Page 48 of Craving a King

I feel him stiffen and nod. He’s resigned. The king will not beg. I wouldn’t want him to.

He rubs his nose in my hair and mumbles, “No more talk about this tonight. It’s time that I fulfill the promise I made to you earlier.” He looks up. “I’ve got to peel these clothes off for the night of lovemaking ahead of us. The way I’m feeling right now, I want to be with you in every imaginable way I can, while I can.”

I reach up and kiss his lips to signal my yes. He picks me up and carries me inside to remind me no matter where I go, he’s home.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Restoration

Kofi

It has been three days since Ella returned to Atlanta.

My home feels empty, and so does my heart. I sleep in the river room and I refuse to let my staff launder Ella’s linens. Her pillowcase holds her citrus scent. Some days it feels like I’ll never have her in my arms again. Other days it feels like I will turn the world upside down just to kiss her lips. Senya has had to stop me twice from plotting less than honorable ways to make the Owusus and this stupid contract go away.

I regret not being more open with my vulnerabilities and feelings when I left her at the airport. I was hurt. I could not believe she was really leaving my world. Instead of saying something I would regret at the airport, I said nothing and gave her a chaste kiss to the forehead. I should have grabbed onto her, promised whatever she needed to hear to stay, and held on for dear life.

I’m also angry. I’m angry at my mother for leaving me to practically raise myself once she gave up on life and decided I was not enough to make her stay a part of this world. I am angry at my father for not being the man he always insisted I be. I’m angry at the Owusus for their schemes. I’m angry at Ella for leaving me and Ghana behind. Most of all, I’m angry at myself for allowing her to. I know what assurances she needed to stay, but I cannot deliver them. I cannot promise her that I will forsake all others and the crown to ensure her physical, emotional, and mental needs are met. I hate her for asking that of me. I’m not her ex-boyfriend stringing her along only to choose my career over her. I am a king trying to keep her at my side, to share my work and our lives together. To lead is to sacrifice. I wish I had worked harder to make her understand.

Today, I am at my palace meeting with yet another set of royal legal advisors. None of them understand the predicament. If I’m willing to pay the debt with interest, then there is no breach of contract. If only it were that simple. I dismiss them and place my head in my hands. It’s hopeless. Either I marry Abena and lose Ella along with my happiness forever, or I marry Ella and fight the slander that will come against our family’s royal reign. Once I solve this problem, the matter of what Ella’s reign will look like is going to slap me in my face. I’m rubbing my hands across my head when I hear my office door slam shut. I snap up to see Senya’s imposing frame walking toward me.

“Kofi. Enough! It’s time to fix this,” he scolds.

Irritated, I reply, “What the jackal do you think I’m trying to do? You think I’m here 12 hours a day meeting with lawyers and poring over this contract for my health?”

He shakes his head. “No, I think you’re doing it to avoid the truth.”

“What truth?” I snap.

“That you have to go to the council for this. You need Akua.”

I push my chair away from my desk in disgust and stand up to leave. This is nonsense. Senya blocks my path. “I know that you don’t want to mess with the tribal customs or regulations, but I think it is your only answer. The fancy lawyers can’t help you deal with this, and the Owusus know that. You are the strongest tie to the community, and they know that as well. I think you need to ask Akua for help. Even though she’s been a thorn in your side since Ella arrived, if there is a loophole that will allow for your happiness and protect your family’s reign, she will find it.”

I know he’s right. But I’m still angry at Akua for the way she treated Ella. I also suspect that she kept the true nature of that contract away from me for all these years. I seriously doubt there was anything going on in our house that Akua was not privy to. How can I trust her?

Then again, how can I not? She has been in our family for over 60 years and mothered me when I was motherless. Before coming to serve our house, she was a young woman in the village, sought after by every powerful man to be in their bed. She refused to be anyone’s mistress or second wife, no matter how powerful they were. When she came to my grandmother’s royal door with her stew to sell, she never looked back.

I turn my attention back to Senya. “I don’t know if Akua and I are at a place where we can talk again. Plus, no matter how much she loves me, I doubt she will lift one hand to help me marry myAmerican.” I use air quotes to emphasize the title she’s given Ella.

Senya laughs. “She’s stubborn. But she’s also loyal to the house of Ajyei. There is no way she would allow herself to justify not helping you save your family’s legacy. Look, she would kill me if she knew I told you this, but she has cried to me every night since the gala. Over two weeks of her lamenting her decisions! I promise you, she really thought she was protecting you. She thought the safest route for the Ajyei name and your reign was Abena. I think she knows better now.” Senya walks over to my desk and places his hand on my shoulder. “She is an old woman that thinks of you as her son. You need to swallow your pride and make this truce happen. I mean, you’re already here at the palace. Just go to her.”

I sigh and lean on the back of my office chair. “All right. But you’re coming with me!” I point at Senya. “We both know you’re her favorite.”

He grins. “Of course. Let’s go!”

Senya and I leave and head to the residential side of the palace. On our way to Akua’s palace quarters, I pass the royal bedroom and my heart aches at the memories I made when I was there last. That was the first time Ella and I made love. I should feign going to the restroom just so I can check and see if any remnants of her sweet scent and spirit are left behind. Instead, I mentally send her a kiss and head to Akua’s room.

When we arrive, I make Senya knock. “She needs to see your face first. She might slam the door on me! Like I said, you’re her favorite.”

Senya balks. “No way. I agreed to come for moral support. I’m not going to be the one to wake her up.” Before Senya can continue whining, the door opens. Akua appears with one of her infamous disapproving looks.

“Both of you should be whipped for waking a woman my age at this hour. At this moment, neither one of you is my favorite.”

I look at Akua and smile. I move in and kiss her on her cheek. “Old woman, if you were really sleep, you would not have been eavesdropping at the door. Admit it, you were waiting for us.” I shoot Senya a knowing look. He steps back and raises both hands in the air to convey his innocence.

She ushers both of us into her sitting room and chuckles. “I may have heard of a possible visit. But I never reveal my sources.” She sends Senya a sly look. “However, I told this source to ensure the visit happened before my first sleep.” I chuckle at Akua’s reference. Senya and I gave her sleep shifts because she would sleep for a couple of hours and then wake again. She literally has three shifts of sleep. It made it impossible to sneak around or get anything past her when we were younger.

Senya rolls his eyes. “I tried, Auntie. But you know how stubborn he is. It took an hour to convince him to come here.” Just as I suspected, Akua knows all. She knows the predicament I’m in. The woman has always made it her business to know and manage my business. Akua fixes her stare on me.

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