Page 8 of Possessing the Prince

Kofi stares at me with his mouth set in a perfect straight line. “Senya, you did not express any such sincerity with me.”

I shake my head. “I did. Remember when you stormed in on Afia’s truth-telling session at Adom’s installation? You asked if I was in love with her and I said yes.”

He nods. “Yes, I remember that fiasco, but I thought you were just saying that to get me to agree with your foolishness. I knew the two of you never passed up a chance to hop into bed every time I sent you to check on her. But, love? Really?!?”

I arch my eyebrow and he raises his hands in defense.

“Look! Do not look at me like that, brother—I always knew what you two were up to. As king, it is my business to know the affairs of everyone in my employ. Even you. But I never thought you actually fell in love with Abena Owusu. I mean, she was technically my fiancée. Of course, you more than anyone knew I had no plans to marry her—”

I interrupt him. “And the only reason I didn’t just tell you…what I knew, you already knew…is for the sake of plausible deniability. It is my job to protect you and the crown. It would not have looked good if it ever got out that you never took that betrothal seriously. Even though it was foolish…it was signed in blood. I couldn’t just make Abena my woman or talk to you like she was. That would have been improper.”

Kofi nods and waves his hands in dismissal. “Yes, of course. Look, you don’t have to defend your actions. It’s not like I was vying for her affections, and she sure as hell wasn’t vying for mine. I‘m happy for you if you love her. You were always discreet and to be honest…I didn't give a damn about Abena’s love life. I prayed she would find someone else and run away. But, it just seems so unlike you to invest in such a complicated situation.”

I sigh. This is the awkward conversation I wanted to avoid. I have loved Abena since we were all in secondary school, and I hated myself for it. I knew I could never have her because I was not royal, and I wasn’t fully Ashanti, either. There was also the chance Kofi might really honor their marriage contract. He never took any other woman seriously, and I thought Abena was amazing. I figured it would only be a matter of time before he figured it out, too. But he never did. Once his father passed and I revealed I was his brother, he opened up even more, telling me the plans he had to break the betrothal to Abena one way or the other. Then Ella came, and my entire world opened up to the possibility of Abena really being mine.

This conversation makes me realize how trapped Abena really has been her entire life. Marriage, in her mind, is equivalent to bondage. Even now, we are talking about her like she is a commodity to be wanted, discarded, or traded. Did Kofi ever think that she didn't want him either? He never even let Abena know he was marrying Ella; she had to find out from Akua. He dismissed her as if she didn't matter, which is probably why she was so willing to believe Akua’s little lies. She was frustrated and angry at the disrespect. She’s a human being. Kofi meant no harm, but his upbringing blinded him in some ways that only being married to Ella, a true womanist, has enlightened him of.

“Yes, Kofi. The complication was worth it because I love her. I would have never touched her if you had expressed any interest in fulfilling the betrothal.”

Adom laughs. “That must be some good love. Technically, Kofi could have thrown you in jail for falling in love with a woman promised to him. You know, Senya, I’m starting to like you more and more, brother. You do break the rules sometimes, huh?”

I roll my eyes at Adom. He always thought I was just some Kofi suck-up who never did anything wrong. There are sides of me he doesn’t know, though he should: We share that same crazy bloodline. “Hush, Adom! I never meant to fall in love with her. That was never my plan. It just happened.”

Adom sucks his teeth and throws me a cynical look. “What just happened? The first time she fell on your dick or the moment you made the decision to let her fall into your heart?”

I glare sharply at Adom. His mouth has always been slick, but he doesn’t know that’s my wife he’s talking about. “Adom, don’t talk about Abena falling on dicks.”

He laughs but backs off. “My fault, brother. No disrespect intended.”

I run my hand over my closely cropped hair and take a deep breath. “Look, what is done is done. That is all that matters. And I intend to marry her, so what are we offering Chief Owusu when we knock? I need him to say yes the first time we come.” Because his daughter already belongs to me.

Kofi lays a sleeping Panin on a prepared pallet and Adom does the same with Kumaa, who also fell asleep despite being jostled repeatedly.

“Before we start planning that, I have one final question. Does Abena love you?”

I feel my blood turn hot in my veins. Anger washes over me like a river. Kofi is asking me the one question I do not have a ready answer for. He is asking because he knows the answer is likely not one I like.He knows Abena well.But he does not know her like I do. She may not admit it, but she loves me. That is why I needed to marry her quickly. She needs to face the fact she belongs to me and that no one else will love her like I can. Our wedding night didn’t go the way I imagined it would. She’s now scared to physically connect to me. That’s never happened before, and I was taken aback. Hopefully, that will fix itself once we start to live as husband and wife.

“Abena has not said so. But I know she does. Her father has fucked her up in the head and heart. She’s only had the chance to see relationships as transactions. But I know how she feels even if she runs from it. She will face her feelings soon.”

Kofi stands in front of me with his arms crossed over his broad chest. I need to get in the gym more. He is almost as big as me now, and that cannot stand. I am his head of security, not the other way around. “Ah. Now I see. I wondered what really spurred you to accept her proposal. You think you can change her and that she will fall in love and become a domestic goddess for you. That is a fool’s errand, brother. Abena is like a wounded cub. She will not give herself over to you easily. Can you trust her?”

Another punch to the gut. I trust Abena with a lot of things, but I don’t know if I can trust her with my heart yet. Right now, I know she’d run far away from me and Ghana at first chance. But that will change. Instead of answering Kofi, I dismiss him with a slight wave of my hand and fix my eyes on the sleeping babies. But he does not let me get off that easily. He steps closer and slaps his hand on my shoulder. The look in his eye is one of concern.

“Are you prepared to lose her at the end of this?”

“No. Because I never lose.”

Kofi smirks and slaps my shoulder again. “OK. You have made up that Ewe mind of yours. I do not want to see you hurt. Adom and I will do whatever we can to make this work for you and the kingdom.” I turn to Adom and he nods in agreement before Kofi continues. “Now what can we tempt the chief of Tarkwa with?”

Adom shrugs. “Gold always works.”

I lean over and place my elbows on my needs. “Yes, it generally does. But Kwabena Owusu has access to gold. That is his business, even if it seems to be failing at the moment. He’s hemorrhaging money from everywhere, but especially his gold mines. I think we need to give him entrance into a new industry. Chief Owusu has always been a greedy bastard. I was thinking something along the lines of real estate.”

Kofi nods. “He’s always wanted a piece of land out here in Bobiri. The forest is big enough for both of us. We can offer him a nice plot of land 20 miles south of here. I think if we offer him that along with some gold reserves and my potential backing of Thomas as Kumasi’s Chief Executive, he will relent.

Adom coughs and I look at Kofi with wide eyes. He hates Thomas Owusu more than his father. The last time they were in close proximity, he broke his nose. “You would tolerate Thomas as mayor…for me?”

Kofi chuckles before leaning down and placing his hand on my shoulder. “You have given your life to me and protected me from seen and unseen dangers since we were boys. I would give away half my kingdom to you or Adom if it meant your happiness.” Kofi briefly turns to Adom, who is as shocked as I am by his declaration. “You two are my brothers. Besides Ella, Akua, and the twins, there is no one else I care about. We will do what it takes to secure the kingdom and your happiness.”

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