Plotting
Essence jumped up and down. “Who in the mother-fuckity-fuck are you calling a mani—wait, I thought you didn’t talk?”
Cayden’s mouth fell to the floor as he stared at his brother. “You talked?!” he shouted, but Kano’s eyes remained trained to Essence. Though she could hardly see them past his long shaggy hair, she knew yet again he was glaring. She rolled her eyes, and Kano huffed before storming away from her.
Turning to Cayden, she folded her arms to her chest. “Your brother usually shouts at people? Because let me tell you, that is not how you make friends.”
He shook his head. “You’re the first person he’s said anything to in over a century.”
Her throat dried as she watched the burly man walk back to his room. Mulling over the idea of being his mate, she quickly dismissed the notion.
Sitting at the breakfast table, Essence worked on her second helping. She pointed her fork at the servants. “Which one of y’all made the French toast?”
A beautiful older woman looked at Cayden before slowly raising her hand. “I-I can make you something else, my lady. I’m sorry that it is not up to your standards.”
“Actually, I was about to say it’s good as hell. I like French toast that holds the syrup in the middle like a soup bowl. You killed this breakfast. Makes me wish I was staying for dinner.”
Cayden watched as the cook accidentally let out a wide grin of appreciation before quickly regaining her composure. He smiled at her. “Savina is the best cook we’ve ever had. Her filet mignon is to die for.”
Essence stared at him. “Is that like a special occasion meal?”
“Not really. A typical Tuesday meal, I suppose.”
“That’s the richest thing I’ve ever heard.”
His eyes gleamed in humor as he looked at Anastasia. “She always says what’s on her mind, huh?”
Anastasia laughed. “For as long as I’ve known her.” Grinning at Essence, she reached out for a high five. “Essence can get anyone to come out of their shell. She’s unapologetically her. That’s why I love her so much.”
Essence’s face flushed. “Thanks bestie, back at cha.”
“What about my brother?” Cayden asked as he tilted his head.
Essence arched her brow. “What about him?”
“Could you get him to come out of his shell?”
“That cranky hermit? We’d kill one another. You heard the way he screamed at me.”
He nodded. “Yes. I heard you get him to do something he hasn’t done in a century. I also heard him admit you were his mate.”
Her fork dropped to the plate. “Aye now, woah, get that star-struck look out of your eyes. I’m here on vacay, not to get toted to the altar.”
She’s perfect for Kano. He thought to himself. Turning to Savina, he said, “Please prepare Alpha Kano a plate of breakfast.” He watched everyone’s eyes widened.
“I thought you were the alpha?” Essence asked in confusion.
Cayden smirked. “So does everyone outside of this castle. Perhaps you can get my brother to tell you why. His room is the last one down the hall of his wing.” Handing her the plate, he watched curiosity line her face.
“You’re on,” she said, standing, and quickly left the dining room.
Anastasia laughed. “She’s going to kick your brother’s ass; I hope you know that.”
Kissing her fingers, Cayden smiled. “Good. It’s about time someone did.”
Knocking on Kano’s door, Essence jerked in shock as it flew open. Kano’s massive body stilled in front of her, the look on his face making it clear he was confused about her presence.
She sized him up. “Don’t be rude, I brought you breakfast.”
Cautiously, he took it from her and nodded before walking back into his room. Expecting that she’d leave, his eyes widened when she walked in. She looked around at the quaint room that differed completely from the others in the castle. Though warm, it was desolate and seemed more like a forgotten space than a bedroom.
She placed her hands on her hips as she continued to survey it. “It’s depressing as hell in here. You don’t have any pictures? Where’s your mirror, your tv? How are you supposed to get some trim when you don’t even make a woman want to come in here?” Kano tilted his head in confusion, and she laughed. “Oh, trim... um”—she scrunched up her face —“ass… uh… sex!” At the words, Kano dropped his plate onto the floor. She rushed over to him. “Oh! I’m sorry!” she said.
Bending down, she helped him clean up the spilled food. Faces close to one another, she got a look at his eyes for the first time. The blue of them was so pale, they looked almost clear. He stared at her through his bangs, unsure of what to do. She raised her hand and parted his hair slightly. “Your eyes are—” She paused, seeing his scar, and then her small hand touched it. “What happened to you?” she asked. Horrified by the interaction, he quickly turned away.
Kano stood and rubbed the back of his neck, making it clear how uncomfortable he was. Another person hadn’t touched him in so long outside of his brother. Yet, here was a woman so beautiful, even her angry face made him feel something inside, gently touching his face with eyes laced with concern. He watched his mate fold her arms to her chest.
“Okay… okay… I’m sorry for touching you. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” she said apologetically. As she turned to leave, Essence heard a faint husky whisper.
“Don’t apologize, and I’m sorry for this morning.”
She turned, and Kano avoided her eyes, but from his peripherals he saw her smile at him. “Can I stay?” she asked, and he nodded. Sitting on the bed, Essence looked him over. “You know, if you put a little work in, I’m sure that you could find someone special. There has to be a personality under all of that.” He fiddled with the items on his desk and somehow, she knew what he was thinking. She threw her hands up defensively. “Woah now, like I told your brother, I can’t be anybody’s mate. Y’all like to get married a little too quickly for me around here, and I’d make a terrible wife. I sleep in late, I’m moody, and I have not one nurturing bone in my body.”
Her nerves kicking in, she rambled, “Plus, I looked out y’all window like ten times and I have not seen one black person around here! It’s like Get Out and Essence fully plans on getting the fuck out of here alive. I mean, around the club was different; here it’s all peaceful and shit! How the hell do you live like this? You can literally hear a serial killer scratching at the door. I know I would get murdered here; I just know it! Oh my God! What if I end up on Forensic Files and some bitch skips my episode because it’s boring?! I would have died for the turn up and I wouldn’t even be worth the hour needed to learn about who killed me!”
Kano turned to look at her, only making her ramblings worse. “I have amenities… I have needs! You see my hair? This was a bomb ass dye job. These French braids demand upkeep. I love my protective styles, and y’all probably don’t have a hair store around here, and if y’all do, I know it’s a Sallys! No offense, but I need a hood spot. I need one that sells hair, clothes, jewelry, soda, contacts, makeup… shoes… I need my hair store to provide me with an entire outfit!
“Then my nails—” She lifted her coffin-shaped nails—“you have to go to a particular place to get these right. You know how on Martin they had to get the special tools for Myra’s feet? Fucking hell, you probably don’t know what Martin is, do you? It’s funny—you would like it—but I need that type of place! The type where they’re cool, and they know your name, and you have an assigned tech that talks shit about you, but that doesn’t even matter because they can do the shit out of some nails! I can’t live here, it’s unconstitutional! It’s probably not, but I don’t know, I’m panicking! Why the hell is your room so hot! I—”
In her panic, she hadn’t realized that Kano had walked over to her. He caressed her face gently, unsure if it was the correct thing to do. He’d seen his brother do it sometimes on his dates, and he’d hoped it would calm her, and not land him on his ass again. He heard her breathe in deep. “I-I can’t stay here, okay?” she said, and he nodded, moving away.
Essence could feel his loneliness throughout the entire room. “Do you ever leave here?” she asked, and he shook his head. “How did you meet people, then?” He fiddled with his fingers and moved, distancing the space between them even more. She felt sadness seep into her. “You don’t meet people, do you? But why? Does it have something to do with you being the real alpha?”
He froze and then slammed his fist hard into the desk, slightly cracking it. Cayden. He thought as he tried his best to control his anger, not wanting her to leave because of it. Blowing steam from his nose, he paced, and Essence nodded in understanding.
“Okay… okay… no worries, we don’t have to talk about that, but I know that you’re not a lost cause.” Kano folded his arms to his chest and looked at her in confusion. “What if you get a replacement? You seem—um, how do I say this? Potentially not psycho killerish. Women like that. A makeover, and some pointers from your brother, you can definitely get you some trim.” Kano hated the word even more the second time she said it. His face turned beet red, and she couldn’t help but to chuckle. “And you adorably blush. Women like that too,” she said.
“Brother, we’re getting married!” Cayden shouted as he and Anastasia entered the room. Kano moved quickly to him, engulfing him in a hug.
Essence hugged Anastasia and gawked at her hand. “Girlll, that ring is huge! What the hell? He just had it lying around?!” She cut her eyes, and mouthed to Kano, “YoubetternottellthemwhatIsaidaboutmarriage.”
He smirked and then looked at Cayden in confusion. Why didn’t he give her mom’s ring? He was certain he would have. Ever perceptive, Cayden pulled him close and whispered, “You know why.” He tilted his head to Essence. Kano’s eyes mimicked the size of plates, and he shook his head frantically.
“Ask her,” Cayden linked to Anastasia, who smiled sweetly before grabbing Essence’s shoulders.
“E, I was wondering if you would be my maid of honor. Planning a wedding is huge and—”
“Yessss!!!!” Essence shouted, making her laugh before Anastasia regained focus.
“Um… but here’s the thing, I’d like to have you by my side during all of this… so I was hoping you’d consider making your stay a little longer.”
Essence raised her brow. “How much longer are we talking?”
“Six months.”
“Six months?! Ani, you might be marrying rich as fuck, but I’m still po’. I have to get back to work an—” Her words stopped, seeing Kano’s massive body stumbled backward in awkward shock. He shook his head and glared, knowing what Cayden and Anastasia were plotting. However, because she didn’t catch on to the true reason he’d said no—only that he’d said it—Essence looked at him in fury. Placing her hands on her hips, she spoke to Anastasia while glaring at him. “You know what? I’ll work it out, bestie. Six months? I’d love to stay.”