Kiara sat heavily on the sofa, her fingers trembling as she rested them on her stomach.
"So that means… Mohana won't stop until she gets our baby."
Her voice cracked, the words barely leaving her lips.
Yuvaan dropped to his knees in front of her, taking her cold hands into his warm ones.
"I won't let her succeed," he whispered, as if saying it too loudly would invite darkness into the room.
"I swear on my breath, Kiara… nothing will happen to you or our child."
But Bhoomi stepped forward, worry twisting her face.
"Yuvaan… Mohana is powerful. More powerful than anything we've ever fought. And you and Kiara… you don't even have your powers anymore."
Her voice softened at the end, as if she regretted speaking the truth aloud.
Silence fell.
A long, heavy silence.
The kind that made the air feel thicker, like the walls themselves were holding their breath.
Just then, the main doors creaked open.
Dilruba walked in.
Her steps were quiet, but her presence made the entire room sharpen with tension.
"You all need to know something," she said softly.
Varun's eyes widened when he saw her, while Yuvaan immediately stood and positioned himself protectively in front of Kiara.
"Who are you?" Yuvaan demanded. "I saw you yesterday… helping us when Dev attacked."
Dilruba's lips curved into a small, apologetic smile.
"I'm a witch, Dilruba," she said. "A purple nine-tailed fox witch."
Gasps rippled through the room.
Everyone instinctively took a step back, their bodies tightening with instinctive caution.
But before panic could rise, Varun moved slightly ahead.
"She isn't a bad witch," he said, his tone steady enough to make some of the tension crack.
Kiara nodded gently, supporting him.
"She's right," Kiara said. "Dilruba isn't a threat. I… I know her."
Yuvaan turned to her sharply.
"You know her too?"
Dilruba giggled softly, waving her hand.
"Sister-in-law and I have met before."
The entire room froze at the word.
Every head turned toward her in confusion.
Dilruba blinked, then laughed nervously.
"I mean Kiara. Sorry. Habit."
Kiara frowned slightly.
"You said Taamsi sent you to kill me… but—"
"But we patched up," Dilruba finished for her.
"Yes. She freed me from a blood pact. I owe her my life. And I'm also… quite acquainted with V—"
Her eyes darted quickly toward Varun.
"I mean, Varun."
Varun stiffened, heat flooding his cheeks.
Everyone noticed.
Vikram finally stepped forward, his voice low and controlled.
"Why have you come here, Dilruba?"
Dilruba's expression turned serious—completely serious—for the first time since she entered.
"Mohana addressed the Dark Committee," she said slowly, each word dropping like a stone into deep water.
"She spoke about Kiara and Yuvaan's child… and what she plans to do."
Everyone leaned in, dread creeping into their bones.
Dilruba swallowed.
"Mohana is planning a major attack. Soon."
The room trembled—not physically, but through the silence that followed.
A silence filled with fear, realization… and the sense that the storm had finally begun to move toward them.
Varun's jaw tightened as he walked slowly toward the center of the hall.
"We got lucky this time," he said quietly, almost as if admitting it hurt.
"Mohana wasn't prepared… but if she's planning something major…"
He paused, exhaling shakily.
"We won't be able to stop her."
Kiara's hand flew protectively to her stomach.
Fear flickered in her eyes like a candle struggling against wind.
"It means… my baby… my child is still in danger."
Her voice broke, and Yuvaan immediately moved closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
Silence spread again—deep, heavy, suffocating.
Everyone looked at each other, searching for an answer no one wanted to say aloud.
Then Vikram stepped forward.
The shift of his footsteps echoed through the hall like a verdict.
He looked at each family member before finally letting his gaze rest on Kiara and Yuvaan.
"There's only one option," he said.
Every head snapped toward him.
Eyes widened.
Breaths held.
Vikram continued, voice steady but his expression troubled.
"We have to send Kiara away."
The words struck the room like lightning.
Kiara flinched.
Yuvaan's face hardened instantly.
Bhoomi gasped softly, covering her mouth.
Kajal's eyes filled with shock.
Even Dilruba's tails stiffened in alarm.
"No," Yuvaan whispered, the word scraping out of his throat.
"What are you saying, father-in-law? Send her away? Send my wife away? My child?"
"It's the only way to keep her safe," Vikram insisted, though his voice trembled under its own weight.
"If Mohana is coming with full force, and Kiara is her target… then staying here will only make it easier for her."
Kiara stared at Vikram, disbelief clouding her features.
"You want me to leave my family? My home? Yuvaan?"
Her hand clutched Yuvaan's shirt, as if afraid he might disappear too.
Vikram lowered his eyes briefly, then looked up again with grim resolve.
"If Mohana attacks with everything she has, we won't be able to protect you. Not like this. Not without powers. Not against her army."
Everyone stood frozen, caught between horror… and the terrible truth of his words.
Even the air felt different now—colder, heavier, as if the mansion itself understood what was coming.
And somewhere far away, in the deep black pits of Kaalvansh, a witch's laughter echoed… as if she already knew the storm she was sending.
To be continued…