The journey back home felt like eternity when his heart was twisted in knots. If not for his sister having a hard time sleeping in the carriage without waking up in cold sweats Omkara would have flew back with Ari to see Gauri. With everything that had happen he knew that she would be facing the wrath of her heartless father and the thought that he was not there by her side worried him.

Reaching out to her brother who seemed to be lost in thought as he stared out the carriage window into the dark night Priyanka tapped on his stiff shoulder.

"Brother?"

Turning his gaze away from the dark sky Omkara could see once again that his little sister was awake.

"Nightmare?"

Shaking her head Priyanka was now more concerned for her brother who has been silent ever since he found out that she was not hurt. Even she was surprised because she was so afraid that she had sworn that the warm blood trickling down her neck at that time was hers.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Priyanka softly whispered as to not disturb Rudra who was being tended by Bhavya.

"What is there to talk about?"

"Her."

She could see her brother's dark eyes twitch as his turned his head towards the window.

"There is nothing to say."

Priyanka didn't know if she should press on because she had too many questions to ask her brother about the woman who brought back all of her past memories. Remembering the feeling of the cold dagger against her neck Priyanka's hands started to tremble and sweat was starting to drip from her forehead. Trying to quickly grab her handkerchief so that her brother wouldn't worry about her but her sudden movements made him turn around.

"What's wrong?"

"No..nothing."

His voice became more cold as he asked again. "Tell me."

With tear filled eyes Priyanka couldn't hold it in any longer.

"I keep seeing them....fall....and...I...can't forget...it all came back....and all because of that woman!"

Patting her head like when she was young Omkara could hear the hatred she held for Gauri and his heart sank even deeper realizing that his sister could not see the big picture.

"Do not blame her for what she did for her people."

Her eyes widen in shock because this was the first time her brother sided with someone else beside her.

Her voice shook as she glared at him. "Om!...Don't tell me...you like her?! You can't! Her people?! The people who surrounded us and wanted to kill us?!"

Her loud voice woke Rudra up who grunted in pain every time he tried to move.

Bhavya: Lay back down. Take this so that you can sleep better.

Pushing the pill into Rudra's mouth Bhavya shifted her angry gaze at the siblings who were blaming her princess. She had tried to ignore their whispers but the more she listened the angrier she had gotten.

Heaving a long sigh as he was filled with too many emotions Omkara just silently looked at his sister.

Priyanka: You...are not denying it?

Omkara: Priyanka....

Priyanka clenched her fists and gritted her teeth "Did you not see what she did?! She used me to get to you! Do not let beauty blind you brother!"

"Priyanka!"

His angry low tone caused her to cower down and eyes quickly stared at her feet.

"Do not question my eyes Priyanka! Do not confuse where you should direct your anger towards! You know full well who is responsible for our parent's death."

"Sorry brother...but..."

Omkara's eyes soften as he hears his sister's scared shaking voice and once again reached out to pat the top of her head.

"Priyanka...sleep. Too many things has happened and I am tired. I will answer your questions when we are home."

When Priyanka lifted up her head she caught the eyes of Bhavya who clearly held tremendous anger.

"What are you looking at?" Priyanka chided. "You dare look at me that way?!"

Omkara who looks over at Gauri's maid who had been sitting there tending to Rudra for hours now clenching her fists.

Priyanka: Answer me!

It was clear that Priyanka was still angry that her brother seem to chose the Princess of Ashen over her and now to see her maid look at her in such a way only fuel the fire burning in her heart.

"What do you expect when all you do is speak ill of my Princess?"

Just then Bhavya saw the tip of Omkara's shiny dagger at her throat.

"Know your place. Next time I will send your body back to Ashen. You are here to treat him but that doesn't mean you are not expendable."

Bhavya quickly shrank back into the corner no longer daring to look at Omkara whose cold tone terrified her.

"Sorry Your Majesties."

Feeling wronged Bhavya noticed Rudra looking up at her.

"You should stay quiet if you want to live." Rudra groaned.

Glaring back at the large man laying before her Bhavya poked his injuries.

Rudra flinched at the sudden pain.

Bhavya pretend to tend to him while leaning down to whisper: If not for you I would be by my Princess's side and you lay there trying to scold me?

She could hear his small chuckles teasing her.

"Are you laughing at me?!"

Bhavya didn't know that she had spoke too loudly till she heard the scary voice again.

Omkara: Is something wrong with the General? Rudra?

Rudra could see the fear in Bhavya's eyes as she quickly shifted back like a small bunny.

"No my King. I feel much better."

"Good."

When she saw Omkara lean back and close his eyes Bhavya scooted closer to Rudra who was slightly grinning at her.

"I told you it's best to remain quiet if you want to live."

This time Bhavya did not dare to let her anger get the best of her and remained silent the rest of the way. Meanwhile following behind their carriage was two people still wide awake.

Daksh: Father?! What are we going to do now? He is more powerful than ever!

Tej who was so livid to see Ari following right beside Omkara's carriage pounded his fist onto the floor.

"Damn him!"

"Father...he's cured now! On top of that he has that Black Lion by his side! Killing him is even harder now!"

Gritting his teeth Tej needed to get in contact with Svetlana fast. Things were just not going as plan on his end.

Suddenly he saw Daksh grab his chest.

"Daksh!"

"Ah!!! Father I need the cure! It's so painful! I'm dying!"

Staring at the back of the carriage in front of him Tej assured his son.

"Don't worry...the Princess of Ashen sent her maid who seem to know a lot about medicine. I will get her to cure you son!"

Trying to bear through the pain Daksh saw a glimmer of hope but he also knew Omkara well.

"You think he would let her treat me?"

Hooking up his lips as he lifted his son upright.

"If he doesn't I will just take her by force! He can't keep an eye on her forever!"

**********************************

Dandi was rushing back from Ashen to report back to Omkara.

"Damn...they are so far ahead."

Thinking back when they were ready to head back to Mordis Omkara had given him an order to go back to Ashen.

Kicking his feet harder so that his black stallion was now running at full speed Dandi could not believe what he had witness.

"From this day forward you are no longer a Princess of Ashen."

When he finally saw the Mordis flag Dandi quickly darted towards Omkara's carriage.

Out of breath Dandi rode up to Omkara's window.

"Your Majesty."

With his eyes still closed Omkara can sense that something big had happened.

"Say it."

Leaning in to whisper what had happened Omkara's lips curved up into a sinister smile.

"No longer a Princess of Ashen huh?"

Seeing Dandi hesitant and shifty Omkara knew that was not all.

"There is something else your Majesty.....that was not her only punishment."

When he heard what had happen a sudden chill filled the carriage as everyone saw him leap onto Ari and disappearing into the night sky.

************

With blood dripping from the lashings and no maids to help her Gauri struggled to return to her courtyard.

**Hope you guys enjoyed the update. Do vote and leave any feedback 😊. Hopefully I can update a couple of more times before Thanksgiving.**