Sona kept messaging Dev about her whereabouts as she drove to Grand Palace with Rolli. She  took a deep breath feeling relived finally being able to be free.  Her heart clenched recalling Vikram,she too had been rude with him for so long . She had loved him for years but she couldn't stand the wrong his family did with her brother.

All she wished was a happy life for Vikram. She recalled their first fight, she had said that he would one day break her instead here she was, on her way to breaking her heart. Huffing she turned her eyes to Rolli,and she was filled with guilt. Whatever happened, Rolli wasn't at fault, the pain of heart break was written all over face.

''I am sorry about what Anna....''  Sona's flow of words ended abruptly when Rolli lifted her palm to silence her. 

''He is a past and will stay there. But if he ever tried to cross my present, I will forget he is related to you.'' Sona could feel the fire Rolli ha in her. She decided to end the discussion , she would out by evening and she no more had to worry about Rathores harming her or her family.

***

Dev checked the message from his aid, Netra had made sure he wasn't alone in the enemy territory. He dialed him, ''Listen, stay close and when I signal we all leave. For now, I don't want violence.'' He ended the call after giving few more instructions.

Moving to the window he looked around when his eyes landed on two female figures. He was at height and that made impossible for him to recognize by face but hammering of his heart told him it was Rolli. How he wished they were just normal people who had met under normal circumstances. How he wished for one chance to be with her again. He knew better, it wasn't easy and there was no possibility of the same in the future. They were arch enemies and nothing would change that.

Dev walked backwards , stopping when he reached the opposite wall. Leaning against it, he shut his eyes to calm his heart. There was no time for emotions, he had to rescue his sister and come back to avenge his father. Moving to the dresser, he started putting his disguise again. He couldn't take chances till Sona was free of Rathores.

Dev made his way down to the restaurant as per the plan, he had messaged the same to Sona and had asked her to stay close. Moving to a table he ordered a black coffee, pulling the newspaper on his face as he noticed Sona walking in , his eyes moved to the door to find Rolli but she wasn't around. 'You have moved on too quick Princess! Not good'

''Sona, what are you doing here?'' A female voice took his attention, he peeped over the newspaper folding it at a corner a bit. He blinked at the middle age woman dressed in a silk saree and pearl jewelry .  She had an angelic appearance, he could make out that she would have been one most beautiful in her bloom.

''Mom...I just came to see Vikram.'' Sona stammered and Dev realized the woman he was looking at was his aunt, the infamous Suryagarh Princess who got her father and brother butchered by her husband's family. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the lifeless paper hard. He explained his heart that he wasn't here for the fight, he was here for his sister who now looked too nervous. Dev didn't miss her shaking arms, he was beyond angry. He was sure that his baby sister was being treated cruelly. He made another note to teach them a lesson about the same.

Sona would time and again steal glances at him and he blinked once assuring her. She calmed immediately. 

''What are you doing here mom?'' Sona's voice broke his thoughts

''Few of NGO girls have joined the room service department, I am here to check if they are settled.'' After few exchange of words Dipika walked away patting Sona's cheek. Sona took a breather . Walking to the table just behind Dev, she slipped into the chair with her back to him.

''You fine sweet heart?'' He whispered

''Now I am.'' She replied making him smile. Out of all, Sona and Sagar were two relationships which warmed his heart. He loved them more than anyone and anything in this world.

''When do we leave Anna?''

''In sometime. Have a last word with your husband, follow me after that. Now, we should stop conversing as Vikram is walking to your table.'' To avoid any kind of suspicion he folded and kept the newspaper on the table , walking past Vikram he gave Sona one nod before moving out of the restaurant.

Dev walked past the lobby towards the reception, his motive was to spend time in the lawn area and then let Sona know when they were ready. His feet halted when he heard the crackling laughter of Rolli. Unknowingly his feet took him towards her, his heart started hammering again as his eyes fell on her. She was seated in the reception area, with a guy he had seen once in London. He said something and she laughed leaning on to him. She looked happy, and that calmed and angered him at the same time. He was happy that she was moving away from pain but mad that the one making her smile wasn't him. He had the urge to throw her over his shoulder and run to mountains. The time between Rathores was turning torturous for him. He decided to leave before the scheduled time.

Calling his aids, he informed them about the change and  then messaged Sona. The sooner he leaves, the better it would be but destiny had other plans. before he could step out, he came face to face with the King Rathore, Ranvijay Rathore. The man he had been bought up to hate all his childhood. The stories of his father and grandfather's plight and struggle to live echoed his ears. the life he and his mother lived in exile like no one started fueling the fire of revenge. 

'You will never get this close, its today or never.'   Screamed his mind. he quickly messaged Sona to change and meet him in garden area. The plan was simple, he would enact kidnapping Vikram Rathore wife and in turn free Sona.

***

''This can't be!'' Ananya crashed on her chair as the contents of paper started sinking in. She lifted the intercom, ''Where is Sonakshi.''

''She had gone out with Princess.'' Ananya disconnected and called Dipika, ''Where are you?''

''grand palace! Why?''

''Sonakashi is Netra's step daughter. She is in Grand Palace and her son has already stepped in Jaigrah, something is going to happen. Dipika, get everyone home before its late. Dipika froze, her heart started beating mad. Disconnecting she ran back in, as she approached the main lobby, there was a gun shot, screams and then came another gun shot. Her throat went dry she doubled her speed.

Dipika lost her balance when she reached , Rolli loomed over lifeless Ranvijay sobbing hard. She turned and found Vikram chasing someone and knew it was Sona. She hoped Vikram did what he was expected to do.

Sona ran towards the exit pretending to be scared but got blocked by Amba, ''Not so soon.''  Before she could understand Amba groaned in pain falling on to her knees, she was being shot from behind. Dev gestured Sona to run, they didn't had much time, his aids have been tackling the confused guards and commotion was an advantage. Sona apologized to Amba before stepping forward. 

Vikram lost all his cool the moment her saw his uncle falling on the ground, he ran tearing the scared people and staff. His eyes then fell on a man calling out to Sona, the same man who dared to shoot Ranvijay, the man Vikram worshiped. He smirked, as tears covered his eyes he waited till Sona was inch apart and then shot her leg. Gone was the man who was known for his gentleness and chivalry. The love he held for Sona was buried deep to be forgotten as his darkness started to surface.  Sona fell on her face withering in pain. Dev took a step, but Vikram kept shooting walking forward not giving him time to get her. Dev's aid dragged him away,  he watched in horror as Vikram threw a very lifeless Sona  over his shoulder harshly walking away.  Vikram knew Dev will return for his sister, and till he didn't he would live in pain.

***

Ananya didn't know why she felt so restless, she had tried reaching everyone but none answered. She longed to be with Ranvijay, she had made up her mind to lock him down till everything was sound and peaceful.

She kept pacing main study and then froze. She heard commotion, she was scared to step out. She wanted to but her legs refused. Ananya took a deep breath stepping out of the study as she took long steps to her suite. With each step, her legs turned heavy. Her heart dropped when she found whole family in the main hall of her suite, ''What's wrong?''

No one answered, she ignored stepping in and sight made her dissolve on the floor. Ranvijay lay with an oxygen mask as doctors worked on him. Rolli tried comforting her mother but Ananya stopped her with the lift of her palm. ''Your highness, we will let you know once we are done taking care of his wound.'' The doctor requested her to step out.

She turned her eyes to him sharply making him step back, ''You will do all in my presence.'' The doctor went back to his work as she dragged herself to the chair, her eyes unblinkingly watching Ranvijay, her life.

A storm of memories hit her hard, he taught her to be limitless. His arrogance, anger , possessiveness, she loved all. He wasn't just her husband, he was the love of her life. Her best friend and soul mate. Her finger nails scratched the wood of the armrest of the chair as anger started seeping in.

''How is he?''

''The bullet has punctured the lung. We have stopped the bleeding but can't comment on the recovery.'' The doctor replied scared. She dismissed him with the flick of her finger moving to the man she loved. Ananya sat next to him, watching his face for long. 

''Ranvijay Rathore, you forced me to marry and love you . You promised me the world and I haven't have the half of it. You can't leave...not now.'' tears streamed down her face as her voice choked. Dipika covered her mouth to prevent the sound from leaving it, Veer stood lifeless in a corner shocked at the turn of events. 

Vansh sat defeated holding his head in hands, by now they all knew what relationship Sona had with Dev and who Dev was. Rolli cursed herself for loving the enemy. Vikram stepped forward to calm his A but his feet froze hearing what she uttered next. Ranvijay's parents were inconsolable, they suddenly looked weak and old 

Ananya caressed Ranvijay's thick hair, ''Do they think they won? Do they have any idea what they touched? I have killed once for you and I will gladly do it again. The only difference , that this would be a massacre, you want to stop me , then do it in flesh Ranvijay Rathore.'' She challenged him , leaning further she kissed him deep on the lips. She sat with him for a minute before moving out, she didn't glance or spoke a single word but moved out in jet speed, others followed a little confused leaving just Ranvijay's mother by his side.

Anaya waited for the family to gather in the main hall, the silence was killing. She turned and kept her eyes on the door, through which all prominent guards walked in and last was Hansa. 

''Do you have the list Hansa.'' Hansa nodded , too pained to utter a word. 

''What list mom?'' Vansh asked

''I had asked Hansa to get me the list of all possible blood relations of Netra and Suryagarh. '' She turned silent, ''If she thinks she has broken me, she is wrong.'' Ananya stood facing the guards , ''He trusted you all of you more than himself. You have been the family like any of us.'' She swallowed recalling her lifeless husband, ''I want all the kids of Netra's extended family in your custody in 24 hrs. Now, I will will provoke her to walk in my den. She touched my present, I will ruin her future to dust.''

Hemant decided to lead , he was beyond inconsolable. It was just that he couldn't express his pain but the same pain was going to fuel the revenge.

Once the guards left , Ananya turned her focus on to Vikram, ''You had been doing your own investigation about Netra's current support in Suryagarh!'' Vikram nodded, She took a step, ''Burn down everything.'' Vikram looked up, locking his eyes with Ananya . She looked and sounded different. His eyes flickered to his mother in confusion. Dipika gave a nod, ''Follow your Queen's order Prince. Burn them all.'' Vikram nodded and stepped out . As family dispersed, Ananya went back to Ranvijay and Dipika took long steps to Vikram's room. With a single knock she stepped in, ''How is she.''

''All good. It was a flesh wound. She will be fine.''

''Chitra!'' Dipika called out and Chitra who had been attending Sona stepped in, ''Let me know when she is up and make sure she never leaves the room.'' Chitra gave a firm nod as she glared at sleeping Sona with hatred. 

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Before you kill me, Ranvijay is not dying. I can't kill him or you guys with kill me or hire a killer to do the job ;) . For me, royal love means Ranvijay-Ananya. A lot more to come

Unedited- will do later

I have wanted to thank my dear @Cassy aka Anupriya for the lovely cover.