snapped apart instantly.
Voices erupted downstairs.
Screams followed.
Then another gunshot.
Aadhira’s face turned pale.
“What’s happening?” she whispered.
Zayan’s entire expression darkened in seconds.
The cold mafia heir returned immediately.
He grabbed her wrist tightly.
“Stay behind me.”
The softness between them disappeared.
War had entered the palace.
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