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MELISIZWE BU KUMKANI opened his heavy eyelids. The room was dark, except for the flicker of the hologram projected over his desk. He couldn’t remember at what hour he’d fallen asleep and didn’t know what time it was now. It was late enough for the lights in the garden, outside the picturesque window at his back, to have gone dark. They’d been on before he’d fallen asleep though, otherwise he would’ve turned on his office lights.
The last thing he’d remembered was researching the Laheath Kingdom. Their princess, Lu, was one of the nine off-world dignitaries arriving in the morning. He’d spent the past month learning each of his guests’ customs, down to the smallest detail. He wanted to make a good impression.
No. He had to make a good impression.
One of the nine would rule by his side as his bonded mate. Those he didn’t choose would hopefully become allies in his attempt to unify his homeworld, Ipakethe, once and for all.
Finally.
Melis wanted to stretch, yawn, work out the kinks in his neck and shoulders. He’d fallen asleep at an awkward angle again. His forehead teetered on the edge of his desk, one arm splayed across its surface, and the other hanging loosely at his side. Now he was awake, he felt the pain radiating across his forehead. The edge of the metal desk bit into his skin, down to his skull. He’d no doubt have to spend the morning trying to massage the indentation from his skin.
But even with the pain in his head and confusion about his sudden alertness, Melis remained still. His intuition was strong that he must.
He wasn’t sure what had awakened him, but it had been something unusual.
What?
It could be tension. He’d been on edge ever since coming up with the plan to ally his kingdom with an off-worlder months ago, and his nervousness had only grown when he’d invited the guests to his planet. Now that the day was almost here, and the staff scurried about preparing rooms, reviewed diets, and planned events, it was expected the increased anxiety of it all would have an adverse effect on him.
As the Kgosi, King, and sole Ruler of the bu Kumkani Kingdom since his father’s death five years ago, Melis was used to working himself to exhaustion. There was always so much to do, problems to solve, a kingdom to fix. Granted, this new endeavor was a huge undertaking, bigger than anything he’d ever done before, but it was a challenge he was up to.
He was one of five Kgosis on Ipakethe. Each kingdom separated by boundary lines held in place by threads of contention and shaky alliances. It was understood that each kingdom operated under their own rules, but the planet was governed by them all. Melis wanted something more for Ipakethe. Better. While the other Kgosis focused on their lands, Melis had his sights set on the galaxy.
A creak sounded from the right, by the door.
Was that what had woken him?
It wasn’t uncommon for his assistant, Huson, to come into his personal quarters to check in on him. Huson was one of his closest confidants, and would often wake Melis and insist he get into bed. Huson wouldn’t fuss over him—Melis wouldn’t appreciate that—but he was insistent at times, as a good assistant was supposed to be.
But no, the light whisper of footsteps entering his office wasn’t Huson. Huson would’ve entered making more noise than that. He wouldn’t want to surprise Melis. Huson was well aware of Melis’s prowess and training. Besides, Huson would’ve been tsk-ing and talking to himself under his breath, about how he wished he could get a good night’s sleep, just once, without worrying about Melis falling asleep awkwardly on his desk.
The creeper also wasn’t either of his heirs, his brothers, Themba and Mxolisi. They’d each found their true lifemates, and their nights didn’t consist of checking on Melis. Theirs were spent in bed, wrapped in the arms of the females they loved, and who loved them. A slight pang of jealousy stung his heart. He was happy for his brothers, but knew his fate was much different. As Kgosi he didn’t have the luxury of leaving such an important position to fate.
His future mate would arrive in the morning.
Well, he didn’t know which of the nine would end up with that honor. But, at the end of the visit, one would become his new queen and rule the bu Kumkani Kingdom at his side, as well as help him on his quest to lead Ipakethe in becoming a Class 5-ii planet. A designation given to planets with strong interplanetary alliances and open trade, that were also technologically advanced and had a unified governing system.
Creak.
Melis pushed the never-ending thoughts of alliances and mates aside. He would worry about that later. Right now, it seemed there was an intruder in his room.
How had they gotten past the palace guards or high-tech security system?
As Melis’s mind worked to figure out the answer, he clenched and unclenched his fist on the arm that hung, pumping the pooled blood to circulate again, preparing to fight and defend himself. Whoever crept through his room wouldn’t be able to see the movement. The oversized desk blocked his arm from view.
Creak.
Closer this time.
Almost close enough.
Creak.
The air above his head shifted. Melis rolled to the left. Something smacked the surface of his desk. Hard. The sound reverberated through the part of his body touching the desk. Melis slid off his chair and slammed it into the shadowy figure who stood inches from him, pinning the intruder against the desk.
His assailant tried to push away. Unable to get free, he slammed an object against Melis’s side. The crack hitting Melis’s ears was the sound of his ribs shattering. Pain radiated throughout his body. Melis fell to the floor, dragging the intruder with him. The attacker tried to stop his descent by grabbing Melis’s desk. Items came crashing down on them both.
A ceremonial dagger that had been passed down from his father, and his father’s father, fell with a thump, landing next to Melis’s shoulder. He grabbed it with one hand and wrapped his other arm about his struggling opponent’s neck, pinning the weapon he wielded between their bodies. The assailant kicked and punched anywhere on Melis’s body that he could reach with his free hand.
Melis wrapped his legs around the intruder’s body, further restricting his movements. “Who are you?”
“Your killer,” the assailant spat out, his voice full of venom.
“Lights!” The lights instantly illuminated his office, blinding Melis. He blinked until his eyes adjusted.
He didn’t recognize the person in his grasp. He was a Ngonyama who looked to be from one of the two larger kingdoms. They were known for their petite frames and agility. The Kgosis who ruled those regions weren’t happy Melis looked for an off-world mate. None of the other Kgosis were happy about the fact either, if Melis was being honest about it.
But would the other Kgosis really attempt to assassinate Melis, in order to stop him from going through with his plan?
His opponent wiggled his arm free and brought up the weapon again. A skull crusher. The sight of it sent coldness rushing through Melis’s veins. One blow to the head with the weapon made from bone and Melis’s brain would be splattered all over his carpet.
The intruder sneered and narrowed his eyes. He raised the skull crusher in the air, just as Melis rammed his dagger between his assailant’s ribs and twisted. A sickening cry left the intruder’s mouth, as the light flickered from his eyes. Hot blood pumped from the wound to cover Melis’s hand.
He didn’t know who’d sent the assassin, but one thing he knew for sure. Someone was willing to kill him to keep an off-worlder from being part-ruler of Ipakethe.
The stakes were now higher than Melis had ever imagined.