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2025-02-21 14:00:13The daycare was eerily quiet when they arrived. When Ashwin walked through these doors earlier today, he was greeted by the sounds of playful screaming, laughter, and tiny feet scurrying around. But right now, the atmosphere felt off.
Miss Lila stood at the front with a polite but strained smile. Her fingers tapped anxiously against the clipboard she held.Ashwin barely had time to respond before he heard the sound of wailing."Mommy!"Kai came bolting out from the back, his little legs moving as fast as they could, arms stretched forward like he was reaching for dear life. His face was red and blotchy, tears spilling down his cheeks as he collided into Ashwin’s legs.Ashwin immediately knelt, wrapping his arms around Kai. The boy clung to him with desperate fingers, his small body shaking with hiccuped sobs."I’s sorry, Mommy! I’s so sorry!" Kai’s voice cracked as he buried his face in Ashwin’s chest.Ashwin’s heart cle
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Tangled In Scales 28
The police station smelled like old coffee, printer ink, and the kind of disinfectant that never fully masked the underlying scent of sweat and exhaustion. Ashwin sat stiffly beside Ishaan at the front desk, his fingers curled around his phone, though he wasn’t really looking at it. Ishaan, on the other hand, exuded his usual air of cool confidence, one arm resting casually on the chair’s armrest, the other draped possessively over the back of Ashwin’s seat. They had been waiting for about ten minutes before a uniformed officer finally approached them, a stack of paperwork in hand. The officer, a burly man with graying hair, skimmed over the documents before nodding at them. “Alright, gentlemen. I have the finalized paperwork here,” he said, flipping through the pages. “The kids are officially in your custody.” Ashwin’s breath hitched slightly. Official. Permanent. The officer continued, “Since you opted for
Last Updated : 2025-02-21Tangled In Scales 29
The dream came again—dark blue scales shimmering under the glow of a silver moon, a land both foreign and familiar. Ashwin stood at the edge of a dark lake, the water so still it mirrored the stars. Something massive lurked beneath the surface, the sound of slow, deliberate movement echoing in the distance. He felt it watching him, calling him, and yet—Thud.A weight slammed into his chest.Ashwin jolted awake with a sharp inhale, eyes flying open to find two small figures bouncing on top of him.“Mommy, wake up!” Kai’s voice rang out, his tiny hands pressing insistently against Ashwin’s ribs.“You’s so slow, Mommy! You should wake up like Daddy!” Koa giggled, eyes bright with excitement.Ashwin groaned, still groggy. He rubbed at his eyes before freezing.A dark stain—red—smeared across the twins’ lips.His pulse spiked. His breath caught.lood.It was late—too late. The clock on the bedside
Last Updated : 2025-02-22Tangled In Scales 30
Ashwin sat on the couch, half-awake, half-asleep, and completely exhausted. His head rested against the soft cushions, and his limbs felt too heavy to move. The TV was on, playing some random cooking show at low volume, but he wasn’t paying attention. His eyelids drooped, his body aching from the feverish warmth of his monthly shedding. He barely had the energy to keep his eyes open, yet his mind wouldn’t stop wandering. The house was quiet. Too quiet. The twins were usually little hurricanes of energy, running around, laughing, and making a mess of the place. But over the past few days, their playfulness had dwindled. They moved slower, ate less, and spent most of their time curled up together on the couch or in bed. Ishaan had told him not to worry. "They’re brumating," he had explained, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Brumation.
Last Updated : 2025-02-22Tangled In Scales 31
The garage was alive with the steady symphony of labor-clanking wrenches, revving engines, and the low hum of conversation between mechanics. The scent of oil, metal, and warm asphalt filled the air, mixing with the occasional drift of cigarette smoke from Julio, who always sneaked one between jobs despite the "No Smoking" sign hanging crookedly above the tool wall.Ishaan was in his element.With his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, he worked beneath the hood of a '07 Mustang, fingers expertly maneuvering the rusted bolts of the radiator. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple, but he ignored it, too focused on the way the engine's inner workings responded to his touch. He liked this part-solving problems, fixing things with his hands. It was satisfying in a way few other things were.Well... aside from them.His family.The thought sent a ripple of warmth through him, a sharp contrast to the cool metal beneath his fingers. He tightened the last bolt and stepped back, wiping his han
Last Updated : 2025-02-24Tangled In Scales 32
The wrench in Ishaan's hand felt solid, the rough metal pressing into his calloused fingers as he tightened a stubborn bolt. The engine of the old truck he was working on let out a metallic groan before settling into place. The garage smelled of oil and hot metal, but even as he worked, his mind wasn't in Mount Haven.It was in Kal'Raksha.The heat of the jungle, thick and humid, clung to his skin like a second layer. The sound of water, the rhythmic drip of a waterfall against stone, echoed in his ears. Kal'Raksha wasn't just a place-it was a living, breathing world of its own. It had shaped him, nurtured him, and even now, miles away, it still called to him.He could see it as if he had never left. The sky above was vast, a deep violet at dusk, streaked with fiery oranges and fading golds. The jungle was alive, teeming with creatures both seen and unseen. Fireflies danced between thick trees, their trunks ancient, their roots sprawling across the damp earth like the veins of the la
Last Updated : 2025-03-01Tangled In Scales 33
Ishaan sat at the kitchen counter, lazily snacking on dried mango while keeping an eye on the chaos unfolding in the living room. The twins were at it again—darting around with wild giggles, their tiny feet thudding against the hardwood floors as they launched themselves onto the couch, only to fling off dramatically as if they had wings.The furniture rattled. A decorative pillow went soaring. A glass teetered dangerously close to the edge of the coffee table before settling again.Every time Ishaan thought they might settle down, one of them would do something even more reckless—climbing onto the armrest just to make a running leap, tackling the other mid-air, or collapsing into a fit of infectious laughter that made it impossible to scold them.Ishaan had long since given up trying to discipline them. Instead, he let his unimpressed stare do the work, eyes half-lidded as he chewed.Every few minutes, one of them would dart by his side
Last Updated : 2025-03-02Tangled In Scales 34
The cell was small, barely large enough for the cot bolted to the wall and the metal toilet in the corner. The air was stale, thick with the scent of disinfectant and something metallic—blood, perhaps, long scrubbed away but still lingering beneath the surface.Ishaan Arthava sat on the cot, back straight, hands resting on his knees. His wrists were sore from the cuffs they had slapped on him hours ago, but he didn’t complain.Complaining was weakness.The officers outside whispered among themselves, their voices muffled through the steel door. He knew their type—cops who thought they had him cornered, who thought a few hours in a holding cell would break him.They didn’t know him.They had no idea what kind of patience lived inside him, what kind of restraint he had mastered over the years.The door creaked open.A uniformed officer stepped inside, gesturing for him to stand. “Move.”Ishaan exhaled slowly throu
Last Updated : 2025-03-02Tangled In Scales 35
Ashwin stood by the car, arms crossed, his posture deceptively relaxed. The dim streetlights cast long shadows across his face, highlighting the dark circles under his eyes. He hadn’t slept. Not properly. Not while Ishaan was locked inside that police station, treated like a criminal.His fingers drummed restlessly against his bicep as he watched the doors, his pulse hammering harder with every second.Then, finally—The doors swung open.Ishaan stepped out, slow and unhurried, like he hadn’t just spent two days being interrogated. He was still wearing the same clothes he had been arrested in, the fabric wrinkled, the sleeves slightly damp from where he had rinsed his face in the station’s bathroom. His jaw was tight, but his gaze lifted the moment he spotted Ashwin.Relief flickered in those dark eyes.Ashwin barely had time to push himself off the car before Ishaan was closing the distance between them.No words. No he
Last Updated : 2025-03-03
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Tangled In Scales 42
The streets were quieter than usual, the curfew looming over the town like a warning. It wasn’t even dark yet, but people were already heading home, locking their doors, avoiding the shadows.Ashwin glanced at Ishaan as they walked to the car. “This whole thing is getting worse.”Ishaan hummed in agreement. “That’s why we’re picking up the twins together. I don’t want you walking alone.”Ashwin sighed. “I can take care of myself.”“I know,” Ishaan said, unlocking the car. “But I’d rather not risk it.”Ashwin didn’t argue. He knew better than to fight Ishaan on things like this.As they pulled onto the road, Ishaan spoke again.“My brothers are coming for a visit.”Ashwin raised a brow. “Really?”Ishaan nodded. “They missed you. And the twins. And they demanded roasted fish and fried potatoes.”Ashwin snorted. “Of course they did.”Ishaan smirked. “You’ll make it for them?”Ash
Tangled In Scales 41
The soft hum of pages turning, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the faint vanilla musk of aged paper.This was Ashwin’s sanctuary. The bookstore café was a cozy little escape from the worries of the outside world, with its warm yellow lighting, wooden bookshelves stretching toward the ceiling, and snug reading nooks filled with plush chairs and knitted blankets.Ashwin sat behind the counter, absently wiping down the espresso machine as he watched the customers.A young woman sat by the window, a novel open on her lap as she sipped from a steaming mug. An elderly man in a tweed coat sat at a corner table, immersed in a history book, occasionally pausing to adjust his glasses. The soft murmur of conversation and the occasional clang of dishes from the café’s kitchen filled the air with a comforting rhythm.He liked this place. The quiet. The routine.But today, there was an unease hanging in the air. It started as whispers,
Tangled In Scales 40
Dark, fathomless blue stretched in every direction, but Ashwin wasn't afraid. He floated effortlessly, the gentle current cradling him like a familiar embrace. Cool water swept past his skin, yet there was no discomfort-only a soothing sensation, as if the ocean itself recognized him. He inhaled, and instead of drowning, his lungs filled with something light and pure.Breathing underwater felt natural.His body moved with a grace he never possessed on land, his limbs slicing through the water with ease, as if he had been born for this. Above him, golden rays of light filtered down from the unseen surface, scattering in ribbons that illuminated the space around him. Schools of fish darted past in shimmering waves, yet Ashwin barely paid them any attention.Because he wasn't alone.The enormous dark blue snake was there again, gliding through the water like a shadow given life. Its massive form coiled and uncoiled effortlessly, the deep hu
Tangled In Scales 39
The warm morning sun peeked through the curtains, making little golden patterns on the walls. The house was quiet—until it wasn’t.Thud. Thud. Thud.Tiny feet stomped down the hallway, followed by giggles. The bedroom door burst open, and two little boys tumbled in, jumping onto the bed.“Mommy, wake up!” Koa squealed, tugging at Ashwin’s arm. “We’s late, we’s late!”Kai crawled onto Ishaan’s chest and plopped down with a huff. “Yeah! We gonna be so, so late, an’ then we no learn nuffin’!”Ashwin groaned, half-burying his face in the pillow. “Koa, Kai, it’s not even seven yet.”“But school is ‘portant, Mommy!” Koa pouted, bouncing on the mattress.Ishaan let out a tired chuckle, wrapping an arm around Kai to keep him from rolling off. “Alright, alright, we’re up. But first, morning kisses.”The twins squealed as Ishaan and Ashwin covered their little faces in kisses, making them giggle loudly.“Now go b
Tangled In Scales 38
The afternoon sun hung lazily in the sky, casting a golden glow over the quiet streets as Ishaan strolled toward Mrs. Patel’s bakery. The warmth of the light contrasted with the crisp breeze that whispered through the town, rustling the leaves in gentle waves. It was a beautiful day, idyllic even—but his mind was far from the peaceful surroundings.All he could think about was Ashwin.The memory of last night clung to him, refusing to let go. How Ashwin had trembled beneath him, his small frame helpless against the force of Ishaan’s desire. How he had taken him again and again, until Ashwin was utterly spent, boneless in his arms. The soft, gasping sounds he made had left an imprint on Ishaan’s mind—sweet, broken little noises that sent heat straight through his veins.Even this morning, before Ishaan had left, Ashwin had still been dripping, slick and warm, all over their bed. The thought alone made Ishaan’s fingers twitch at his sides, itching
Tangled In Scales 37
Ashwin shuddered. The contrast between them had always been stark—where Ashwin was lean, lithe, and finely built, Ishaan was broad, towering, and commanding in every movement. It wasn’t just size; it was the way Ishaan held himself, the way his presence filled every space like it was meant to belong to him."You're shaking," Ishaan noted, amused. One of his hands drifted lower, possessively mapping the dip of Ashwin’s waist before gripping his hip hard. "But you're not running. You never do, do you?"Ashwin bit his lip, refusing to give him the satisfaction of an immediate answer.Ishaan chuckled, low and knowing. "Because you like it when I take control," he continued, his voice smooth, almost hypnotic. "You like knowing you don’t have to think. You can just let me handle everything."Ashwin exhaled, his fingers flexing against the table as he let Ishaan’s words settle into him. He wouldn’t admit it out loud—not yet—but Ishaan was right
Tangled In Scales 36
The door clicked shut, and before Ashwin could even exhale, Ishaan was on him. His larger frame loomed over Ashwin’s smaller body, radiating heat and pent-up frustration. Rough hands cupped Ashwin’s jaw, tilting his face up just before Ishaan’s lips crashed down, swallowing him whole.The kiss was all-consuming—hungry, desperate, and demanding. Ishaan didn’t just kiss; he took. His lips were firm, his teeth grazing Ashwin’s bottom lip before sucking it into his mouth with a possessive pull. The force of it sent a jolt down Ashwin’s spine, making his knees weaken, but Ishaan’s grip on him was ironclad. There was nowhere to run, no room to breathe. Only Ishaan.Ashwin let out a muffled sound against his mouth, pushing lightly at Ishaan’s chest, but the man was relentless. His large hands slid from Ashwin’s jaw down to his waist, fingers pressing into the slight curve of his hips, gripping, grounding. It wasn’t just a touch—it was a claim. Ashwin’s breath hi
Tangled In Scales 35
Ashwin stood by the car, arms crossed, his posture deceptively relaxed. The dim streetlights cast long shadows across his face, highlighting the dark circles under his eyes. He hadn’t slept. Not properly. Not while Ishaan was locked inside that police station, treated like a criminal.His fingers drummed restlessly against his bicep as he watched the doors, his pulse hammering harder with every second.Then, finally—The doors swung open.Ishaan stepped out, slow and unhurried, like he hadn’t just spent two days being interrogated. He was still wearing the same clothes he had been arrested in, the fabric wrinkled, the sleeves slightly damp from where he had rinsed his face in the station’s bathroom. His jaw was tight, but his gaze lifted the moment he spotted Ashwin.Relief flickered in those dark eyes.Ashwin barely had time to push himself off the car before Ishaan was closing the distance between them.No words. No he
Tangled In Scales 34
The cell was small, barely large enough for the cot bolted to the wall and the metal toilet in the corner. The air was stale, thick with the scent of disinfectant and something metallic—blood, perhaps, long scrubbed away but still lingering beneath the surface.Ishaan Arthava sat on the cot, back straight, hands resting on his knees. His wrists were sore from the cuffs they had slapped on him hours ago, but he didn’t complain.Complaining was weakness.The officers outside whispered among themselves, their voices muffled through the steel door. He knew their type—cops who thought they had him cornered, who thought a few hours in a holding cell would break him.They didn’t know him.They had no idea what kind of patience lived inside him, what kind of restraint he had mastered over the years.The door creaked open.A uniformed officer stepped inside, gesturing for him to stand. “Move.”Ishaan exhaled slowly throu
