Ranjeet's POV

I was working on some documents in my chamber. When i heard a knock on the door. I told the servants to not disturb me as i hate interruptions when i work .

" Who is it?!" I say in an angry tone

" It's me Tripti...i have a message from princess. "

I told Dhruv to bring me the letter and send her back.

What's so important that she sent a letter this late at night. I opened the letter. I knit my eyebrows as soon as i read it.

" Kunwarsa.. I'll leave my safety in your hands tonight. Please don't dissapoint me.

~your future wife"

What does she mean by that? Safety? Is she in danger? Or is this one of her old tricks? I roll my eyes and throw the letter aside on my table and continued working.who will hurt that scary princess?

" Are you really going to leave it like this? What if she's actually in danger Ranjeet?" Dhruv spoke up

I glare at him " aren't you too worried for her? Should i appoint you as her bodyguard?"

" Haha... Just kidding ..you know.. I'll be going then.. goodnight prince" he slipped away.

I continued working but I can't focus. Her smile...the way she cried in my arms.. the fire in her eyes... Her dance...the look on her face...the loneliness in her eyes..the longiness...

I run a hand through my hair leaning back on the couch sighing " Dammit..."

I tried to focus but, nothing was working. I called Dhruv " Dhruv ..go check if she's alright" i say coldly looking at my documents like I didn't care

" Check on who?" Dhruv asked obviously teasing me

I glare at him ..and he slipped away " Right on my way sir"

I sigh.. " what is wrong with me!"

As soon as i knew ..she was missing.. i had a group of men ready to search for her. The whole palace knew of it in no time. And everybody started searching for her. I felt like my chest was suffocating. I don't know why...but i wanted to see her so bad...see her alright safe and sound.

As i walked past her chamber...i felt something under my feet.. i picked it up " Moti?" I murnured to myself

It was a white bead of a necklace that Aishwarya was wearing today...i looked around to see if there are other clues... There was a trail of white beads going to an isolated corner of the hall. I followed the trail and it ended at a wall.

I look up at the wall. it somehow felt weird.i knocked an the wall and it sounded hollow. I was right.

" Dhruv call other people and ask if there's a secret passage here and where it leads to. send a team there ."

We asked the king and he was shocked himself as noone but he knew about this secret passage. After opening it ...i went in with Dhruv and a few other soldiers. I had one thing in mind and that was to see her.

The passage lead to a dense forest from where fire torches at a dustance could be seen. There were tents and soldiers alarmed and guarding a particular tent.and i knew right away what i needed to know.

The team i sent before coming from the passage also reached on their horses.

" Dhruv lead a group to attack the soldiers in silence . Try to distract them. I'll get the Princess."

I get on the horse and in a swift motion i held it's rains and vanished in the darkness. My blood was boiling. If anything happens to her ... I'll kill that maniac.

I don't know why I'm feeling this but right now I don't care about anything at all. I got off the horse and walked with long strides towards the tent killing every soul that came in my way without caring for a damn thing in this world.

Suddenly i heard her scream... " Noooo.... Please...nooo..."

I felt shivers in my whole body... Blood rushing to my whole body. .. i sliced the soldiers on the gate of tent and entered inside.

I froze to witness the scene before my eyes. He was on top of her on the bed .. his face buried in the crook of her neck pinning her hands on either side of her. She looked at me ...her face stained with tears... Lips turned blue and dry with screaming and fear... Her dupatta lying on the floor...blouse torn...

I could feel my whole body tense ...my veins popping on my neck and forearms as i held the blood dripping sword tightly. I took long strides towards the bed and held his shoulder to pull him off her and punched him so hard that his tooth fell out .

" How dare you touch my woman!!!" I yell in anger and in one swift move i slit his throat. the blood splattering me my face and clothes.. my breathing was heavy .. i felt like cutting his dead body in pieces.

I turn to her... She sat on the bed ..covering her ears and shutting her eyes tightly ..her knees closer to her chest. She was trembling.

Looking at her so vulnerable and weak..my stomach twisted and my heart hurted.i sat beside her on the bed.. then held her shoulder as gently as i could

" Aishwarya...." I spoke softly not to scare her

She opened her tear filled eyes and looked at me... She hugged me tightly and burried her face in the crook of my neck tightening her grip around my neck.

I froze at first.. but wrapped my arms around her waist pulling her closer to me. I felt calm all of a sudden . Like i felt the puzzle piece i was looking for all this time.

She broke into cries. She was trembling ...like she was scared I'll run away leaving her alone.

I caress the back of her head " shh...baby...calm down. You are safe now... I'm here"

I rub her back with one hand and her head with other... I held her tightly until she stopped crying. Then pull back a little to look at her face... I cup his cheek wiping her tears with my thumb looking in her eyes.

" Are you okay?" I ask in a soft voice I didn't know i had .

She nods softly looking down.. then my sight fell on her neck. It had fingerprints of him strangling her. My hold tightening unconsciously on her body ..

My hand went to caress the prints.. " I'm sorry...i was late.."

Tears fall her eyes..." I thought... you'll never come... I thought..noone will save me...i...was so scared...he... I don't want to be here...i want to go home...please...i hate this...i hate blood baths...you guys kill people like they are nothing... I want to go back...". She started crying again

" Hey ..hey... Baby...shh..." I caress her face.. " Let's go home.."

After she calmed down.. i wrapped my overcoat around her .. it was still dark outside... As i supported her to stand up..she winced and stumbled. My sight fell on her injured feet. And without thinking ...i picked her up bridal style .

She gasped at first but then wrapped her arms around my neck hiding her face in my neck ..

I made her sit on my horse getting on behind her. " We'll be going first.. Dhruv deal with them" i ordered him before galloping away with her.

I stopped near a ricer. Then got off . I held her by her waist to get her off the horse. She looked at me a bit confused. But i stayed silent and picked her up taking her near the bank of the river.

I made her sit down . So she can dip her feet inside the river. Then i sat beside her.

" Pardon me for this" i spoke softly before taking her feet in my lap clearing her wounds with my hands then wrapping a clean cloth i tore from what i had and wrapped it around her feet. I could feel her silent gaze on me. I took her other feet doing the same to it. I look up at her

" Feeling better?" I asked

She looked at me silently... Her milky skin glowing in the moonlight. But my eyebrows twitched at the thought of that bastard touching her. I dip my hand in the water holding the back of her head to hold her in place and wiping her face and neck softly with water. Then wiping her dry.

She continues looking at me silently. There was something in her eyes... something different i never saw before.

" Can you hold me for a bit?" She spoke softly

I look at her for a bit to see any hesitation. But there was none. So without any further thoughts... I picked her up by her waist and made her sit in my lap like a child... I held her close to my chest wrapping a hand around her waist and other over her head holding her close to my chest.

I felt held clench over my kurta like she was looking for comfort. She closed her eyes and i felt her body relax in my arms. It felt so serene, so pure and calming like this. Under the moonlight , cold breeze balanced by her warm body..

" Can we stay like this for a bit..." She spoke in barely a whisper

I caress her head " we can stay as long as you want baby" i spoke softly closing my eyes... I couldn't stop myself but kissing the top of her head.

After some time, she fell asleep in my arms. She lookef so cute , so small and calm in her sleep. A small smile formed on my lips looking down at her.

I move close and kiss her forehead " good night , my wild cat" i whispered