☆☆•°If the eyes do not admire, the heart will not desire°•☆☆

I lightly traced the jagged scars, they were the only reminder I had of my unfortunate runnings with one of my fathers victims. "Carry your scars with pride, my queen." Makhosi had said lovingly as his fingers trailed down their path causing goosebumps to erupt from his soft touch.

I breathed deeply allowing all my fear to cocoon itself and emerge as a new found sense of confidence. "Your scars, they tell a story the blind can see and the deaf can hear. My Nehoreka, you are a survivor." Makhosi's voice recited the words in my mind, he wanted me to feel comfortable and proud of what I saw as my insecurities.

Azile's soft voice broke me out my thoughts as I tied up my braids into a high ponytail. "My queen, the king requests your presence immediately in the forrest." I nodded my head in response as I followed her into the forrest. A small pain shot up from my leg as we walked but I ignored it as we reached a clearing. Makhosi emerged from the thicket of trees, the sun's rays beating harshly against his skin causing it to glisten. His body was ladened with weapons, his hand held a spear whilst a bow hung loose from his other hand and the arrows slung over his right shoulder. He looked intimidating, like the spirit of death striding towards me to steal my soul and yet the only thing he had stolen was my heart.

A breathtaking smile curled onto his lips as his eyes fell on me resulting in my stomach knotting in nervousness, only his gaze could make me want to melt like freshly ground peanutbutter.

"Thank Azile, you may leave us now." Makhosi instructed, his voice sending shivers down my spine. Azile bowed, a knowing smile crossing her lips before she disappeared into the forrest of trees, leaving me with him. He towered over me, his body so close to mine I could feel the heat radiating off his body.

"My queen, today I'll be teaching you how to defend yourself and how to fight back. You will have a guard with you at all times when I am not present. The ancestors be damned if anything were to happen to you again." He was serious, my safety was now his top priority and he would make sure I was safe at all times.

"Now, my queen you'll learn how to defend yourself and how to shoot from the bow and arrow." His words caused excitement to surge through me, it had always been my dream to learn how to fight like a warrior, memories flashed before my eyes as my younger self hiden behind the bushes watching the warriors learning how to fight. Mother would always catch me before I could learn much, dragging me towards the kitchen, her fingers pinching my ear telling me to behave as woman and not a man. I smiled fondly at the memory as I received the bow in my hands.

Makhosi had his arms around me as he made sure my posture was correct. "Feet should be shoulder width apart, right arm drawn back ready to release the bow and your feet point towards the target." He instructed me carefully, as he studied my posture. "Very good, now aim for the Msasa tree over there." He said his finger pointing towards the tree directly infront of me. I drew the bow back before releasing it. The bow shot through the air before plunging through the bark of the tree. "Perfect, my queen. That was perfect."He marvelled, his pearly white teeth revealed in his signature smile.

"We move onto hand to hand combat. So I'm going to teach you how to disarm the opponent and put them into a position where they are unable to move." I nooded as I placed the bow and arrows carefully onto the emerald green grass.

"You grab the arm with the knife, you twist it and move so that they're back is what you're face then you'll kick both they're knees so the fall. So try that on me." He said holding the dagger in his hand.

I grabbed his arm, the muscles flexed beneath my fingers causing my brain to go blank, forgetting everything he had just said. My legs swept him off balance causing us to tumble to the floor. My back slammed into the hard ground. His large frame straddled me, my cheeks began to burn with embarassment as I realised our position. His dark eyes were filled with amusement as a smirk tugged at the corners of his plump lips that looked so soft.

He slowly leaned in, his lips brushing against mine causing my breath to escape me before he crashed his lips into mine,his minty breath invaded my nostrils. My stomach was fluttering with butterflies as heat enveloped every inch of my body. He was passionate and yet gentle.

"My king, forgive my intrusion I-" A masculine voice interupted causing Makhosi to groan in response as he broke the kiss. His eyes flickered towards the intruder who cowered back in fear from the glare Makhosi shot at him.

Makhosi rose from the floor whilst stretcing out his hand to help me up. "What is it?" He questioned annoyance dripping from the tone of his voice.

"The Karanga have sent a messenger." The young male squeaked timidly in response. Makhosi nodded his head as he placed a gentle kiss onto my forhead. "Go home, I'll be back soon." He murmured into my ear sending another round of shivers down my spine before he disappeared into the forrest.