Pain exploded through Leena's body, sharp and unrelenting. Her vision blurred, the world around her spinning like a storm-tossed leaf. Every breath burned like fire in her lungs. She tried to move but her limbs refused to obey.
Through the haze, she saw him — Ram Sharan — sprawled unconscious nearby. His clothes were soaked in blood, dark stains spreading like ink across the fabric.
A pair of black boots stepped into her fading sight.
Who is that?
The figure knelt beside her, shrouded in shadows, wearing a mask that hid his face. In his hand gleamed a knife, poised to strike.
Fear tightened her chest.
But then — a voice, frantic, urgent, breaking through the silence.
"Leena! Leena!"
Others were shouting her name from somewhere deep in the forest.
The masked man's head snapped toward the sound, eyes wide beneath the mask. Fear flickered across his stance.
Then a sharp command pierced the air:
"Stay away from her!"
The masked figure hesitated, then fled into the darkness without another word.
Leena's strength finally gave out. Her knees buckled, and darkness swallowed her whole.
She woke to the gentle touch of cool hands.
"Is she breathing?" a calm voice asked.
Another voice — anxious, urgent — shook her lightly.
"Leena! Please wake up! Don't scare me like that!"
She blinked. Faces swam into focus — Bao Wen and Chen Yu standing over her, worry etched deep in their eyes.
Chen Yu shook her again, his usual mischief replaced by frantic worry.
"We've been looking everywhere for you."
Bao Wen lifted her carefully into his arms, shielding her as they hurried back to camp.
At the camp, they laid her gently on a cot in a small, quiet tent.
Three pairs of eyes fixed on her as she stirred awake — Chen Yu's, Bao Wen's, and Maya's.
Disoriented, Leena blinked.
"Where... am I?"
Maya's eyes welled with tears as she gasped, "Madam!"
Leena struggled to sit up, wincing sharply.
"What happened?" she whispered.
Bao Wen exchanged a worried glance with Chen Yu before answering.
"That's the question we'd like to ask you. You disappeared with the prince last night..."
Her heart clenched.
The seventh prince.
Kidnapping. Drugs. Ram Sharan. The prince she'd left behind.
What if he was in danger now because of me?
"Have you found the prince?" she asked, voice trembling.
Chen Yu shook his head, forcing a reassuring smile.
"No, but don't worry. A squad is already searching for His Highness."
Leena tried to push herself up, sharp pain stabbing her side.
"Careful!" Maya cried, reaching out to steady her.
"Why does my body hurt so much?" she gasped.
Bao Wen frowned as he examined her.
"You've broken your wrist, and you have bruises and cuts everywhere. You need to rest."
Leena shook her head stubbornly.
"I'm the only one who knows where the seventh prince is. It's my duty to find him."
She pushed past them all toward the tent's exit.
"Leena, wait! I'm coming with you!" Chen Yu called, rushing after her.
Bao Wen and Maya quickly followed.