Ishana's POV
The site office smelled of cement, sweat, and Bhaisaheb's lingering cologne.
I was still recovering from the tremor beneath my feet—the pulse of something ancient, something that had once been the foundation of my family's power. Now it was fragile. Fading.
And Aarav… he was still there. Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, expression unreadable. Like a statue carved from ice. But ice that could cut if I got too close.
"Beti," Bhaisaheb said, twirling a blueprint like a wand, "we cannot simply build. We must foresee, anticipate, and conquer!"
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Uncle… please, can we skip the theatrics for one day?"
"Never! Drama is the spice of legacy!"
I exhaled slowly. The Shadow inside me throbbed, warning of danger I couldn't yet see.
The first hint of it came in the form of a visitor.
Tall, sleek, polished. A man in a crisp suit, but with eyes that didn't shine—they calculated, measured, and coldly dissected everything around him.
"Ms. Verma, Mr. Singhania," he said, voice smooth, almost soothing. "I am Mr. Kaul. I represent parties interested in the Smart Heritage City project."
Bhaisaheb flailed. "A visitor! At this sacred site of destiny! What news do you bring, O stranger?"
Kaul ignored him, turning instead to me. "Ishana Verma. Your family's lands… fascinating, tragic. I think we can help ensure their… legacy."
Help? My senses prickled. There was something off. The smoothness of his words didn't match the intent I could feel beneath them.
Aarav shifted slightly, lips pursed, observing. Always observing.
I clenched my fists. The Shadow must be ready.
---
Aarav's POV
Kaul walked in like a breeze over glass. Smooth, careful, measured. Too measured.
My instincts, honed on mergers, acquisitions, and human weakness, screamed warning. This man wasn't just here to admire the site. He was here to probe. Test. Threaten.
And Ishana… she felt it too. I saw her tense, fingers flexing, eyes scanning. She had power. Real power. Something far beyond family land or ancestral titles.
Kaul's gaze lingered on her hands. That was… interesting.
I could almost see the wheels turning in her mind, calculating restraint, hiding, controlling. She was strong. Dangerous. But not careless. Not yet.
Perfect. This made things more… entertaining.
---
Ishana's POV
Kaul's presence threw a shadow across the room, chilling and precise. I could feel the subtle hum of manipulation, the kind you don't see, only sense.
Bhaisaheb, oblivious, waved his hands dramatically. "Do not fear, beti! The Shadow is awake, and the Gold stands by your side!"
I gave him a tight smile. "Uncle… not now."
Kaul ignored the theatrics entirely. He leaned slightly toward me. "The magic in your lands… it could be dangerous if misused. People would pay handsomely to control it."
I froze. The pulse beneath my feet, so faint before, thrummed urgently. He knows.
Aarav's voice cut through the tension, calm and precise. "Ms. Verma, shall we give our visitor a tour?"
"Yes," I said, though my voice felt small. We must stay in control. No mistakes. No leaks. The Shadow cannot falter.
---
Aarav's POV
Kaul was a test. I didn't yet know what kind. Corporate? Political? Or something… else.
But the moment Ishana walked ahead, carefully guiding him, I saw the subtle tremor beneath her steps. She was containing it. Always containing.
I noted everything. Her restraint. Her tension. Her courage.
Gold always recognizes value in the shadows. And she was full of it.
---
Ishana's POV
The tour was a nightmare of smiles, polite words, and Kaul's unnerving calm. Every step I took, I felt the earth pulse faintly beneath me, warning me, reminding me, reminding me of what could happen if I faltered.
Bhaisaheb kept commenting loudly, trying to distract Kaul with historical anecdotes and terrible jokes. Occasionally, Kaul's expression flickered—annoyance? Amusement? I couldn't tell.
And Aarav… he didn't intervene. Not once. He simply walked beside me, eyes scanning, calculating. Always calculating.
A tremor ran through the ground as I guided Kaul across a beam. My breath caught. The Shadow stirred, hungry.
I clenched my hands. Not now. Control. Always control.
Kaul's smile remained smooth, polite. But in his eyes… I saw the spark of interest, curiosity… and hunger.
And I knew, then, that this game was just beginning.
---
Aarav's POV
She held it together. Barely. But she held it.
The tremor, the pulse under her steps, the subtle aura that made me pause… she wasn't just the last of a fading dynasty. She was something else. Something alive. Something powerful.
And Kaul? He was dangerous. Subtle. Smooth. But no one survives if I let him play without rules.
Gold sees everything. And I always know the value of power.
---
Ishana's POV
Evening fell. Shadows stretched across the half-finished city. The wind carried dust, the scent of iron, and the faint hum of what I could only call destiny.
Bhaisaheb declared it a perfect day. "Witness, beti! The Shadow and the Gold walk together!"
I swallowed. My pulse thrummed beneath my feet. The Shadow was awake.
And Gold… he was already watching.