Broken thrones

Orion moved closer to Vishaka, who lay motionless on the bed, her pallor a stark contrast to the dark silks that adorned her. He reached out, taking her cold hand in his, his grip firm yet tender.

"I know I don't deserve you, madam," he murmured, his voice barely audible, trembling with an emotion he rarely allowed himself to show. "But please, wake up. I can't go on like this. Is this how it always ends? Rebirth after rebirth, and still, you haven't forgiven me enough, have you?"

He exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening as he looked down at her serene face. There was an aching vulnerability in his eyes that bordered on desperation. "I am still selfish enough to not let you go away from me, meri jaan. After all, I am not exactly known for my kindness."

Orion's voice softened to a whisper as he pressed her hand to his lips, a gesture both tender and possessive. He lowered her hand carefully and raised his own, placing his index finger gently against her forehead. A dark energy radiated from his touch, flowing into Vishaka's body like an inky tide. Her complexion, once pale and lifeless, began to regain a hint of color.

"You are also one selfish little thing, madam," he murmured with a faint smile. But as the energy poured out of him, Orion began to falter. His breathing became labored, and a thin trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth, then from his nose, staining the collar of his robes.

The energy coursed through Vishaka, pooling in the center of her stomach before dispersing throughout her body. She stirred faintly, her breathing steadier now, though her voice was hoarse when she finally spoke.

"Is this… what you've been telling our kids?" Vishaka rasped, her dark eyes fluttering open as she turned her gaze to Orion.

Orion straightened, relief flashing in his eyes as he conjured a chair with a flick of his wrist. He sank into it, still close to her, his posture composed despite the blood on his face.

"What do you mean, darling?" he asked, dabbing at the corner of his mouth with a conjured handkerchief. His voice remained calm, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of wariness.

Vishaka coughed lightly, her voice still weak but laced with sharpness. "That you don't know the reason why I—and our children—are trapped in this endless illusion of time." She paused, her gaze boring into his. "You've been telling them that you have no idea how or why it happened… Is that what you've been saying, husband?"

Orion's lips curved into a small, indulgent smile. "You look radiant as ever, my darling," he replied smoothly, deflecting her question. His tone was light, but the intensity of his gaze revealed something deeper—an unwillingness to broach a truth he kept hidden.

Vishaka's lips twitched into a faint smile, though it held no humor. "Still avoiding the question, I see. You haven't changed, Orion."

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he regarded her with an intensity that bordered on obsession. "Change, my dear? Perhaps not. But what I feel for you, meri jaan, that has only grown. Even if it consumes me."

The room seemed to darken slightly, the air thick with unspoken words. Vishaka closed her eyes briefly, her breath steadying as if she was drawing strength from the very tension between them.

"You and I both know, Orion," she said quietly, her tone a blend of weariness and accusation, "that this is no accident. This curse of ours… it began with you."

Orion's smile faltered for a fraction of a second, a crack in the mask he wore so carefully. He leaned back in his chair, folding his hands in his lap as he regarded her coolly.

"And yet," he said softly, "here we are. Together, as it has always been. Tell me, meri jaan, is that truly such a curse?"

Vishaka weakly patted the bed beside her, her fingers trembling as she shifted to make space. Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper, but laced with warmth. "I missed you, ji."

Orion didn't hesitate. He moved to the bed, lying down carefully beside her as though she were made of glass. Gently, he pulled her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. His voice, when he spoke, was raw with emotion, trembling under the weight of his fears. "I did too… I was terrified I would never see you again, meri jaan."

He spoke in a near whisper, as though raising his voice might shatter the fragile moment, as if she might disappear if he was too loud. His arms tightened around her, pulling her closer, his warmth seeping into her cold, frail frame.

Vishaka let out a weak chuckle, her head resting against his shoulder. "Well, I'm here now, aren't I?" she said, her tone soft yet reassuring, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Orion didn't respond immediately. Instead, he buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling the faint, familiar scent of her. "Hmm…" was all he managed, his lips brushing against her skin. His voice dropped lower, a desperate plea masked as a whisper. "Don't leave me."

Her fingers curled into the fabric of his robes, her voice steady despite her frailty. "I won't."

The words hung in the air, simple but profound. Orion's grip tightened slightly, as if anchoring himself to her. His eyes closed, and for a fleeting moment, the weight of centuries seemed to lift, replaced by the quiet solace of her presence.

The world outside ceased to exist. In that moment, there was no war, no curses, or rebirths . There was only Orion and Vishaka, entwined in the silence, bound together by a love that had endured through lifetimes—no matter how fractured, no matter how flawed.