Royal Tour

Khari beamed with excitement as she made her way to the library early the next morning. As she passed the throne room on the way, a warm hand suddenly touched her own. The person greeted her by running their finger down her open palm. She knew instantly who it was. It was Azim, their private sign language conveying his presence. He smiled and said softly, “Hey.”

Khari’s face warmed as she opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was a small, “Hey.” Her rosy cheeks betrayed her embarrassment at the sudden and intimate gesture.

He took her arm and led her to the side to speak more privately. He spoke quietly, “I must embark on a tour to win the favor of the Royals,” he said. “The fate of my campaign rests on the endorsements of both the royal court and the people. I must win them both to become King.”

Khari’s face fell as the news sunk in. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to think of something to say. Finally, she asked, “How long will you be gone?” The words seemed to hang heavy between them.

The wrinkles around his eyes deepened as he squinted in thought. “We should be gone for a few weeks, maybe a month. We leave at sunrise tomorrow morning, but some of my men will be around to watch over you while I’m away.”

Khari sat in thought for a few moments. Finally, she spoke, her voice soft but determined. “What if I go with you?” she asked.

Azim’s face lit up with delight. His eyes sparkled, and his mouth opened into a broad smile. “You want to come with me?” he asked, his voice laced with excitement.

A shy smile appeared on her lips as she spoke, “Of course, I certainly don’t want to be apart from you. And if you plan to make me your Queen, then us traveling together could set up that move from friends to more.”

Azim’s brown eyes sparkled as he said, “I would love for you to come with me.” He brought her delicate hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly. Then, he searched her face as if asking her a silent question, “But is that what we are? Friends?”

Khari felt her cheeks flush, and her stomach flutter as he kissed her hand, and she said, “You know what I mean.”

“Hmmmmm,” Azim said, hot and bothered. His pulse pounded as he watched her, unable to ignore how his heart stirred at the thought of having her in his life beyond friendship. “Then,” he stepped closer to her, so his warm breath tickled her ear as he spoke. “If it pleases you, I’d be honored for you to join me,” his voice was low and full of promise.

Khari’s heart raced as she heard the words tumble from his lips. Joy filled her as she thought of the journey they’d soon embark on together. She smiled and nodded, “Great! I’ll start packing now,” her voice shook with anticipation.

Azim pulled her close, enveloping her in his warmth as he pressed his lips to hers. His tongue teased at her bottom lip, eliciting a soft sigh from her. He pulled away and winked, a playful smile tugging at his lips. “Don’t forget the lingerie,” he teased playfully before planting another kiss on her forehead.

Khari’s face heated as her mind briefly lingered on the night they had shared. Azim’s gaze slowly moved over her body, taking in every dip and curve before his hands followed suit. “Azim!” She gasped, eyes growing wide at his touch, and quickly stepped away. Her cheeks were aflame as she dashed away without stopping. His laughter echoed through the air, shaking her to the core with embarrassment. Despite her hasty retreat, he couldn’t keep the grin off his face. He was looking forward to what was to come on their journey together.

* * *

The palace courtyard was alive with activity as the sun rose and cast its early morning glow. Azim and his men were busy loading and tying down bundles onto the carriage, their muscles bulging in their effort. Opia’s arms were loaded with Khari’s bags as she climbed onto the back of the carriage to find enough space to fit them. Azim, standing tall, gave Khari a gentle boost onto his saddle atop Phoenix before swinging himself gracefully up behind her. With a final tug on the reins, he declared, “We’re all set!”

“Perfect,” King Nashir seemed pleased, looking at Azim with a stern but proud expression. His usually gruff voice softened as he spoke. “You make sure you take good care of Khari,” he commanded, “I want to see her back in one piece when she returns.”

Azim bowed his head and said, “Of course, Father,” as his gaze swept to the side and landed on Wren. He allowed a smirk to flash across his lips. “You know I’m the best person for the job,” he added, with a slight jab in his voice.

Wren’s stare burned into his brother’s soul as he stood with their father. His disappointment in the King’s granted permission for them to travel together was clear from the tightness of his lips and the furrow of his brow. Wren also hadn’t missed the spark of excitement in Khari’s silver eyes, which only increased his annoyance and fueled his determination. Despite his anger, he was still drawn to Khari and vowed to take advantage of their newfound closeness when they returned from their travels.

Khari practically vibrated with excitement as the horses trotted off down the path. The familiar countryside changed to rolling hills and lush meadows, and she caught her breath each time a gust of wind sent a chill down her arm. Behind her, Azim sat tall on his horse and recounted stories about the Kingdom and its people. She couldn’t believe that this was really happening. She was finally going on an adventure! Khari’s curiosity grew as they rode, and she couldn’t help but ask questions about all the new things she was feeling and experiencing. “What’s that?” she asked as an unusual tingling sensation ran across her skin.

Azim’s lips curled in amusement as he peered down to get a closer look at the small, eight-legged creature on Khari’s arm. “That, my dear, is a spider,” Azim said.

Her eyes widened in fear, and she frantically brushed her arm off and started brushing her other arm and legs, trying to rid herself of any possible spiders. “Ew, get it off, get it off!” she exclaimed in a panicked voice.

Azim’s laugh was low and amused as he delicately plucked the spider from her arm and brushed it away. He clasped her trembling hand and brought it to his lips. His kiss was sweet and comforting. “All better,” he said, an impish smile lighting up his face.

The caravan pulled off onto a narrow country road, tired of the long trek. As he dismounted Phoenix, he glimpsed a meadow of flowers in the sun and thought it would be the perfect spot for a break. He walked Khari over to a tall, stately tree and sat down in its lush shade. The wind ruffled the petals of the wild daisies in the nearby field and gave Khari a moment of peace before she opened her mouth to speak. “I have an idea,” she said.

He looked at her, his hair dancing in the crisp afternoon air, “Oh yeah? What's that?” he asked, feeling the wind’s chill on his bare arms.

“There may be a surefire way for you to gain the Royals’ support,” she grabbed the strands of her hair that blew across her face and tucked them behind her ears.

Azim leaned back against the thick, ridged bark of the tree, crossing his arms. His brown eyes glimmered in the sunlight, and he offered a skeptical grin. “A surefire way? I’m listening.”

Her head was downcast, and her voice was barely above a whisper as she posed her question, “Being engaged to the Atea would help, would it not?”

Azim’s brown eyes widened, and he bolted upright, his expression a mix of surprise and hope. “It would,” he said, his voice trembling, “but I thought you needed time to choose between Wren and me.”

“Wren?” she asked

He said, “Yes,” in a low, almost inaudible voice. His face was tense, and his eyes were intently focused on her as if he was struggling to hold back what he wanted to say, “I know you two have history.”

“Yeah, bad history,” she replied, her voice tight. She had flashbacks to a year of emotionally charged misuse, of him belittling her and calling her names. “Yes, he’s been…tolerable as of late, but that doesn’t automatically undo an entire year of abuse. It doesn’t erase all the times he made me feel small and insignificant.”

He studied her face, searching for a clue of what she was feeling. His gaze lingered as he slowly asked, “So, you don’t want to be with Wren?”

“Azim…” she said, shifting toward him, “I have never and will never see Wren as equal to you. You are my first and only love,” she said, spilling out her feelings. It was too late to stop now, so she continued, “I know you have been with women before, but I….” she trailed off, unsure of how to resume.

Azim’s expression softened, and he slowly reached out to place his large, warm hand on her flushed cheek. His deep, soulful gaze searched her face as he asked, “Did you just confess your love for me?”

Khari stopped for a second to consider her previous statement. “Yes, I guess I did,” she finally said, her voice soft and her eyes misting. “I love you, Azim.”

Azim’s eyes widened in shock as her confession registered, and he pulled her close. His strong arms enveloped her, and his lips kissed her with a tender ferocity. Every movement was full of longing and love, and when he finally pulled back, his voice was a whisper against her lips, “I love you too, Khari.”

“You do?” she asked, surprised.

“You doubt it? After all, we have been through?” he asked, his thumb stroking the back of her hand. She could feel the callouses on his palms as his eyes pleaded with her to believe him, “Being at war, there were the occasional women, here and there. But Khari, I’ve never felt anything like what I feel for you. You have completely conquered my heart and soul.” He leaned in, his warm breath tickling her neck, and she felt the scratch of stubble against her skin. His lips twisted into a wide grin as he murmured, “Now, only if you would conquer my body.”

Azim braced himself for rejection, but to his surprise, she didn’t shy away. She hit back with an even more loaded response, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “When we’re married...” she said slowly, her lips turning up into a sly smile, “gladly.”

Azim’s cheeks burned a rosy hue as he reached out, cupping her face in his hands and leaning in. His breath was sweet and eager as he murmured, “I look forward to it,” before finally closing the gap between them and pressing his lips against hers in a passionate kiss.