That night like many others, sleep eluded me. And when it finally claimed me, it was quickly ripped away by a firm shake on my shoulder. My eyes flew open, heart pounding, to find Umi looming over me. Her breath came in quick, uneven gasps, her wide eyes glinting with fear in the dim light.
“Uhuru, wake up! We’re under attack!”
The words sent ice through my veins. My mind barely had time to register them before Umi was dragging me out of bed.
Shouts and clashing steel filled the night. The scent of smoke and blood seeped through the air. My grip tightened around the cutlass I had snatched from my bedside as Umi yanked me down the corridor.
“We need to get you to safety!” she urged.
But safety was an illusion. A dark figure emerged from the shadows, sword swinging toward us. Umi barely had time to react. She shoved me aside and met the blow with her own blades. The impact sent a sharp clang through the air, and they became locked in a deadly dance of steel.
Before I could process it, another attacker lunged at me. I turned just in time to raise my cutlass, blocking the first strike. The force rattled my bones. He was stronger, heavier, and clearly more trained. He struck again, pushing me back, my feet sliding against the marble floor. I swung, but he deflected it with ease, forcing me further off balance.
And then my foot caught and my back hit the ground. I gasped as my weapon skidded from my grip. The attacker loomed over me, his blade catching the faint glow of the fire around as he raised it high, ready to bring it down.
“NO!” Umi’s voice rang with raw terror.
My breath caught. This was it. This would be how it would all end for me.
But before the steel could meet my skin, another sword clashed against it with such a crushing force it broke in half. I saw the unmistakable glint of blue as a figure stood between me and death. Tall. Unyielding. Deadly. His presence alone was enough to shake the earth.
Lord Kahari.
His sword met what was left of the enemy’s in a single, decisive motion, forcing him back. I barely registered the way he moved, a storm of lethal precision, dispatching the attacker in a single, merciless strike.
Lord Kahari ran to where I had fallen, offered me his hand and helped me up. His grip was firm and steady. He pulled me to my feet with ease, his touch lingering for a brief second before he let go.
More figures surged behind him. At first, I tensed, thinking more enemies had arrived but I caught a glimpse of the gold insignia on their chest. They tore through the remaining attackers like a storm, pushing them back, overwhelming them. By the time the last enemy fell or fled, the palace courtyard was thick with the scent of blood.
My body was trembling. Around me, my soldiers or what was left of them were nursing wounds, their faces drawn with exhaustion. My army was not what it used to be. We were barely holding on. It dawned on me then that we couldn’t survive another invasion without reinforcement. Heck, we wouldn’t have survived this one.
Lord Kahari stood amidst the wreckage, his sword still slick with blood. His eyes were fixed on me but his face gave off nothing. My mouth tasted like dust as I came to the realisation that this man was probably my best bet even if I didn’t understand nor trust his motives.
Swallowing my pride, I met his eyes. “Your men fought bravely. You should stay the night, both you and your soldiers.”
Something flickered in his expression, but he said nothing. I exhaled, glancing at the bodies littering the ground, at the palace walls stained with battle. “We should speak in the morning. I believe we have much to discuss.”
He followed my gaze, taking in the settling chaos before us. Then, gripping his sword tightly, wiping it and sheathing it, he finally nodded.
“I suppose, we do.”
*
The next morning I paced the length of the negotiation hall. It had been less than twenty four hours since I had done this same movement waiting for the very man who had been here the day before. My mind was a storm of thoughts I could not quiet. The weight of the night’s attack still pressed against my ribs, a reminder of how fragile my kingdom had become.
This was not how I had imagined my reign – abrupt, cornered and outnumbered. I was being forced into desperate alliances. Here I was, waiting for the man who had stormed out just yesterday to decide the fate of my throne. My fingers curled into fists. I hated that it had come to this.
The heavy doors creaked open, pulling me away from my thoughts.
Lord Kahari stepped inside, and for a moment, I forgot to breathe. Today he wore a sleeveless black tunic that clung to his body. It did little to hide the thick arms corded with muscle and littered with scars. He moved with the kind of grace that belonged to men who knew they were dangerous. His steps were unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world.
“Good morning, Lord Kahari.”
I kept my voice steady despite the weight of exhaustion pressing behind my eyes. I had barely slept, my mind replaying the attack over and over, picking apart every detail, every misstep. And yet, here he was, standing in my office seeming refreshed as if last night had been nothing more than an inconvenience.
Lord Kahari’s lips curved slightly, his mismatched eyes flickering with amusement. “Good morning, Princess.”
I didn’t hesitate. “How am I to trust that you didn’t orchestrate the invasion?”
His smirk deepened, and for a brief moment, something like incredulity flashed across his face.
“I guess we are skipping the pleasantries.” He let out a quiet chuckle as he shook his head. “If I wanted to attack you, Princess, I would have. And you would not be standing here questioning me about it.”
His tone was calm, but there was an edge beneath it, a subtle certainty that sent a shiver down my spine.
I studied him carefully. He was right. If he had wanted my kingdom, he would have taken it outright. He wouldn’t have wasted time with negotiations or secret invasions. Lord Kahari had nothing to prove.
But still.
“Then how did you know to turn back?”
His smirk faded slightly, replaced by something sharper. “Something didn’t sit right. Some of the men I passed on my way back moved… wrong. I decided to observe before continuing on.”
I exhaled slowly, my suspicions wavering. He had noticed the signs of an ambush before my own guards had. That, more than anything, unsettled me. A silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken thoughts.
Lord Kahari’s gaze flicked around the room. His brow lifted. “No advisors?”
I tilted my chin up. “They are currently not even aware this meeting is happening. It is why I requested that we meet so early.”
He considered that for a moment. “Why?”
“Because they would not like the methods or terms I am about to propose.” My voice was steady, but my heart beat ferociously in my chest. “They would be hesitant to make the necessary sacrifices but we no longer have the luxury of time.”
Something dark flickered in his expression – approval, curiosity, maybe even something close to admiration.
A small, knowing smile played on his lips. He was finding everything amusing today. As if yesterday I hadn’t angered him enough to leave the room without ceremony.
“Then I am very interested to hear what you have to say,”he said.
I took a deep breath.
“I will marry you -”
“ – how eager of you Princess -”
“ – but I have conditions.”
Lord Kahari’s raised an eyebrow. His lip twitching. He crossed his arms, his broad shoulders at ease, though there was no mistaking the tension in his stance.
“So do I,” he replied, voice steady. “Name them.”
“If I die before you -”
“Highly unlikely.”
His lips continued to form into slight smirk. “I intend to keep you safe for many, many years.” There was a playfulness to his tone, but beneath it, something resolute, told me he was not merely jesting. “I will protect you until my own dying breath.”
I fought the urge to feel moved by his statement but the warmth creeping up my neck betrayed me.
“Still.” I said, “In the case of my unlikely and untimely demise -”
He gave a light chuckle.
” – you must still keep my kingdom and my people safe. My advisors will be free to choose a ruler in my place if they ever have cause to question your motives.”
Lord Kahari tilted his head, considering me. Then, with a slow nod, he said, “fair. Agreed.”
That had gone easier than I thought. What was this man playing at?
“No harm shall come to my people by your hand or your orders. If I so much as sense malice or betrayal, I will end this marriage swiftly.”
His expression remained the same.
“Are we here just to rehash everything I’ve already promised you, Princess.” He stepped closer.
“Seeing as I have no intention of harming you or yours, as I have already stated,” his voice dropping just slightly, “this too is doable.”
His agreement should have been reassuring. Instead, it sent a shiver down my spine. Because, heavens help me, why was he so believable?
“You shall run all matters pertaining to my kingdom through me and my advisors.”
“I do not wish to possess what is rightfully yours, just protect it to the best of my abilities,” he said, watching me carefully. “I will seek your counsel on matters that affect both our kingdoms.”
He was accepting everything so easily to the point of suspicion and almost infuriation.
“I want a grand wedding,” I was downright testing him now.
That garnered a reaction from him. His eyes narrowed slightly.
“I did not take you for one to enjoy public theatrics.”
“I don’t.” I folded my arms, meeting his gaze. “But this is not about spectacle. A grand wedding sends a message, not just to our people, but to our enemies. It tells them I am spoken for. My land is spoken for. It is not up for negotiations anymore. It is protected by the great Dhahabu Army.”
A muscle in his jaw ticked, but then he gave a slow nod of approval. He exhaled through his nose, something like reluctant admiration flickering across his features.
“Then we will have a wedding fit for rulers. I will take care of all expenses” he stated.
I wanted to protest. We might have suffered from the many attacks but we were not a ward of mercy. As if sensing my reluctance, he continued.
“That is my first condition, Princess. I want to assist with Ivhu’s expenses as it concentrates on rebuilding.”
I bit back my tongue.
“My second is this, I want the binding documents signed immediately.”
I blinked. “Immediately?”
“The sooner our lands are bound by law, the better. Before the wedding, before the feast. I will not allow room for outside interference,” he said. “This is harder to undo than vows spoken before an altar.”
My stomach twisted, though I did not let my expression betray it. He was ensuring his claim, sealing his victory before anyone had the chance to challenge it.
“I did not take you as one to be so possessive but fine. I will tell my advisors.”
“I’m not being possessive. I am simply -“
But I raised my hand to cut him off. I did not care. I would sign documents regardless and immediately was as good a time as any.
“This is only a political marriage,” I said, lifting my chin. “We shall sleep in different rooms.”
His brow furrowed. He did not like that.
“Agreed,” he said after a moment of hesitation. I had expected protest. “But I will sleep in the room adjoining yours. If someone dares attack, I need to be close.”
The corner of my mouth tugged downward. That room was reserved for the consort of the King or Queen, a space that was far too intimate for comfort. The shared bath between the two rooms only intensified the sense of closeness. I had never thought to consider it as anything more than a formality. Yet now, the reality of it settled like a weight in my chest. He would be so close, the boundary of our rooms separated by nothing more than a thin wall and the murmur of water. It was a proximity I had never intended, and the idea of it made my skin prickle uncomfortably. But given the circumstances, I suppose it was not only reasonable but also fair.
I nodded at his statement and then steadied myself knowing full well he would not like my final term if had hesitated at the prior, but I could not afford to let my guard down at any point.
“By extension, there will be no intimacy between us.”
For a moment – just a fraction of a second – his expression slipped. His eyes widened, surprise flickering across them before his brows knitted together. His jaw tensed, muscles shifting as if grinding back a retort. But when he spoke, his voice was steady, measured.
“Are you expecting me not to want my own wife?” he asked.
“I am only your wife on paper. For what’s good for Ivhu.”
“I am not merely aligning to your kingdom for what it has to offer, Princess.”
He stepped forward, his presence pressing against the space between us. The heat of him licked at my skin, an unspoken challenge. I held my ground for a beat too long before shifting back against the wall.
His hand lifted, fingers hovering near my cheek, drawn as if by instinct. But at the last moment, he curled them into a fist and let it fall.
“Regardless of everything, I will still be your husband. And I am a man, with my own desires.”
“If you keep your affairs discreet,” I murmured, testing, “you may seek your desires elsewhere.”
He tilted his head, eyes narrowing. “Would you?”
The idea hadn’t crossed my mind. There were too many responsibilities, too many burdens already. Lovers weren’t a priority.
I shrugged. “Perhaps.”
His expression cooled, but something dangerous coiled beneath it.
“I do not accept that condition.”
“You have to accept one. Either we seek intimacy with others or find none with each other.”
A shadow passed over his face. The air between us thickened.
“I am not a man who divides his loyalties. Not in alliances and definitely not in my own marriage,” he said, surprising me.
Then without warning, his palm struck the wall beside my head, the impact sending a shudder through the wooden panels. My breath caught.
His voice, when it came, was taut, stripped raw. His gaze bore into mine, unrelenting. “And I expect the same in return.”
He leaned in, not touching, but close enough that the space between us felt suffocating. “There will be no others.”
“ I did not expect you to feel so strongly about this,” I managed to say.
His lips were mere inches from mine, his breath warm against my skin. I remained unflinching but I hoped to the heavens he could not hear how fast my heart was beating.
“I know the practice is common but I am a jealous man, Uhuru.” His voice had dropped to barely above a whisper but it was still hard and commanding. “I might not see you as a possession but if you agree to this I will see you as my wife. Mine alone. You do not wish to be intimate with me? So be it. But I will desire you.” His his eyes darkened, burning with something untamed. “And if any man wishes to share in that desire, I shall rip him apart with my bare hands.”
My pulse hammered against my throat. I knew he would make good on that threat. I hated how easily his presence unsettled me, how his words made something tighten deep within my chest.
“Are we clear, Princess?”
I swallowed. “Yes.”
“Any more conditions?”
I shook my head. My mouth felt dry. I could feel my body shaking. He was far too close.
As if sensing my discomfort, Lord Kahari took a slow step back but the weight of his presence did not lift. He drew his sword, the blade whispering against its sheath. I flinched remembering the nighr before remembering how my attacker had done the same the night before.
He exhaled as he noticed my reaction. “I will not harm you Princess,” he said before plunging the tip of the sword into the wooden floor at my feet. “I simply wish to perform a customary vow expected of me when I agree to wed someone.”
To my absolute shock, he lowered himself to one knee before me and stacked his hands around the handle of the blade. I would not have imagined Lord Kahari bowing for anybody, especially me.
“If that is all, then here is my promise to you. I vow myself to you and your kingdom.” His voice was steady. “Your land will be my land. As shall mine be yours. Your people will be my people. As shall mine be yours. Your enemies my enemies. As shall mine be yours.”
He lifted his gaze to meet mine. There was something softer beneath his sharp edges, something raw and unguarded.
“And I hope that one day, you shall not see me as one of them.” His voice softened, almost wistful. “But perhaps just a man. Maybe even a friend. And maybe then, your heart shall be mine.” His lips curved faintly. “As shall mine be yours.”
The words lingered between us, heavy with meaning. And for the first time, I found myself fearing him for a completely different reason.