Page 32 of Kenan's Mate
Chapter Fifteen
“Go ahead and open it.”
Grinning shyly, I crouch down and flip the lid open. Thick white papers in a variety of sizes rest in a pile. Tucked beside them are several small canvases. There are paints, brushes, and long colorful sticks resembling chalks. Delight fills me as I rummage through the box of treasures.
I will be able to create artwork, for the first time in years. Utterly astonished, I smile up at Kenan through tears of joy.
“This is wonderful! Thank you, Kenan! How did you know?”
He pats the top of my head. Relief spreads over his face, as if he’d been fretting over whether or not I would like the present. “You spend a great deal of time looking at the artwork in our house, Laylah, and once you talked in your sleep and I clearly heard you say, ‘How can you do this to me? I love painting and creating things. It makes me happy.’”
I rise up and throw my arms around him, hugging him tight as a giggle erupts from my throat. “Funny. I didn’t know I talk in my sleep. Oh, thank you. This means the world, Kenan.”
Though he’d brought me books once, it had never occurred to me to request art supplies, or any other items from town, and I’m in absolute awe Kenan has surprised me with such a thoughtful gift.
“Were you an artist on Earth?”
“Well, I wanted to be, but it didn’t quite work out.” In the weeks that we’ve been together, we’ve shared tidbits from each other’s cultures, but I’d been rather vague about my parents and never told him of the brother and grandmother I lost under tragic circumstances. Or about my desire to attend a high school for the arts, only for my parents to insist I not change schools and instead start taking more science and math classes. Perhaps I ought to open up to him more.
Kenan carries the huge box effortlessly into the house and upstairs, but we don’t enter our bedroom. Instead, he ventures down the long hallway to a virtually empty room with three large windows and two wide skylights. Lots of natural light and perfect for creating artwork.
As he sets the box down, I start jabbering about all the things I’ve never told him, and the whole time, it feels like I’m unburdening my soul.
The rain has stopped, and the sun is already peeking through the lingering clouds. We sit in the middle of the empty floor and talk as if we’re long lost friends. I speak of the little town in Florida where I grew up, and of my brother’s and grandmother’s untimely deaths, and of my hardworking parents whose greatest fear was I would become my brother. As I tell him everything, he hangs on my every word, hardly blinking as he stares at me with apt interest.
Kenan’s face lights up when I mention the moons of Tallia and how, as a child, my love of painting and drawing began because I was intrigued by the beautiful images of this strange new world and reveled in recreating them with my own artistic flare. When I speak of giving up on pursuing a career in art, he caresses my hand and nods solemnly in understanding.
Once I finish, I urge him to describe his life after leaving the research facility his father raised him in.
“My mother returned to her mate, the Kleaxian who should have been my father. I was sent to be fostered here, in my uncle’s residence on Dennian Mountain. My uncle, Prince Diazan, saw past my human tendencies and raised me like a true Kleaxian. He taught me how to fight and embrace my full Kleaxian ancestral memories. Once he passed away, I became the protector of this mountain.”
“Who is the Kleaxian king? Your grandfather?”
“Yes, my grandfather, whom I’ve never met, is the King of Tallia. When he dies, my mother’s oldest brother is next in line. I’ll never be king, Laylah, because of my tainted blood. But I consider myself fortunate to have a place in this world, despite the sins of my biological father.”
“How often do you see your mother now?”
His face darkens. “I don’t see my mother. The last time I saw her was the day we were freed from the facility. Her mate has forbidden her to see me, as is his right as a Kleaxian male.”
“But that’s so sad.” I squeeze his hand. “I’m sure she probably longs to see you, Kenan. Have you tried contacting her?”
“It’s not that simple.” He smiles, though the grin doesn’t reach his eyes, then he stands up. He offers me his hand. By now, it’s dark outside, and only the sconces illuminate the room. “Come. Let us enjoy dinner on the patio. The sky always sparkles after a rainfall.”
Kenan’s right. The stars are brighter and the moons a magnificent shade of orange. He explains it has to do with the pressure change in the atmosphere after a precipitation, but I only half listen because I’m in awe of the beautiful night. Above the treetops in the distance, flashes of white and pink indicate thewatchers of the nightare out and about, come out of their hiding spots after the rain.
Heggal and another servant attend us, bringing forth seafood dishes and even a dessert that reminds me of chocolate cheesecake. Kenan allows me to partake in two glasses of wine but again shakes his head when I request a third. I don’t have much of a buzz from the two glasses I’ve already partaken, and I’m a tad annoyed by his refusal, and even a little suspicious my wine might have been watered down. The servants had poured my wine from a different pitcher than his.
“I’m not a child, you know,” I say, crossing my arms.
He raises an eyebrow at me. “Are you finished with your dessert?”
“Yes,sir.” I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but I’m totally sassing him. He’s revealed so much more of himself today, the darkness and the light, than he has during the last few weeks, that I’ve dropped my guard.
His eyes glimmer dark, and he shifts in his seat. I would bet a trip to Earth he has a raging hard on. We rise from our seats and, sure enough, there’s a huge bulge at the front of his pants. I pretend not to notice, though I sway my hips as I move toward him, ever aware and rather excited by the effect I have on him. As he turns, obviously expecting me to follow him into the house and upstairs, a naughty impulse strikes me and I snatch up his half-full glass of wine.
“Don’t you dare, Laylah.” His voice comes out as a deep growl.
He doesn’t turn around, but he must have heard me pick up the glass. More than once, he’s told me Kleaxians possess senses superior to a human’s.
