Rain fell over Mumbai like the city itself was trying to wash away the blood.

It couldn't.

Not tonight.

The Vardhan convoy lay abandoned on a deserted stretch of highway, three vehicles damaged, two guards dead, and blood spreading across the wet asphalt.

Aadhira stood beneath an umbrella.

She wasn't looking at the bodies.

She was looking at the bullets.

Nysa handed her a small evidence bag.

"Same caliber as the attack on the Rathore convoy."

Aadhira studied the casing.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes."

"How certain?"

"Certain enough to bet my life."

Aadhira's eyes narrowed.

She looked toward the dead guards.

"Any survivors?"

"Two."

"Bring them to the estate."

"They're badly injured."

"I didn't ask how badly."

Nysa nodded.

Then Aadhira noticed something near the wreckage.

A piece of black fabric caught beneath the tire of the second vehicle.

She crouched and picked it up.

There was a symbol stitched into it.

A serpent.

Aadhira had never seen it before.

"What's that?"

Nysa shook her head.

"Nothing in our intelligence files."

Aadhira folded the fabric into her palm.

"Then find out."

Nysa hesitated.

"There's something else."

"What?"

"One of the attackers was wearing a Rathore ring."

Aadhira's expression went cold.

"A Rathore ring?"

"Yes."

She stared at the evidence bag.

For years, the Vardhans had been taught that the Rathores were monsters.

For years, she had believed them.

But something didn't fit.

If Adhiraj wanted her dead, why leave evidence behind?

He was arrogant.

Ruthless.

But he wasn't careless.

And Adhiraj Rathore didn't make mistakes.

Not like this.

"Get me everything on that ring."

At almost the exact same moment, Adhiraj stood over the bodies of his own men.

The Rathore convoy had been attacked near the eastern expressway.

Four guards dead.

Three injured.

One vehicle burned beyond recognition.

Samar stood beside him.

"The attackers used military-grade ammunition."

Adhiraj's eyes moved over the scene.

"How many?"

"At least twelve."

"Professional?"

"Very."

Adhiraj crouched beside one of the dead men.

He noticed something beneath the man's fingers.

A small piece of crimson fabric.

He pulled it free.

Samar immediately recognized it.

"Vardhan colors."

Adhiraj stared at it.

"Too obvious."

Samar looked at him.

"Exactly."

Adhiraj stood.

"Someone wants us to blame them."

"Then who?"

Adhiraj looked at the dark road.

"That's what we're going to find out."

Samar handed him another evidence bag.

Inside was a silver ring.

A serpent engraved across its surface.

Adhiraj's expression changed.

"Where did you get this?"

"One of the attackers dropped it."

Adhiraj turned the ring over.

No family crest.

No company insignia.

Nothing he recognized.

But he had seen that symbol once before.

Years ago.

On a file his father had ordered him never to open.

A file that had disappeared the next morning.

"The serpent."

Samar frowned.

"You know it?"

"I've seen it."

"Where?"

Adhiraj's jaw tightened.

"My father's old records."

Samar waited.

Adhiraj said nothing else.

He had learned a long time ago that some questions were more dangerous than bullets.

At 1:30 a.m., Aadhira's phone rang.

She answered without looking.

"Speak."

"You're going to want to hear this."

Myra.

Aadhira sat behind her desk.

"Go ahead."

"The ring."

"Yes?"

"It doesn't belong to the Rathores."

Aadhira's eyes sharpened.

"I know."

"No. You don't understand."

Myra's voice lowered.

"It belonged to someone connected to the old war."

Aadhira sat straighter.

"Who?"

"I haven't confirmed it yet."

"Then confirm it."

"I've already sent the information to—"

The lights suddenly went out.

Aadhira stood.

The estate disappeared into darkness.

A second later—

CRASH.

Glass shattered somewhere downstairs.

Then gunfire erupted.

Aadhira immediately pulled the weapon hidden beneath her desk.

"Myra?"

No answer.

"Nysa!"

Footsteps thundered outside.

The door burst open.

Nysa entered with a gun in hand.

"Attack."

"I heard."

"They're inside the east wing."

Aadhira grabbed another weapon.

"Family?"

"Vihaan has Ira and Meher in the safe room."

"Mother?"

"With them."

Aadhira moved toward the door.

Nysa caught her arm.

"Don't."

Aadhira looked down at the hand on her wrist.

Nysa released her.

"I'm going."

"We don't know how many there are."

"Then we'll find out."

Aadhira stepped into the corridor.

Gunfire erupted from the lower floor.

She fired twice.

One attacker dropped.

Another disappeared around the corner.

Nysa followed.

"Three on the west side!"

Aadhira moved through the hallway with terrifying calm.

This was her home.

Her family was inside.

There was no room for fear.

Only survival.

She reached the staircase.

A man emerged from below.

Aadhira fired.

He fell.

Then another bullet struck the wall inches from her head.

She ducked.

Nysa fired back.

"Move!"

Aadhira ran toward the safe room.

Her mother stood behind the reinforced door.

"Aadhira!"

"I'm fine."

"You're bleeding."

Aadhira touched her temple.

Her fingers came away red.

"Nothing."

Vihaan opened the door.

"Get inside."

"No."

"Aadhira."

"I'm ending this."

Vihaan grabbed her shoulder.

"You don't know who they are."

Her eyes hardened.

"Neither do they."

Twenty minutes later, the attackers were gone.

Four dead.

Three captured.

The Vardhan estate had survived.

Barely.

Aadhira stood in the courtyard while Nysa questioned one of the captured men.

The man refused to speak.

Nysa struck the table.

"Who sent you?"

Silence.

Aadhira stepped closer.

She stared at him.

"You attacked my home."

The man looked up.

"You killed my men."

"I didn't kill anyone."

His expression changed.

Aadhira noticed.

"You expected me to say that."

He said nothing.

She crouched.

"Who told you to wear the Rathore insignia?"

The man's eyes flickered.

There.

She had him.

"You don't work for the Rathores."

The man remained silent.

Aadhira stood.

"Take him downstairs."

Nysa nodded.

Then her phone rang.

She answered.

Her expression changed.

"Aadhira."

"What?"

"We have another problem."

Across the city, Adhiraj received the same news.

The Rathore estate had been attacked.

His family was safe.

But the attackers had entered through the private security gate.

Someone had known the estate's layout.

Someone had known where the cameras were.

Someone had known which guards would be on duty.

This wasn't an outside attack.

Someone had information.

Adhiraj's expression became murderous.

"Find the leak."

Samar nodded.

"Already started."

Adhiraj picked up his coat.

"Where are you going?"

"Vardhan estate."

Samar stared at him.

"Tonight?"

"Yes."

"You think she'll let you in?"

Adhiraj's eyes were cold.

"She'll try to stop me."

At 3:06 a.m., the Vardhan security system detected an approaching convoy.

Nysa checked the cameras.

Her face hardened.

"Rathores."

Aadhira walked toward the entrance.

"How many?"

"Six vehicles."

"Let them through."

Nysa looked at her.

"You're serious?"

"I want to know why he's here."

The gates opened.

Black SUVs entered the compound.

The first door opened.

Adhiraj stepped out.

Black shirt.

Black trousers.

No tie.

His face was expressionless.

He looked like he had walked straight out of hell.

Aadhira waited at the top of the stairs.

Neither moved.

Adhiraj looked at the blood on her temple.

His eyes hardened.

"You're hurt."

Aadhira touched the cut.

"Disappointed?"

"No."

He looked around the damaged estate.

"Angry."

She laughed bitterly.

"You don't get to be angry."

"Neither do you."

"What does that mean?"

"My estate was attacked tonight."

Aadhira froze.

"What?"

"Four dead."

Her expression changed.

Adhiraj continued.

"Same weapons."

"Same symbol."

"Same people."

They stared at each other.

The rain fell between them.

For once, neither had an immediate accusation.

Aadhira descended the stairs.

"Someone is trying to make us believe the other attacked."

"Yes."

"You knew."

"I suspected."

She stopped in front of him.

"Why come here?"

"Because whoever is behind this knows our families."

Aadhira's eyes narrowed.

"That's not an answer."

"It is."

"No."

She stepped closer.

"You're Adhiraj Rathore. You don't cross enemy territory in the middle of the night because you suddenly developed common sense."

His gaze locked with hers.

"I came because someone attacked my family."

"And mine."

"Exactly."

Silence.

The two enemies stood only inches apart.

For years, they had imagined destroying each other.

Now they were standing in the ruins of their families' homes, realizing someone else had been playing them.

Aadhira looked at him.

"What do you suggest?"

"An alliance."

She laughed.

It was sharp.

Disbelieving.

"With you?"

"Temporary."

"I'd rather burn my empire."

"You might."

His eyes moved over her face.

"But if we keep fighting each other, whoever did this wins."

Aadhira hated that he was right.

She hated even more that he knew it.

"One week."

Adhiraj raised an eyebrow.

"One week?"

"We investigate together."

"No interference in each other's businesses."

"Agreed."

"No secrets."

He paused.

"Agreed."

"And if I find out you lied to me..."

She stepped closer.

"I'll kill you myself."

Adhiraj's lips curved slightly.

"If I lie, you won't get the chance."

Aadhira stared at him.

For one strange second, the tension between them wasn't hatred.

It was something sharper.

Something neither understood.

Then she extended her hand.

Adhiraj looked at it.

He took it.

Their fingers closed.

A simple handshake.

A temporary alliance.

But neither released immediately.

Aadhira looked down.

Adhiraj looked at her.

Neither spoke.

Then she pulled her hand away.

"Don't mistake this for trust."

"I don't."

"For friendship."

"Definitely not."

"For forgiveness."

His eyes darkened.

"I'll never forgive you."

Aadhira's voice softened.

"Good."

She turned away.

"Neither will I."

Adhiraj watched her walk toward the mansion.

Then he noticed something.

A small streak of blood had slipped from the cut on her temple and reached her cheek.

Without thinking, he took one step after her.

He stopped himself.

Why?

Why had he noticed?

Why did he care?

She was his enemy.

The woman he had spent years wanting to defeat.

He forced his expression back into stone.

Behind him, Samar approached.

"Sir."

Adhiraj looked at him.

"Find the serpent."

Samar nodded.

"And the alliance?"

Adhiraj glanced toward the mansion.

"For one week."

"Do you trust her?"

Adhiraj's answer came immediately.

"No."

Inside the mansion, Aadhira stood by the window, watching the Rathore convoy disappear into the night.

Myra approached.

"You trust him?"

Aadhira didn't turn.

"No."

"Then why agree?"

Aadhira looked down at the blood on her fingers.

"Because I trust my enemy more than I trust the person trying to make me hate him."

Myra smiled faintly.

"That's almost romantic."

Aadhira's eyes flashed.

"Don't ever say that again."

But neither woman noticed the way Aadhira continued staring at the empty driveway long after Adhiraj had disappeared.

And neither of them knew—

the temporary alliance would be the first step toward the most dangerous arrangement of their lives.

Because the person who wanted the Rathores and Vardhans at war had just made one mistake.

They had given the King and the Queen a reason to stand on the same side.

And once Adhiraj Rathore and Aadhira Vardhan fought together...

even their enemies wouldn't be safe.