Author’s POV :-

Dhaaryaksh’s patience had snapped.

The moment Ambika revealed the truth about the poisoned milk, something inside him broke.

Someone dared… to kill my sister.

His jaw clenched so tightly that a vein pulsed on his forehead.

Without wasting a second, he turned sharply and strode toward the royal kitchen like a storm ready to destroy everything in its path.

The Royal Kitchen

The massive doors slammed open with a loud bang.

Every servant inside froze.

The clatter of utensils stopped instantly.

Dhaaryaksh’s voice thundered through the hall—

“Sab log ek pankti mein khade ho jao!”(Everyone stand in a line!)

His voice carried raw authority and rage.

Every maid, every cook, every helper quickly lined up, trembling.

The maid who had brought the milk to Ambika also stood among them, her hands shaking.

Kshitija hurried inside, her brows furrowed in confusion seeing Dhaaryaksh’s fury.

She stepped in front of him.

“Kya hua? Aap itne krodhit kyun hai?”(What happened? Why are you so angry?)

Dhaaryaksh’s eyes were cold, almost dangerous.

“Kisi ne Ambika ko vish dene ka prayash kiya hai… aur jo doodh aapne bheja tha, usmein vish mila tha.”(Someone tried to poison Ambika… and the milk you sent was poisoned.)

Kshitija froze.

Her eyes immediately moved to Ambika.

Ambika slowly nodded.

Kshitija whispered, disbelief trembling in her voice—

“Par woh doodh to humne bheja tha… yeh kaise ho sakta hai?”(But I sent that milk… how is this possible?)

Ambika gently held her hand.

“Bhabhi sa chinta mat kijiye… main surakshit hoon… hum doshi ko dhoondh lenge.”(Sister-in-law, don’t worry… I am safe… we will find the culprit.)

Dhaaryaksh stepped forward toward the maid.

His presence alone made her knees weak.

“Sach batao… jab tumhe doodh diya gaya tha, kya tumhare paas koi aaya tha? Kya tumne yeh doodh kisi aur ko diya?”(Tell the truth… after you received the milk, did anyone come to you? Did you give it to someone else?)

The maid shook her head frantically.

“Nahi Maharaj… maine kisi ko nahi diya… par Rani sa ne khud mujhe woh glass nahi diya tha… balki ma—”

Her words froze.

Her eyes widened in terror.

And suddenly—

Her body dropped to the floor.

A thin stream of blood slid down her neck.

The entire kitchen gasped in horror.

Dhaaryaksh rushed forward and turned her slightly.

A small, almost invisible metal pin was embedded in her neck.

His expression hardened.

She was dead.

Killed in a single silent strike.

From afar.

Someone was watching them.

Dhaaryaksh instinctively moved his hand toward the pin—

But Ambika immediately caught his wrist.

“Bhaisa ruk jaiye! Yeh bhi vishela ho sakta hai.”(Brother stop! This could also be poisoned.)

Dhaaryaksh froze.

His anger deepened.

He signaled the guards.

The body was taken away.

Fear spread among everyone present.

.

.

The entire royal chamber of Rana Sa, Trayaaksh, was drowning in silence.

A dangerous… painful… suffocating silence.

The moonlight entered through the grand carved windows of the chamber and spread across the marble floor like silver water, yet even that calming light could not soothe the storm raging inside Trayaaksh.

He was sitting near the balcony, wearing only a loose black angvastra over his shoulders. His sword rested beside him, untouched.

Just like the food placed on the golden tray nearby.

Because ever since Ambika had left for Kanaksthali with Dhaaryaksh… nothing felt right.

His sharp eyes slowly moved toward Sheraaj.

He was lying near his feet, but unlike every other day, even Sheraaj looked restless.

As if he too could feel Ambika’s absence.

Trayaaksh leaned his head back against the pillar behind him and closed his eyes for a brief moment.

But the moment he closed them… Ambika’s face appeared.

Her smile.

Her laugh.

Her innocent eyes.

The way she would cling to his arm.

The way she would call him ‘Aksh’ in that soft voice.

A bitter smile appeared on his lips.

“Mad woman...” he murmured softly.

His fingers clenched unconsciously.

He hated this feeling.

This unbearable ache.

He had survived wars. He had watched people die. He had bathed battlefields in blood.

But this?

This separation from Ambika?

This was making him weak.

No. Not weak. Insane.

His jaw tightened.

“She left me with her bhaisa…” he muttered under his breath.

There was irritation in his tone.

Jealousy.

The mere thought of Ambika laughing with Dhaaryaksh instead of him was enough to irritate him beyond measure.

And he hated himself for feeling this way toward the man who is Ambika’s elder brother.

But Trayaaksh was selfish when it came to Ambika.

Terribly selfish.

He slowly looked toward Sheraaj again.

At that exact moment.

He nudged his huge head softly against Trayaaksh’s leg.

Trayaaksh looked down.

For a moment, his sharp expression softened.

He bent down slowly until he was sitting at Sheraaj’s level.

His large hand moved toward Sheraaj’s mane.

He caressed it slowly. Lovingly. As if calming a child. Sheraaj let out a low sound. A sad sound.

Trayaaksh’s eyes darkened with emotion.

“Are you missing your mother?” he asked softly.

Sheraaj immediately nodded his huge head.

The sight made a faint smile appear on Trayaaksh’s lips.

A broken smile.

“Tch…”

He shook his head lightly.

“She will come back.”

His fingers moved through Sheraaj’s mane again.

“I will go and bring her back here, okay?”

Sheraaj stared at him quietly.

Trayaaksh’s expression suddenly darkened again.

His possessive side surfaced instantly.

He muttered under his breath in irritation,

“She left me and went with her bhaisa…”

Then his eyes narrowed dangerously.

“I will make sure to kick his ass so he would not take her back with him again.”

Despite the irritation in his words, there was hidden affection there too.

Because he knew Dhaaryaksh loved Ambika more than his own life.

But still.

Ambika belonged beside him.

Near him.

With him.

Always.

Suddenly—

The chamber doors burst open loudly.

BANG!

Trayaaksh’s eyes snapped toward the entrance instantly.

His warrior instincts activated within seconds.

Mrityunjay and Veer rushed inside.

Both were breathing heavily.

Panicked.

Sweat covered their foreheads.

Mrityunjay almost stumbled while entering.

“Bhaisa—!” he shouted breathlessly.

Trayaaksh immediately stood up.

The calmness vanished from his face.

A dangerous aura spread around him instantly.

His heartbeat increased.

Mrityunjay tried to breathe properly before speaking.

“Bhaisa…” he said while huffing heavily.

“Bhabhi sa is in danger… she was attacked in the market!”

Everything inside Trayaaksh stopped.

His heartbeat.

His breathing.

His thoughts.

Then suddenly—

Rage exploded inside him.

“What?” The roar that left his mouth shook the entire chamber.

Sheraaj immediately stood up and growled loudly.

Trayaaksh walked toward Mrityunjay in large furious steps.

His eyes were blood red with panic.

Then suddenly he turned toward Veer.

“Prepare the horses.”

His voice was dangerously calm.

“We leave for Kanaksthali immediately.”

Mrityunjay immediately nodded.

But before anyone could move, Trayaaksh spoke again.

And this time… his voice held pure death.

“If Ambika has even a single scratch on her body…”

His jaw tightened violently.

“I will burn every last person involved alive.”

A terrifying silence spread across the chamber.

Nobody doubted him.

Because everyone knew.

Trayaaksh could destroy entire kingdoms for Ambika.

And today?

Today someone had attacked the woman he loved more than his own life.

Which meant only one thing.

Destruction was coming.

Back in Kanaksthali –

The Night Deepens

Dhaaryaksh personally escorted Ambika to her chamber.

His eyes scanned every shadow. Every guard. Every corner.

Nothing escaped his attention.

He stopped outside her door.

“Dwar ke bahar do guna pehra rahega. Koi bhi bhitar aane ki prayas na kare.”(There will be double guards outside. No one should dare to enter.)

Only after ensuring everything did he step outside.

Reluctantly.

Inside the chamber, Ambika lay down on the bed.

Her body was tired.

But her mind was not.

Too many things had happened.

The arrow attack.

The poison attack.

Slowly, exhaustion pulled her into sleep. Silence filled the room. The night was calm.

Too calm.

Then—

The door creaked open. A shadow slipped inside.

Ambika’s instincts stirred. Her eyes slowly opened.

For a split second, she saw nothing.

Then—

A flash of steel.

A sword coming straight toward her.

Her heart stopped.

And her scream tore through the silence—

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!”.....................