Even lying six feet in his grave, that old man still found a way to sat 'I told you so.'

For years and years on end, I calculated the perfect method, re-ran the steps countlessly and even cleared many schedules to finally exact my revenge. But in the end, something fumbled, and it was me. I thought I added the exact amount, but I will not lie to myself and swear on my name. I didn't remember, in fact all memories churned until they were nothing but foam, all because I refused to let it go.

Refused to focus on what was important and allowed it all on the man that occupied every corner of my thoughts. Now, it is this very man, that sits with me in the car, surveying my every shift and mood. His constant gaze burns, shifting from the road to peer at me behind him. As if he placed the lens of a magnifying glass right above me, concentrating the brightest ray down onto my skin, burn through the layer to see the real me I keep concealed inside.

A queen must always keep her head high, never to bow, she must always be the leader, and role model for her people. Crying, hate, and love is all weakness. A public figure for anyone to have opinions I didn't ask for, watching every move I make and the way I carry myself. I will always be the end and front of a joke, not even a speck should be on my hair, never to touch my favorite foods or even enjoy a moment where I could be alone and riding a Ferris wheel.

Any weight gain, or wrinkle and I'll be mercifully ridiculed.

Patrick trained me to keep up my defenses, keep my walls iron clad from any invading threats, even the ones who I knew from a very long time. That is my story. That is who Tiana Okum is.

But Nasir. I mellowly sigh out but the very thought of his name, feeling those tingles of ecstasy spread throughout my body. I finally see him in a new light, and a part of me is ashamed for not seeing it before, or maybe I did but chose to hate him out if the simple fact that I valued the way of the crown and turned him away when he needed me most.

A guard of the Mafia, that is who he is. He cannot act or think on his own accord without orders. His new life is to keep the King safe with every fiber of him, and now me.

I blamed him for it all, choosing to believe the one who deceived me from the beginning thinking he was the hero, and allowed punishment to rain upon Nasir, and despite it all, there he was even until now. Just like how he promised me when we were younger that he would always protect me.

And now, let me try and protect him, all I ask in return heavenly father, please still the way my heart beats when he is near, please silence these erotic impulsive thoughts when I only take a glimpse down his body, rid the memories of him bare under the running shower, and please delete that part of me that secretly wished I had joined him when he offered.

"Are you alright my queen." The cold palm of Charlotte on my arm shook me from my prayers.

"Y-yes." I croaked with a haste and cleared the gravel spewing in my chest.

Her trimmed brows furrow, "You're quiet, and heating up?"

On cue, the A.C blew with more pressure, wafting right through our faces.

"Is that too much or is this enough?" He drawls. The drift of his bass is mellifluous, massaging the leather of my seat. Concentrating on forbidden parts.

I swallowed. I can't unhear the way Lady Abena described him. A height that makes me feel as though I am on my knees before him, body carved beautifully like the stoned sculptors of Greek mythology, scars and tattoos that decorate the bulge of his muscles and forearm, and the melodic drip of his deep voice that run through me like forbidden nectar. My tongue runs along my lips gaping at his veined calloused hand gripping the steering wheel.

I am reminded than of the forbidden lists, I had to read before my coronation. And saw the major words bolded at the very bottom. Desire, lust and treason.

***

The sailing drift of the car turns scrunchy and I pursed my lips to the sight of the cars parked in the driveway.

"What is all of this?" Charlotte questioned.

I throw my eyes to every special made designer vehicle and the modern-day cars, "What day is it?" I asked aloud.

"March 1st" Charlotte responds.

I groaned deeply, rolling my eyes to the back of my head, as I released a tensed sigh.

"What is it?" Charlotte asks me with a worried whisper, watching my silent agony.

"It is gift day. Everyone here is gathered to speak to us individually on new ideas on monuments they would like to build, or our inputs on business and what nots." I try to sound enthusiastic about the topic, but I blew out a harsh breath towards the end.

"Kind of like a gift day." Charlotte beams. "But this would be your first one?"

"No, I came to one with my father, so he I could observe as practice. It is just a hassle, and I would need to have the best judgment."

"I trust your judgement." he says. His whole statement sets a tone, a mood he wanted to create that put me at an ease. and it worked, I had no control over my lips curling with amusement, before clearing my throat.

The whole car falls in silence, but the crunching rocks of the pavemented castle entrance. His eyes keep to mine as we waited for the gates to open, tension clouding the limited spaces until Charlottes voice cut through the haze. "I take it the meeting will be called afterwards?"

"Charlotte." Nasir calls. "What do you think Gunter needs with us, especially you particular."

I watch her shoulder steadily draw in, "I don't know sir." something in the way her voice drifted worried me.

I reach to her, clasping our hands to give her a reassuring squeeze, despite the weapons and scars she wields, her hands were like touching pads of lilies. Delicate pedals of rich growth when handled with proper care. But if one is not careful, their fingers could be gashed by the thorns.

The people parted in two at the presence of the royal car, making way for the, their overcrowding figures blur the scene of the entrance. The royal doors held open, and a red carpet laid onto the ground.

Nasir parked just at the center, right to the scornful eyes of the elites that were there a couple of weeks back during my denouncement. The car dips with a slight jump and it follows by the closing door. Charlottes palm reassuringly squeezing my hand mine feeling my burning anxiety, a gesture in thanks for what I did for her earlier, until my door is clicked open.

The gentle breeze plays lightly with my hair, fanning down on me like a blowing breath and along with the invincible drift, his scent is swayed along with it, he extends his larger calloused palm to me. I gulped. Hesitant in the beginning but slithered my softer palm right into his, trusting him with every firm clasp, he lifts me as if were a feather, and there I was again right next to him.

It was all I needed in that moment, a touch, but with the gaping eyes surrounding us I force my head to align, keeping stoic in every step, those that were devoted to me bowed, but those that slice me open with their eyes only nodded until I am guided inside following along the red marooned carpet. Laid flatly on the tiled floor of the castle and it leads us towards the thrones of the ballroom, butlers and maids scurrying like pigeons at the roaring command of Gunter.

"I told you I wanted this in red!" He spouts angrily, raising his tone like a mighty God before my butlers who cowers from fear.

"Gunter!" I cut in. And he twists to me, his face burning red at the temple and cheeks. Blue eyes drift to me and soften, but drifted higher to Nasir on the side of me and smirked.

"Finally showed up huh wife?" He stalks towards me, casually slipping his hands into his pockets with a carefree demeanor.

With a nod of my head, I dismiss the two behind me, not before Gunter's eyes shifted to Charlotte and calls out her name.

"There will be a meeting held tonight. Both of your presence is mandatory." He spoke to the two, but his eyes clash with Nasir, "Dismissed."

I fight that urge to watch him leave my side, already missing his presence, and force myself to look up to Gunter and smile. Strong arms coil around my waist and he pulls me in until I am flush against his frame.

"Where were you?" he asks me, watching every speck of gleam in my eyes.

It churns my blood. His touch, his proximity, and the way I feel him cupping my ass. The very man that denounced me in front of all, lied to me, and hurt Nasir. Gunter, the son of the mafia king, Adelhied.

His name is now at the very top of my list. I mellow in his embrace, knowing we are being watched by all, especially Nasir. Gunter is now my new target, and the root to my problems. It'll be my secret to bare, first his minions and than him.

My arms fold around his neck, displaying the most loving smile I could think of and lifted my legs until our lips meet as one. He stiffened with shock, but pulls me in tighter with his arms and slithers his tongue into my mouth. Molding, popping and moans, we stand there like a happy couple proving to all just how much we loved each other, despite that feeling that twists in my gut.

Lightly we parted, my arm still folded around his neck, and his around my waist. "That was new." he commented with starry eyes.

I toy with the first button of his dress shirt. "I can't surprise my husband."

His orbs shimmer, pressing his growing erection against me "Mmm, I thought you might have hated me after that day."

"I will not lie." I began to lie, "I am still trying to see you more as my husband, and not my enemy, however I took a step today and decided to seek therapy."

He cocks a brow in astonishment, "Is that so?"

"It will take time." I continued. "But eventually I will be shaped into the wife, a king like you deserves."

He hums intriguingly and the darkest grin stretched wide across his face, so dark it had me slightly quiver in his palms. Had my trick deceived him? I could only tell by the stars sparkling in the corner of his deep blue. "You should go change now." he whispers above me. "You will be accompanying me as my wife."

A cold breath frees through my nostrils, but I honed the way his eyes never left, even when I smiled in a loving notion. Whether he bought it or not, I will participate as his wife, still holding onto a title strong enough to keep my respect.

***

The emerald green of my jewels paired eloquently with the charmeuse gown that runs its silk down to the floor, sleeves hang by the biceps and the bronze of my skin glows like neon, simple makeup applied to heighten my natural beauty, and raven hair gathered into a high bun at the top of my head. I stand firm, holding my gaze to the mirror, analyzing my looks while the maids gather and arrange my dress to a suitable look for a queen.

Long lashes fan my cheeks with every blink and soon they burn hot when his figure appears just the opened door. With a forearm braced at the wall, legs crossed and a hand in his pockets. He changed from his cozy compression shirt into a noble man. Well fitted and sharp, and hair ties to a bun just like me. Nasir looks at me solemnly with hooded eyes, a golden chain hanging around the neck. His presence always demanding attention, but there is more about that stance and i could already tell the meaning.

With no glance down to the maids, I ask softly. "Please leave us." Each bow to my soft command and looked to the large man standing by the door, and scurried beside him until it were only him, me and the irregular drums of my chest.

"You look beautiful." he says as I tended to flattening my edges. "Your always beautiful." he continues, a mischievous smirk in the making as those eyes turned coal black, raking it down my figure.

I force my smile to stay at bay, but his cologne is heavenly. "Thank you." I croaked.

His gaze is harsh through the reflection, I couldn't decide of my body was cold or hot, but I wanted to intrigue him more, and have him watch me unzip it until I am stark bare for him.

"So what was that?" he finally says, removing his hands from his pockets to fix his cuffs. Those charcoal robs never left me for a moment, and they only grew darker. I gulped gravely, watching the way he undoes his cuffs and rolls the sleeve up to the elbow, as if he prepped to really give me a spanking.

In light of my burning desire, I reminded myself to keep my shoulders high. "He was asking where I was, I had to change the subject."

From the way he continues to glare at me, my response was either to his liking and I am clear, or it was goo enough but I was still being spanked.

"I see." he says, stepping close to me from behind.

"He is your husband after all." he grins behind me, the lines of his lips twitching at the top corner. "Good girl."

I stepped away, in dire need of fresh oxygen, walking towards the lonely window of my room where the people spoke amongst themselves from below. "I want to join you Nasir."

His silence was loud.

"I want to help you find these cults. And take Gunter down."

A gruff noise emanated from his chest, and I turned to him standing there with softly knitted brows.

"I want to join you and the others. With my influence it will be a breeze on getting into places you are in need." he steadily closes the distance between us, leaving me no chance but to push my back further into the wall, away from the window. "I want to be there for you Nasir, I want to stand by your side and see through all of this."

I crane to look up to him, fighting the urge to not buckle to the proximity. My voice sounding like a silent cry. Needy and hoarse. "I w-want to be by you." I said that more for me than the reason itself.

"Why?"

My lips purse, holding back the fresh tears soon to awaken, now that he is up close, I could count the scars around his neck and the fresh bruises that adorn with it.

"We promised to always be together remember." I shrugged with a bright smile.

Because I failed you, when you needed me at your side.