EMOTIONAL TOO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK, I am writing this chapter from more than 10 days please show some love in comments if you like it please.

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vedanti pov:)

The moon hung heavy in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the royal chambers. The palace was quiet, save for the soft murmurs of the night breeze through the silk curtains. My bunnies, Raj and Abhi, had been babbling all evening, their laughter filling the room with a warmth I so desperately needed. But right now, exhaustion clung to me like a second skin.

"Raj, Abhi, come to bed," I called, but of course, they didn't listen. Instead, they darted off through the hidden tunnel that connected my chamber to their father's. This tunnel had become their favorite escape, a path to Abhirath's chamber whenever they wanted him.

I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind was restless, full of unanswered questions that gnawed at me. Why did Dev betray us? Was it love for Trupti that had driven him mad? And what about Chavi, their innocent baby girl? She would grow up without her parents now. Abhirath and I would care for her, but still—how could she ever understand? What would become of her without them?

The weight of it all was too much to bear lying down. I sat up, pushing off the bed with a sigh. Maybe I should check on Chavi, I thought. She was always brave, insisting on sleeping in her own chamber despite everything. But her father and grandfather had spoiled her beyond measure, and now with Abhirath back, I could only imagine how much worse it would get.

As I reached Chavi's chamber, what I heard made my blood boil. Trupti's mother, that vile woman, was whispering venom into the ears of my innocent niece.

"Princess," she hissed, "you know that ugly big man, the king? He's the one who gave the punishment of death to your parents. That means you'll never see them again. And soon, they'll send me away too. Then you'll be all alone."

I couldn't see Chavi's face, but I knew those words were sinking into her little heart like poison. My vision blurred with rage. Without a second thought, I stormed into the room and slapped Trupti's mother hard across the face, the sound echoing through the chamber like a crack of thunder.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I snarled, my voice dangerously low. "What do you both want from me? Why can't you just let me live in peace?"

I grabbed her by the jaw, forcing her to meet my eyes. "What need do you have to fill this child's head with such rubbish? Soldiers!" I shouted, and within seconds, they were at my side. "Throw her out of the palace. Make sure she never steps foot in this kingdom again. But before you do, cut her tongue. I want to ensure she never speaks such filth again."

The soldiers didn't hesitate. They seized her, dragging her out as she squirmed and screamed. But I had no sympathy left for her.

As I held Chavi in my arms, her small body trembling with sobs, a mix of fury and sadness churned inside me. I couldn't believe the audacity of Trupti's mother—spilling such venomous words to a child. I pressed my lips to the top of Chavi's head, rocking her gently as I whispered soothing words.

"Shh, meri jaan, your Badi Maa is here now. Nothing will happen to you. Trust me, baby." My voice was soft, but my resolve was as hard as steel. I would not let anyone destroy her innocence with lies and fear.

Her big, tear-filled eyes blinked up at me, her tiny hands gripping my sleeve. "Badi Maa... Mama Papa...?"

I forced a smile, even though the truth tasted bitter on my tongue. "They... they made some wrong choices, but you're safe with us, Chavi. Always."

As I walked toward my chamber, carrying Chavi in my arms, I couldn't help but feel the weight of everything crushing down on me. This was no ordinary night. The palace was still in turmoil after Abhirath's dark proclamation, and now this—the venom Trupti's mother spewed at an innocent child. My heart ached for Chavi, but my anger at what had been said to her ignited a fire in me that wouldn't be easily extinguished.

When I reached my chamber, I laid Chavi on the bed beside my twins. Raj and Abhi, who had been playing earlier, now looked up at us with wide, curious eyes. I could see their concern for their sister as they crawled over and nestled beside her, one on each side.

Watching them together, I felt an overwhelming surge of love. These children—my bunnies and Chavi—they were my world. I would protect them with every fiber of my being.

I gently kissed Chavi's forehead, brushing her hair back. "You stay here with Raj and Abhi, okay? Badi Maa has to talk to your Bade papa." 

(Your parents elder sibling from dad side you address them as badi maa and bade papa)

She nodded slowly, wiping her tears with the back of her hand, and I forced another smile before stepping out of the chamber, my heart still pounding.

I needed to see Abhirath.

The palace corridors were eerily silent, the heavy air hanging with the remnants of tonight's revelations. My bare feet made no sound as I hurried toward his chamber. The closer I got, the darker my thoughts became. Dev had betrayed us. Trupti had plotted against me, against our children. It was a betrayal so deep it cut at the very foundation of our family.

And now, this woman—Trupti's mother—dared to poison Chavi's mind with lies and fear?

When I reached Abhirath's chamber, I found him sitting by the window, his profile bathed in moonlight. His posture was rigid, his expression unreadable, but I could feel the storm brewing in him too.

"Ranasa," I called, stepping inside. He turned his head slightly, acknowledging my presence, but there was no warmth in his gaze tonight. Only a cold, controlled fury.

"What happened?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself before speaking. "I found Trupti's mother in Chavi's chamber. She was telling Chavi that you... that you killed her parents. And that we're going to send her away too."

Abhirath's expression darkened instantly, his jaw tightening as his hands curled into fists. "That woman..." His voice was a quiet, lethal growl.

"I already took care of her," I said, stepping closer. "I had her thrown out of the kingdom... and I ordered them to cut her tongue so she can never spread her poison again."

He looked at me then, his eyes flickering with something dark, something primal. A slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but it was not one of amusement. It was the smile of a man who thrived in power, in control—especially when it came to me.

"You did well, Ranisa," he said, his voice low and dangerous, that familiar edge of possessiveness creeping into his tone.

I stiffened at the word. He was testing me, I knew it. I had called him Ranasa earlier, distancing myself from him in a way that he didn't like. And now he was returning the favor. But I wasn't going to let him have that satisfaction.

"I did what was necessary, Ranasa," I corrected, emphasizing his name with a soft but firm voice.

He stood then, slowly approaching me. The moonlight bathed him in silver, casting shadows across his sharp features. His presence filled the room, commanding every inch of space between us. As he neared, I could feel the heat of his body, the dark energy rolling off him in waves.

His hand lifted, fingers grazing my cheek, trailing down my neck until they rested at the base of my throat. His touch was possessive, claiming, as if to remind me that no matter what happened, I was his.

"You're not just a queen, Vedanti," he murmured, his breath warm against my skin. "You're my queen. And I will destroy anyone who dares to harm you... or our children."

His words sent a shiver down my spine, not of fear, but of something far more dangerous. This was the man I had married—the one who thrived in the shadows, the one who held the power to crush kingdoms... and who would lay it all at my feet if I asked.

But tonight, I didn't need his power. I needed his truth.

"Why didn't you tell me about Dev and Trupti's plans?" I asked, my voice steady, but my heart racing.

His eyes darkened, a flicker of guilt crossing his face for the briefest of moments before it disappeared. "Because I didn't want you to live in fear," he said, his voice calm but laced with intensity. "I wanted you to enjoy your time with the bunnies. To feel safe. And I made sure you were safe."

I shook my head, stepping back, breaking the connection between us. "That's not enough, Rarnasa. You should have told me. I deserve to know when my life is in danger."

He reached for me, his grip firm as he pulled me back to him. His eyes bore into mine, dark and dangerous. "I protect what's mine, Vedanti. And you, more than anyone, should know that."

I stared at him, my pulse racing. There was so much unsaid between us, so much tension coiled in the air. But beneath it all, I could feel the weight of his love, twisted and dark as it was. He may have kept things from me, but there was no doubt that he worshiped the ground I walked on. He had proved that tonight in more ways than one.

And in that moment, I realized something—Abhirath wasn't just my king. He was my protector, my lover, my destroyer. He was everything.

But tonight, I wasn't going to let him have the last word.

"I am your queen," I whispered, stepping closer, "but don't forget, Ranasa, I am also your equal."

He leaned down, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered, "you are not my equal you are above me, and will always beee."

 The night air was heavy, filled with unspoken words and unresolved pain. I stood there, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on my chest, the tension between us thick like a storm waiting to break. Abhirath—my Abhirath—knelt on the floor before me, a man who once held the entire world in his hands, now broken at my feet. His voice, low and strained, cut through the silence.

"I was a fool," he whispered, his words trembling with regret. "I was the hero,  who sacrificed my love for the kingdom, for everything , but now..." He paused, his head hanging low as tears began to streak his face. "Now I want to be the villain, Vedanti. The one who doesn't care about the world, the morals, or anything—when it comes to you. I want to be the man who can fight with the world for you."

He clenched his fists, his knuckles white as the memory of that night on the palace terrace tore through him. His voice cracked, and with it, my heart. "I never said sorry because I couldn't forgive myself. You... you could have died. Our baby could have died. And it was my fault."

His tears fell freely now, staining the ground as he bowed his head in shame. For a moment, time stopped. This powerful, unbreakable king, kneeling at my feet, crumbling under the weight of his love and guilt.

I sank down to my knees beside him, my fingers gently wiping away his tears, my touch soft against his skin. I could feel the pain radiating off him, and it mirrored my own. "I won't say the past is the past," I whispered, my voice soft but steady. "Because I still wake up in cold sweats, terrified from that night. I still see myself falling from that terrace, wondering if I'd ever see you again."

I paused, gathering my thoughts, my breath shaky. "But what's done is done. We've both learned hard lessons. I've learned that I can't trust anyone—not with myself, not with our children. And no offense, Abhirath, but what you did today... protecting me like you did... I'm grateful. Truly. But I can't forget what happened."

A tear slipped down my cheek as I looked into his eyes—those eyes that held so much power, so much love, yet were clouded with regret. "But I don't hold a grudge against you. How can I?" I gave a sad smile, my thumb brushing against his jaw. "I was the one who insisted we go to Omkara's kingdom that day. You warned me. You said we could wait until after the baby's birth, but I didn't listen."

I felt the sting of my own guilt, the ache of shared mistakes. "It wasn't just your fault. It was ours."

A single tear escaped, and this time, I didn't wipe it away. It was as much a part of this moment as the air we breathed. The silence between us grew thick with tension, the kind that spoke of unsaid things, of desires unmet and wounds unhealed. He didn't move, didn't say a word—just stared at me with those dark, tormented eyes, a storm of emotions swirling inside them. It was as if he was waiting for me to say something that could fix it all, something that could make it right.

But I couldn't.

"We tried, Ranasa," I said softly, deliberately choosing the title of king over his name. The sting of it hit him, I could see it in the way his jaw tightened, but he remained silent. "We tried to be husband and wife, but we failed. Not because we didn't love each other, but because we couldn't find our way through all this... this pain. The betrayal, the loss, the constant danger. We're too far gone for that fairytale ending."

I searched his face for a reaction, but he was still. His silence, his restraint, felt like a wall between us—so thick, so high, that no matter how close we were, we couldn't reach each other. I could feel the torment in him, the longing to fix what was broken, to pull me back into his arms and never let go. But I also saw the resignation—the understanding that maybe we were too shattered to be put back together.

"So maybe it's better this way," I continued, my voice trembling slightly. "Maybe we stop trying to be something we're not. You... you be the king, and I'll be the queen. And together, we'll raise our children to be better than us."

His eyes flickered, something in them breaking—anguish, rage, desperation, I couldn't tell. But he didn't say a word. He just stared at me, like he was drowning in the storm I could see in his eyes.

I turned my face away, unable to bear the intensity of his gaze any longer. My heart ached, not because I didn't want him, but because I did. So badly. But living in hope, in this constant cycle of trying and failing, wasn't the solution. We needed to move forward, not cling to what might have been.

As I sat there in the silence, my emotions warring inside me, I whispered, "Living in hope isn't enough, Ranasa."

Still, he said nothing. His silence was deafening, and in it, I could hear the unspoken truth. We were both prisoners of our past, trapped in a love that was as dangerous as it was undeniable. And for now, that was enough.

But I could feel it—that wall between us. And I wasn't sure if we'd ever be able to tear it down.

Or do I want to tear it down one the first place??

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