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The following day, the caravan continued its journey, the sun slowly crawling out from behind the distant hills. After a few hours and a quick stop at a small village, Khari stepped into the carriage for some much-deserved rest. Just as she settled in, Azim quickly followed after her. “Azim? Is everything alright?” she asked, her voice gentle yet concerned.

He moved slowly, like a panther stalking its prey, and sat beside her. His voice had a low rumble and a seductive timbre as he said, “It’s more than alright.”

The tone of his voice was immediately recognizable to her, and the familiar warmth of his desire to touch her flooded her body. Even though she yearned to feel his hands on her skin again, they were in a carriage, and his men surrounded the outside. Her lips parted with a million words that wanted to escape, but she simply uttered one sentence, “We can’t. Not with them around. What if they hear?”

Azim grabbed Khari around the waist and pulled her onto his lap, her legs straddling him. His hands were warm on her bare skin as he reached behind to close the window. The noises of the small town faded away. “Let them hear,” he said as he kissed her neck, igniting a blaze of passion within her.

Khari’s heart beat rapidly as her body responded to the intensity of his touch. She wanted him as much as he wanted her, but her conscience told her to stop. “It’s morning,” she said weakly, struggling to keep her eyes closed, feeling herself on the edge of succumbing. “I can not see.”

He gently nipped at her earlobe, his breath tickling her ear as he whispered, “You don’t need to see, only feel.” His calloused fingers left a trail of warmth as they slid up her thigh, caressing her curves and stopping just under the fabric of her dress. With a playful smirk, he asked, “What else do I bring to this marriage if not your pleasure?” his hand continued moving in gentle circles, sending jolts of anticipation down her spine.

“Empathy and protection,” Khari said, halting his caressing touch inches away from her undergarments.

He gazed at her with admiration and love until he registered the intensity of her stare. He realized she was serious and stilled, taking a moment to respond. “I’ll always protect you, Khari….always,” he said softly. As she grew weary and began to stifle a yawn, he gently scooped her up in his arms and put her down on the seat. A little pillow went under her head as he crouched beside her and smiled slyly. “I didn’t mean to keep you up last night,” he said tenderly. “Get some rest. We’ll be home in no time.”

* * *

Azim and Khari walked along the entrance path of the palace as the caravan rolled slowly behind them, creaking and groaning under the weight of their accumulated belongings. Dust rose in the air and clung to their clothes, the sun baking their skin. They held hands, feeling the unfamiliar thrill of finally being home. After weeks away, the familiar sights and smells seemed surreal. It was as if they had been gone for years. So much had changed in the few weeks they were away, but there was comfort in knowing that things hadn’t changed too much in their absence.

Azim’s eyes sparkled as he smiled at Khari, noticing how beautiful she looked in her pale pink dress. His heart swelled with pride as his gaze shifted to the diamond ring on her finger. “I never thought I’d see this day,” he said softly, his voice tinged with awe. “I’m so glad you’re here with me.”

Khari’s voice was a mixture of excitement and relief as she said, “Me too.” The servants and soldiers busied themselves with the caravan, unloading the contents under the hot sun. Khari and Azim both had a nervous look before they stepped through the ornate entranceway of the palace. A weight lifted off their shoulders as the door shut behind them, both of them savoring the sweet joy of being home.

Azim’s voice boomed as he and Khari stepped into the throne room through the heavy wooden door. He filled the air with joy as he proclaimed, “Home sweet home!” Sunlight streamed in from the high windows, illuminating the ornate tapestries on the walls and glinting off their golden accents.

King Nashir’s eyes glinted with mischievous delight. His lips curled up into a broad smile, and he said, “Ah, welcome back. I take it your tour went…well?” he paused and emphasized the word ‘well’ with a knowing arch of his eyebrow.

Azim beamed with satisfaction and looked at Khari; his face softened with affection. “Yes, it was successful,” he said.

The door slammed as Wren rushed in, his eyes wide and jaw clenched. His gaze fell on the couple, standing close enough that their shoulders were almost touching and their hands intertwined. “You two are engaged?!” he asked through gritted teeth. He had heard the whispers but didn’t want it to be true; however, seeing them now, it was undeniable.

“You’ve heard?” Khari asked.

The King’s face lit up with a smile so bright it seemed to illuminate the room. “We’ve all heard,” he said, his voice ringing with pride.

Azim’s fingers shifted on Khari’s hip as he spoke. “Well, it isn’t true. We’re not engaged. We’re married.” Azim finished by pulling Khari closer to him, his arm a protective band around her waist.

“What?!” Wren’s face turned bright red as veins bulged on his forehead and neck. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, and he roared in rage, the force of his voice reverberating off the walls around them.

Azim smiled, “That’s right. Your brother and his bride have arrived home.” His voice carried a hint of excitement, like a child on the eve of Christmas morning.

The King leaped out of his chair, his face alight with joy. He clasped his hands together, beaming. “You’re married?” he exclaimed. “This is truly a blessing! My son, Azim, the future King, married to Khari, the Atea! This seals our Kingdom’s legacy as one of the most powerful and impenetrable!” King Nashir looked at Azim’s expression and settled down. Although he was ecstatic about what their marriage meant for the Kingdom, he realized he was neglecting to express how happy he was for his son’s sake. He clasped Azim’s shoulder and said, “My son, I am so sorry for not expressing my joy for you earlier. This marriage will certainly go down in history, but more importantly, I am just so happy that you have found someone you can share your life with.”

“Thank you, Father. That means a lot to me. To us.” Azim said as he looked over at Khari with a smile.

“And you’re right. This is the best move for our Kingdom.” Khari said.

The King took her face in his hands as he softly kissed her cheek. He pulled away, and a smile spread across his face. “I knew there was a reason why I liked you,” he said. “We must hold a ceremony at once!” His booming voice filled the room as he yelled out to the servants standing in the corner. Immediately they began bowing and shuffling out of the room in a hurry to make arrangements.

Khari paused as they had already gotten married. Just a week ago, in a small village that no one knew about, they said their vows in front of Azim’s men. She didn’t know if he wanted a big wedding and hesitated to form the words, “Your Majesty, we don’t have to...”

Azim linked his fingers with hers, his firm stance speaking more than his words. “No, he’s right. You deserve a wedding befitting for a queen,” He said softly, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. He turned to his father and declared, “Granted, it will be held at night.”

His father’s face lit up with a brilliant smile, and his voice was full of warmth when he said, “Of course!” He wrapped an arm around his son’s shoulders. They began to stroll away from Khari, talking excitedly about the ceremony. “I think we should...” his voice faded as they walked further away.

Wren cautiously walked toward Khari, and the hurt and disappointment in his eyes were unmistakable. He felt like he’d been robbed of the chance to make her his queen, and the anger and betrayal he felt were almost tangible. He narrowed his eyes at her as he asked gruffly, “You really married my brother? You didn’t give me a fair chance,” he said, processing his new reality of being robbed of the opportunity to become King - a dangerous combination.

“Did you deserve one?” she responded.

Wren furrowed his brow as he sank into thought, and as the answer presented itself, so did the pang of regret in his chest. “I told myself repeatedly that I wouldn’t give up on you, but I think the real question was whether you had given up on me?”

Khari hesitated and hung her head as she spoke, “Unfortunately, I made that decision long ago. I knew I could never be with you romantically. But being your friend? That’s something we can still work on.”

Wren nodded in understanding, his eyes sad and sympathetic. He quickly glanced at Azim and his father before saying, “I know I wasn’t what you wanted, but I could have changed. For you, I would have changed.” Azim rejoined them, his face lit with happiness. Wren congratulated him meekly, “Congratulations, brother. Khari is a great woman.” With that, he excused himself, walking quickly out of the room as the reality of his situation sunk in. He needed to find a way to stop this wedding if he wanted to get the throne.

“Do you think he gave up this ridiculous notion of marrying me and becoming King?” Khari bit her lip nervously as she waited for Azim’s response.

Azim watched as his brother stalked away, his clenched fists and furrowed brow reflecting his anger. Azim sighed and shook his head, the disappointment in his eyes, saying, “Not for one second.”