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So boys...What have I missed?

Adbay's POV

When dawn came and Amita showed no signs of waking up, I decided to push ahead with our plans to travel to Svadhisthana. We had been up most of the night going over the procedures and precautions of the trip and what everyone's role would be if danger were to happen. Sai and his men would hold off any attack while Sadmir, an unconscious Amita and I, along with a small portion of Sai's men, would escape continuing our journey to Svadhisthana, where Hakeem would be waiting for our arrival.

When everyone was sure of our plans and everything we may have needed were packed up, it left just a few precious hours of rest. Sadmir and I chose to sleep beside Amita while Sai decided to rest on the couch in the family room. It seemed like he could hardly stomach looking at her. It made me furious to a point just short of assault. The only thing keeping me at bay was the fact that I knew he would never truly harm her. It gave me enough peace and relief to walk away.

Hours later, with the city no longer in sight, I began to relax in the carriage I shared with Amita, Sadmir and Sai. No one had spoken a word since we left. Sadmir sat at my left and Sai across from us, with Amita lying in the middle. He had hardly looked at her, but when he did, it was not a look I would expect a mate to give another. He looked disappointed, and it drove me crazy. How could he look at her and feel disappointed? It was starting to concern me, but not enough to voice my worries. I turned my head to look out the window, and when I had my fill of looking at the trees, I sighed…already bored. Movement in front of me had my attention back into the carriage.

Sai was looking at Amita again. His brow was bunched together, and his lips pursed tight like he was fighting to say something. He let out a huff before rolling his eyes and shaking his head. I felt my body heat rise instantly, and my hands started shaking. I pressed my lips together to fight any words, but I lost the battle.

"What is your problem?" I hissed.

The words left my mouth without permission, and shock coursed through my system for a moment. I forced it down, deciding to go ahead and get this little chat out of the way while my sweet Amita rested or before I completely blew up at him. He stared at me, the cabin completely silent aside from the movement of the carriage being pulled. I could feel Sadmir eyes bouncing from me to Sai, neither of us breaking the stare to acknowledge him.

"Problem?" He answered.

"Yes, what is your problem?" I sighed, releasing some of the tension from my body.

He shook his head and chuckled lightly.

"I don't have a problem."

"I beg to differ." I sneered. "You see I have been watching you. From the moment you arrived to this very moment, and you have looked at Amita only a hand full of times but with a look I don't very much like. So I ask again, what..is… your problem?"

His face dropped, eyes flashing. He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees.

"She is weak." He grunted.

I ball my fists tightly, trying to control my anger. How dare he disrespect my mate?… Our mate. I leaned forward as well, not liking how he looked at me.

"You don't even know her." I responded.

"I know and have seen enough. I expected more. Amita is not prepared for the war that lies ahead."

"She is more than you can ever dream of. She is strong and determined!"

He leaned back into his seat, shaking his head, and crossed his arms, clearly done with our little talk. I stared him down still with a shake of my own head.

"You don't deserve her," I said, leaning back into my seat. I glanced at Sadmir, but his eyes were on Amita. I looked at her too. Her face was scrunched up, clearly not liking whatever was going on in her mind.

"Sanjay." She groaned before falling silent and her face relaxing once more.

Two weeks later

We should reach Svadhisthana in just a few short hours. The journey here has been long and uneventful, and I am grateful. Amita still has not awakened, she hasn't taken in food or water, but she is alive. She moves, moans and groans, and says our names repeatedly but has not once opened her eyes. My worry grows with each passing day that she stays asleep. If she does not wake up, all hope is lost, and there will be no defeating Vipin.

I wonder if she speaks to Sanjay. She says his name often enough. Is she tormented by nightmares, or is she traveling mindlessly? Questions mount inside my mind with no hope for an answer.

"Will she ever wake up again?" Sadmir asks.

I know he is just as worried as I am. He wears his heart on his sleeve. It's written all over his face day in and day out. I hide my emotions because showing him my fear and worry will not help either of us.

"Yes, when she is ready." I reply.

I know she will wake up. She has to.

"She is not dead and physically she is unharmed. Her mind however, seems to be in turmoil." Sai interjects.

I don't even give him the satisfaction of looking at him. He expected more from Amita, and I expected more from him. I guess we are both disappointed. We have been on the road together for two weeks, hours from reaching our destination, and I have hardly spoken more than a few sentences to him at a time. I don't even want to look at his face. I talk to him when I have to when I need to, and nothing more. Sadmir has tried to bridge the gap, but neither of us will budge.

I am uncertain about him, and if Hadeem is anything like Sai, we may have a problem on our hands. Amita needs her mates to be strong and united when she wakes up. She already has to fight one great evil; I don't want to burden her with in-house fighting. I would make peace with Sai, but I am a stubborn man, and he insulted my mate, never apologizing for his harsh words. My job is to protect Amita in every way possible, and if I have to protect her from them, then so be it.

I close my eyes for what feels like mere moments before I feel a tap on my shoulder.

"Adbay, we are here. We have made it Svadhisthana." Sadmir whispers.

I must have fallen asleep. I look around the carriage, Amita is still asleep, and Sadmir is now looking out the window, but Sai's eyes are on me. I roll mine and look out the window as well. The sun has just fallen behind the horizon, and the temperature has dropped since I have been asleep.

Svadhisthana is guarded by a large wall that wraps around the whole city. Guard towers are placed 20 or more feet apart, and torches are lit all around. We approach a gate, and seconds later, they open, and we ride through. We leave the gate behind and travel a dirt road for about a mile to a marketplace. People are still moving about, but it seems to be a joyful night. Music is playing, and the air is filled with smoke from tobacco pipes, but the most potent smell in the air is of food. My stomach growls on queue, reminding me that it has been a while since the last time I've eaten. My appetite has been nonexistent the whole trip, but I force food down, knowing I need it to stay strong.

Several shops are closed for the night, but a few are still open for business. People are crowded mainly by taverns, inns, or even in the street, making the trek last longer. We come to a roundabout with a fountain in the middle spewing water. Svadhisthana is beautiful and full of life, unlike Anahata or Manipura, where Vipers roam the city. This is how our people were meant to live. Hope fills my chest, and I glance down at Amita. I can't wait for her to see this. It will light a fire in her as it does me. I know it. Now more than ever, I want to defeat Vipin and win our kingdom back. We leave the marketplace and enter a village with homes sitting close to one another. Doors are open, and people talking in or around the houses. Everyone seems so carefree, and it's addicting.

I watch and watch as we pass by. A smile sits on my face. I am completely in love with the atmosphere. We reach the village's end, giving way to grassland and farms. A castle with another bricked-up wall with a gate is up ahead. Smaller buildings can be seen within the wall and a vast stable. We reach the gate, and again it opens, and we pass through. Night has fully descended, making it harder for me to see what is around us. Torches light the way, but they can only do so much. The carriage stops at the stable, and Sai sighs.

"Home sweet home." He says with a smirk on his face.

He gathers his things and exits the carriage. Sadmir scoots the edge, ready to get out, but I stop him with my arm across his chest.

"We protect Amita at all costs. Without her all is lost." I remind him.

"I know Adbay, I know. I will not fail her…or you." He replies.

I pull back my arm, and he exits the carriage with me at his back. I decide to leave Amita inside until we figure out what is going on. I look around and spot Sai greeting another man. They grip each other's forearms and share a few words. I make my way over to him with Sadmir by my side. We reach them, and they both turn at our presence. Without being introduced, I know that the other man is Hadeem.

He is the second tallest of us, me being the tallest. His hair is a dark brown or black that is braided down his back. Bushy eyebrows sit on top of honey brown eyes. He scans first me, then Sadmir, as I size him up.

"Adbay, Sadmir this is Hadeem. Hadeem this is Adbay and Sadmir." He explains.

He gestures to me and then Sadmir while making our introductions. He does not grab hold of my forearm but instead nods to both of us.

"I hear your journey was easy with no problems. That is good." He began.

"Yes, it was a relief," I confessed. "I hear you have already freed two city-states. That is quite impressive."

"Yes, well it was not easy. I would be happy to tell you all about it but I am sure you are tired from your travel. I can show you to your rooms while Sai places the princess in hers."

"No." I grunted. "Where the princess goes I go."

"Same." Sadmir agrees.

Sai and Hadeem share a look before Hadeem gives a short nod. I turn around and walk back to the carriage. I grab Amita and carry her toward the castle. She doesn't make a sound. I reach Hadeem at the top of the steps, his eyes on Amita. He steps closers and lefts his hand to run his knuckles down her cheeks. She leans into his hand, and he opens it, cradling her face in his palm.

"Amita." He whispers before he clears his throat drops his hand, and leads us into the castle. The entrance to the castle is wide. Two enormous rooms on either side and a grand staircase in the middle with hallways beside it leading to the back. He takes us up the stairs and four floors before making a left and taking us down another hallway.

"You each have your own room but I suspect you both will want to stay with the princess yes?"

"That is correct."

He nods and continues down the hallway stopping in the middle. He opens the door on the right and motions for us to walk in. Sadmir enters first, with me behind him. The room is truly fit for a princess. The bed is large enough to hold Sadmir and me with Amita, plus two others, sit in the middle of the back of the room. A carpet lies beneath, and a small lounge couch is at the foot. Bedside tables on either end. A fire is burning to the right, and a wardrobe sits a few feet next to it. On the left is a door that I am sure led to a bathroom. Huge windows with puffy pink curtains are behind the bed.

I lay Amita down in the center. I'll change her into something more comfortable once we have more privacy.

"I will have food brought up for you. I am sure you are tired so please take the rest of the night to relax and I will see you for breakfast in the morning. Someone will be here to escort you down at eight." Hadeem informs us.

"We need an escort?" I ask. Raising my eyebrow in a challenge.

"It's only so you don't get lost. This castle is huge. You won't need to be escorted once you get used to the place." He replied

Satisfied with his answer, I nod my head. He bids us goodnight and closes the door. I sigh, reveled we are done traveling and finally alone. I look at Sadmir; his hands are on his hips, but he nods, letting me know he is alright. Now we wait for Amita.

Amita's POV

Darkness. All I see is darkness. I am surrounded by it. It's scary but somehow peaceful at the same time. I feel as though nothing can harm me here. The world's weight is not on my shoulders, and I feel light as a feather, so I think I'll stay. The only thing missing are my mates. My mates..wait... Sanjay! I have to get to Sanjay.

"Sanjay!" I scream over and over again. I feel the pain now. I failed him. I failed the kingdom. What do I do? I don't know how, even if I wanted to leave this darkness. I let myself fall apart. Giving in to the pain and hopelessness I genuinely feel.

"Sanjay." I whimper.

"Please." I beg.

I need to reach him somehow. I whip my face and stand to my feet.

"Sanjay!" I yell again, willing him to hear me.

Nothing but my voice echoing is all I can hear. I close my eyes once more and take a deep breath. I relax my body until my heartbeat slows. I focus on Sanjay, his beautiful face. His amazing dark eyes and the scowl he naturally wears. His sad lips and rosy cheeks. I focus on the way he mastered his strider riding through the market. His powerful thighs commanding the great beast. I think of his strong arms and chest that fit his vest well.

I feel a rush of air as if I were being pulled forward, my body jerking as if it were in motion. Suddenly the air quiets, and I hear birds chirping. The heat of the sun on my skin warmed me up. I smell water in the air, and I wiggle my toes feeling the grass underneath my feet. I finally open my eyes and am back in the forest in Manipura, where I met Sanjay for our talk. He is there lying down in the grass right before the lake. Twirling a piece of grass in his hand.

I take one step, then another, until I reach him. One arm is bent behind his head, a leg stretched out, and one bent at the knee, and his eyes are closed. He looks so beautiful I can't help but smile.

"Sanjay." I whisper.

He smiles and laughs a little, all while his eyes remain closed.

"Now I know I must be dreaming if you are here." He replied. His voice is so deep it sends a shiver down my spine.

"You may be dreaming but I am not sure I am." I stated.

He finally opens his eyes and looks at me. His smile growing, and I can't help but smile back.

'Lay with me…Amita."

How can I deny his request when it's what I want to. He stretches out his arm, and I lay down on my side. My head resting on his chest. I can feel and hear his heart beat with mine, his spicy scent filling my nose. I cuddle closer to him, and I hear him sigh.

"This is the best dream I have ever had." He tells me, making me giggle.

"I'm glad it's with me."

"How are you here?"

I'm not sure, really. I was in darkness for a while and just needed to get to you, so I have found you."

"I am glad. Most of the time I am in nightmares when I sleep, I believe I was in one before but then I was here and then you came. Did you save me Amita?"

My heart pounds in my chest. Did I save Sanjay from a nightmare? I'm not sure, there is no way to be certain, and I tell him so.

"Well whatever reason, I'm glad I am not there anymore."

"I'm sorry your rest is not so peaceful."

"I am use to it. It is my life."

"What is?"

"Pain."

My heart breaks for him. I close my eyes as tears well up in them. A tear slides down my cheek, and I feel him wipe it away.

"Do not shed tears for me Amita. I deserve the pain."

"Says who?" I demanded, sitting up. He sits up with me with a sigh on his lips.

"Says everything and everyone I have ever known."

"What happen to you? Tell me so I can understand."

He looks away from me, laying his arm across the leg he has bent at the knee, and tosses the piece of grass he was playing with.

"You think you want to know, but you don't."

"I asked Sanjay because I want to know. I need to know."

He sighs again, his face scrunching up. He licks his lip and turns back to me.

"The oldest memory I have is from when I was six. I lived with my mother in a small house surrounded by nothing and no one. My mother had been quiet all day just holding me in her arms tightly never letting me go for very long. When night began to fall she started to cry and told me a man was coming to take me away and that I may never see her again."

I remained quiet, letting him tell his story.

"I told her that I would never let that happen. That I would stay with her always and protect her. I wanted to make her feel better, but it made her cry even more. When it was completely dark outside, a quiet fell until the sound of thunder came rolling in. I thought it was just a bad storm, but my mother began to panic the louder it got until it finally stopped right in front of our house. The door was kicked in, and a man walked in, men flanking him and spreading out throughout the front room.

My mother was shaking her head and crying, trying to hide me behind her body, but I knew they could all still see me. I was confused. I had never seen the man before in my life. He grabbed my mother by the throat and lifted her off the floor. I ran around her and started hitting him, trying to get him to let go of her. He told one of the other men to grab me while he took my mother into the other room and shut the door.

The sounds I heard were awful, and I was powerless to stop them. They went on and on until finally they stopped and the man came out of the room, but my mother didn't follow. The man said he was my father, taking me away to become his greatest warrior."

Sanjay paused, lost in the memory. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath.

"After that night I never saw my mother again. After that night I stopped being a child. I was trained, beaten, and molded into being what he wanted. I did what he ordered me to do. When I refused, I was punished harshly until I stopped feeling and just executed his orders one day. Everyone around me was a spy for him. Making sure I never slipped up. I had no one and nothing. I even tried running away once, but he found me within two days and the punishment for that…well, let's just say I never thought of running away again. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, months into years and after years and years of the same thing I truly became a monster. My life was pain and I handed out pain. I don't know who I am or what I am suppose to do other than what what I have been made into and what I have been doing."

I remain silent. Pondering what Sanjay has told me.

"I don't see a monster before me now." I stated.

"Thats because this isn't real. This is a dream. Vipin can't reach me here. When I wake a darkness with fall over me and I will reset to the monster. I can't stop it I can't hold it back."

"I can help you. We were made to be together."

"How do you know that? How are you so sure?"

"Because I have seen Sanjay. The Great Mother has shown me a great many things, including you. She wants you with me, happy and free."

What do you mean?"

"This kingdom is meant for a queen and her mates to reign. My mother was the queen of this kingdom and Vipin was her trusted adviser. My mother had seven mates and Vipin fell in love with her hoping to become one of her mates but she did not feel the same for him. She had all her destined mates already. When she refused him he left the kingdom and when he came back he slaughtered her and her mates and anyone who got in his way."

"I remember that day. I was still young but I remember. He told me that this was our new home."

"This is your home Sanjay and you are meant to rule with me by your side."

"I can't. I've done too much bad to do any good. When I wake up I will still be the monster."

"Let me help you."

"You can't help me, no one can."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do!" He shouted, standing up and pacing.

"I know, Amita, and I am sorry about your mother and Vipin's actions to this kingdom, but there is nothing I can do but what I have been doing. I am Vipin's greatest warrior, and when he finds out I am your mate, he will finally kill me and give me the peace I long for."

"NO!" I yelled back. Getting to my feet as well.

"You are mine Sanjay. No one and I mean no one else can have you or take you away from me."

I grab hold of him and bring him to me. I wrap my arms around his neck and crush my lips to his. I stroke the back of his neck silently, begging him to kiss me back, and when he does, I moan loud and strong. His arms wrap around me tightly as he deepens the kiss. I relax into him, letting him feel everything I feel. We pull apart, our foreheads touching.

"I need to wake up and when I do I am coming for you." I insisted.

"You are so stubborn."

"I am yours Sanjay. I will fight for you and I will win."

He opens his eyes with a smirk on his lips.

"Ok little warrior ok."

"I will find you again in your dreams. I will find you again and again until we meet. Until I make you see you deserve more than the life you have."

I back away from him and close my eyes. I concentrate on my physical body. Taking deep breaths and slowing my heartbeat. I start to tingle all over, and a rush fills my body. Suddenly I am falling, and a scream leaves my lips.

I jerk awake sitting up. My head is pounding, and my mouth is dry as if I hadn't had water in weeks. My stomach aches and feels empty. The sun is shining. I am in a room and bed I don't recognize. I look around, but no one is there. I throw the covers off of me and get out of the bed swaying on my feet as dizziness attacks my head. When the world starts to slow, I take a few steps to ensure I won't fall. There is a door to my right, and I open it up and find a bathroom. I look in the mirror and hardly recognize my own face. My hair seems even darker, my skin glows, and my eyes are impossibly light. I don't dwell on it. I quickly wash up and get dressed.

I walk to the door that must be the exit to the room and step out. No one is in the hallway, and it's quiet. I have no idea where I am, but I am not tied up, and the door was unlocked, so I must be somewhere safe. I need to find Adbay and Sadmir. I focus on them until I feel a tug in my chest, and my feet follow. The hallway is long, and I have run into no one. At the end, there is a staircase, and I follow it down, going with my instincts.

The staircase leads down and branches off onto many floors, but I am in no mood to explore. I need to find my mates and figure out what is going on. I get to a bottom balcony that leads to a grand staircase and follow that down, too, and when I step off the stairs, I make a right toward a hallway that leads to the back. I follow it down until I finally hear voices. Men are talking, but I am too far away to hear. I keep walking until I hear my name being spoken by someone. I don't recognize the voice, so I halt my steps, trying to listen in.

"….she has been out for weeks now what if she doesn't wake up?"

"She will wake up."

"You're just saying that because you are in love with her."

"You would be too if you knew her."

Adbay and Sadmir are in there, but with who? I have been asleep for weeks? It only felt like hours.

"We should take her to a healer maybe they can wake her."

"If it comes to that then maybe."

"What exactly are we waiting for?"

The men are arguing, and it's getting them nowhere. I know Adbay and Sadmir are in there, so it must be safe for me. I gather my whits and continue down the hall until I enter the room. Adbay and Sadmir are sitting on stools with their backs to me while two other men are facing them, standing up. Their eyes lift to mine, and a throbbing in my back starts to pound out of control.

My heartbeat and breathing start to pick up as I notice one man cast in a red glow while the other is in orange. Two! I have found two new mates. Adbay and Sadmir turn around slowly until their eyes land on mine. I force myself to stand up straighter and lift my head up higher.

"So boys…what have I missed?"