Beyond Destiny ~ A Saga Of Timeless Love

08 ~ Bathed In Blood

"When I know you are in pain, it hurts inside of me, too."

Ruhanika

The moment his words left his lips, I froze. "Rooh, why are you crying?" His voice was so gentle, it cut through the haze of panic that had taken over me. Only then did I realize that tears had been silently streaming down my face. I blinked in confusion, my mind reeling. I hadn’t even noticed when the tears began to fall, and now, standing here, I didn’t understand why I was crying.

Looking at him in this state—so vulnerable, so different from his usual self—hurt me. But why? Why did seeing him like this cause such a deep ache in my chest? What was going on inside me? I didn’t have the answers, but I knew I needed to act. I couldn’t just stand there. I couldn’t let my emotions cloud my judgment, not now.

It’s not him, I reasoned with myself. I would react like this if anyone were hurt. I hate seeing people in pain, and that’s all this is. But even as I told myself that, I wasn’t convinced. Why did it feel so much more intense when it was him?

His voice snapped me back to reality. "Leave my hand. I need to call someone. You’re losing blood. It could be dangerous," I said, my voice trembling with urgency. I tried to pull my hand from his grip, determined to find help, but instead of letting go, he tightened his hold on me.

"Why does it matter to you?" he asked, his voice hardening. His words were laced with bitterness. "You should be pleased to learn that I am hurt. So why these tears?"

The sharpness in his tone caught me off guard, and I stared at him in disbelief. Why would I be happy that he’s hurt? His words stung, and anger flared in me. How could he think I would take pleasure in his suffering?

"Why should I be happy?" I demanded, my voice cracking. "Do you think I’m that heartless? I’m not insensitive. I’m a human being with emotions, and your words—they hurt. Why are you doing this to me? Have I ever tried to harm you? Have I hurt anyone here?" My chest heaved with the weight of my words. "You keep hurting me over and over, but I haven’t done anything wrong! I know I don’t belong here, but that doesn’t mean I would ever hurt anyone. I’m not a spy, Prince Dev Pratap Singh."

My emotions, which I had kept bottled up for so long, spilled out all at once. His harshness, the constant suspicion, the way he looked at me like I was the enemy—it was too much. I wasn’t a threat. I wasn’t the person he seemed to think I was. And yet, here I was, desperately trying to help him, despite the pain his words caused me.

In a burst of frustration, I jerked my hand free from his grasp. My skin still tingled from where he had held me, but I couldn’t dwell on that. He needed medical attention, and I wasn’t going to stand around and argue with him any longer. Without another word, I turned and began walking toward the entrance of his chamber, my mind racing with thoughts of how to find help.

But as I reached the door, my heart sank. The soldier who was usually stationed outside the prince’s chamber was nowhere to be found. I glanced around the hallway, my pulse quickening with anxiety. Where is everyone?

Determined, I dashed down the corridor, my footsteps echoing off the stone walls as I searched for someone—anyone—who could assist me. My heart was pounding in my ears, and my breath came in uneven gasps. I couldn’t stop thinking about him, bleeding and in pain, and how every second mattered. I couldn’t fail him now, not when he needed help.

Finally, I saw someone in the distance—the unmistakable figure of Commander Arjun. Relief flooded through me as I sprinted toward him. My thoughts were jumbled, my words coming out in a rush as I reached him.