"It's alright, Your Highness. I know these dimples look good on me," Shubman said, giving Ishan a tiny smirk, more like teasing him.

"No!" Ishan immediately replied.

"They don't look good?"

Ishan hesitatingly said, "Yeah, well, yes....I mean not like....Okay, alright!" Ishan paused, lowering his voice down to a whisper, he said, "Stop flirting!"

Shubman shrugged, "Hmm, looks like Your Highness hasn't been flirted with a lot?"

"Well, nobody has ever dared."

"Except me."

"Except you."

***

As they both stood up, preparing to leave, they were unaware that their moment was soon about to be shattered. Ishan and Shubman heard a sudden whistle of an arrow slicing through the air. Shubman's eyes widened in alarm as he instinctively pushed Ishan to the ground, shielding him, and finding Ishan right beneath him the very next moment, their fronts touching each other. Not really something new friends would be doing.

Ishan hit the ground with a grunt, Shubman's hand firmly behind his head and around his back, cushioning him from the hard, pebbled surface. The guards, quick to react, rushed towards the direction where the arrow had come from with their swords, leaving the two of them alone in their unexpected moment.

For a second, everything else faded away. Shubman's protective embrace left them inches apart, their breaths mingling in the shared space. The intensity of their gazes locked, neither able to look away. Shubman's breath hit Ishan's face, warm and rapid, a stark contrast to the coolness of the riverbank. Ishan was breathing heavily, his mind covered by anxiety, and all of his blood rushing down somewhere he didn't want to, atleast not right now.

Shubman's heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline of the near miss still coursing through his veins. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice low and filled with concern.

Ishan nodded, his eyes never leaving Shubman's. "Yes, thanks to you," he replied, his voice a soft whisper.

Their faces were so close that Ishan could feel the warmth radiating from Shubman's skin. Shubman's hand, still cradling the back of Ishan's head, gently caressed the soft strands of his hair involuntarily, while his other arm wrapped securely around Ishan's waist, holding him protectively against his own body. His grip tightened just a bit, enough to let Ishan know all what Shubman wanted from him, his dilating pupils reflecting his need.

Ishan noticed how Shubman's gaze flicked down to Ishan's lips for a brief moment before meeting his eyes again, the desire and confusion clear in his expression.

Neither of them moved, as if time had paused just for them. Shubman's fingers traced a gentle path along Ishan's back, his touch light but possessive. Ishan's hands, previously gripping Shubman's arms in surprise, relaxed, sliding down to rest on Shubman's shoulders. The river's gentle flow and the rustling of leaves in the background only served to heighten the intimacy of their shared moment.

Ishan's voice broke the silence, filled with a mix of gratitude and something deeper. "Abhishek... thank you."

Shubman nodded slightly, his eyes softening as he looked into Ishan's. "Anything to keep you safe," he murmured, the sincerity in his words evident.

"Maybe we should.....get up," Ishan said, his feeble attempt to lower down the heat. Shubman hummed in response, helping Ishan to his feet.

Shubman brushed off some of the dirt from Ishan's clothes, their touches lingering longer than necessary. They shared one last look, a silent acknowledgment of the intimacy they had just shared, before turning their attention to the commotion around them.

The guards returned a minute later. Ishan thanked the gods they were left alone in that moment, his cheeks red. One of the guards said, "Apologies, Your Highness, we couldn't locate the source of the arrow."

"We should've been more careful!" Ishan said, tension evident on his face. Turning to Shubman, he continued, "Abhishek, I believe I shall have to head back to the palace immediately...And, thank you so much, Abhishek. You saved my life today."

Shubman smiled, "Just doing what a friend should do."

"Not all friends are like you. I shall be forever grateful for this. I owe you my life, Abhishek."

***

Tired and gutted, Shubman was back at the inn to face an extremely concerned Abhishek in his room.

Abhishek was pacing nervously by the door. As soon as he saw Shubman, he rushed forward, his face pale and strained with worry.

"I heard about the attack, Shubman. Are you alright?" Abhishek asked, his voice laced with concern.

Shubman nodded. "I'm fine, Abhishek. But Ishan was the target. He's safe now, thanks to quick reflexes."

Abhishek shook his head, looking grim. "Shubman, I have bad news."

Shubman frowned. "I really don't think Ishan being alive is bad news."

Abhishek took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "No, Shubman. The bad news is that the attack was meant for you, not the prince. The attacker probably missed you."

Shubman's eyes widened in shock. "What? How can you say that?"

Abhishek reached into his tunic and pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment. "King Abhiram had received this threat note a few days ago. He's called us both back immediately. He believes your life is in danger."

(Note: Just in case you forgot, King Abhiram is Prince Shubman's father in the story.)

Shubman took the note and read it quickly, his face growing more serious with each line. "This... this can't be."

Abhishek nodded solemnly. "It's true. The note was clear. Your safety has been compromised, Shubman."

Shubman shook his head, his mind racing. "We can't go back, Abhishek. If we leave now, Ishan will be suspicious. He might even think we're involved in the attack."

Abhishek's voice was firm. "That doesn't matter anymore. Your father has ordered us to abort the mission and return with whatever information we have. Your safety is the priority."

Shubman clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside him. "I can't just leave, Abhishek. I made a commitment. I have to see this through."

Abhishek stepped closer, his eyes pleading. "Shubman, please. This isn't just about the mission anymore. Your father is worried sick. He can't afford to lose you. None of us can."

Shubman took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. "I understand that, Abhishek. But if we leave now, we might lose the only chance to know more about the royal family. I can't let that happen, we don't get these opportunities all the time!

Abhishek's face hardened. "And what if the next attack hits its mark? What then, Shubman? Will it be worth it?"

Shubman looked away, his jaw tight with determination. "I have to believe it will be. I can't abandon Prince Ishan now. And what if staying here could lead us to the attacker?"

Abhishek sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Shubman, I get it. But we have to be smart about this. Seriously, Prince Ishan is the last person you should be thinking about right now."

Shubman turned back to face him, his eyes blazing with resolve. "I'm staying, Abhishek. You can go back if you want, but I need to see this through. I owe it to myself."

Abhishek stared at him, his expression a mix of frustration and resignation. "You're stubborn, you know that?"

Shubman managed a small smile. "So I've been told."

Abhishek sighed again, deeply. "Fine. If you're staying, then I'm staying too. But we need to be extra cautious from now on. We can't afford any more close calls."

Shubman nodded, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thank you, Abhishek. I promise we'll get through this together."

They settled down for the night, when Shubman finally said, "The attacker was an idiot, though. The target should've been me but the arrow went towards Prince Ishan, I saved him by bringing myself in the way, and yet not a single scratch on my body."

"He was probably a newly employed assassinator."

***

That's it for this chapter!
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