Male/ho’āo/Mer’ä #2
When I looked at him he was standing in a cream-colored suit with a linen wrap on his head. One thing I could say about the current king of Persia: he was far more humble and faithful than his father. He practiced his faith and in certain formal occasions covered his hair out of respect.
“Afshin, has someone caught your eye?” It was clear his words were the humble way he expressed his interest and I found that even that was respectful as hell.
He blinked as though it took him a minute to remember that he was alive. When he nodded slowly, the woven linen wrap that covered his head shifted as some of his curly hair peeked through from underneath. When he didn’t rush to cover it I could tell he was completely enthralled.
“I do not believe I’ve ever eseen a woman so beautiful in all my life.”
I studied him before glancing around the room with Xerxes and Yacouba trying to see who he was looking at.
“Where is she? We know everyone here. It’ll only be a problem if you’re talking about one of the women who are already taken.
” Yacouba’s in love ass was now vested since I was the last of us besides Jem to get married.
I was sure he would be eyeing somebody for her soon enough.
Being in love had turned him into a romantic and he had no issue playing matchmaker, judging by the conversation we’d had at my bachelor party.
Wild times.
Of course getting married this year had been nowhere on my bingo card so who was I to judge his change in behavior?
My getting married was the antithesis to my personality but I was ready to speak vows and join my life with this fiery woman dancing with her twin and making me feel in ways I didn’t want to.
I’m fucked.
“She is standing near your wife, Xerxes.” Afshin drew me out of the thoughts when he mentioned the positioning of the woman he was enthralled with. Because he couldn’t mean—
“Oh, boy.”
Yacouba scratched the back of his head and glanced at me ready to jump in between the two of us.
We were all in suits, as Jada had planned a formal rehearsal dinner for tonight.
The Warren in Middleburg was the only five-star hotel in the DC area, and true to every other Warren property it was nothing short of perfect.
Midas had tried to gift us the rental fee as a wedding present but I told his cheap ass he was going to have to give us an actual gift.
We’d rented out the entire space, which comprised a large boutique hotel connected to a sprawling Georgian mansion.
It had formal English gardens, a touch that I appreciated for my bride since we weren’t getting married in either of her home countries.
I had her horse brought up so that she could ride him to relax and I knew she’d been on the trails part of the morning according to one of Alec’s men.
The rest of the day was spent with her bridal party at the on-site spa.
I glanced up and noticed who was standing next to Vanya and my brows furrowed.
I’m going to hate to ruin this suit.
“What is wrong?”
Afshin could feel the shift and I knew my hostility was radiating energy despite me trying to keep myself together. Every crystal in the chandeliers above us would be crushed and on the ground with the way I wanted to erupt at him desiring my future wife.
And to think I was just thinking highly of this nigga.
“That’s the bride to be.”
Afshin was immediately contrite taking his eyes off Asha and lowering his head in respect. “My apologies, Ori. My intention was not—”
“The one next to Vanya and Jasmine? Or the one next to Vanya and Nev?” Xerxes was studying his uncle before glancing toward the women. They’d formed some type of semi-circle and their positions had been switched around.
“I’m sorry?”
“Are you talking about the woman next to Nev or the one next to Jasmine?”
“Next to Nevaeh.”
His clarification forced me to release my breath, and my temper immediately cooled.
I was happy that I returned to the joy of this occasion instead of thinking about dismembering a monarch in front of a hundred of our closest friends.
Given the closeness of our affiliation they’d be able to help cover it up but now it wasn’t necessary.
“Then you’re in luck because that’s not the bride.” Yacouba was grinning and when his eyes met mine I knew the mischievous look was because of how I’d reacted to the mistake.
“How can you tell? Zhey’re literally mirror images.
But I confess the beauty in the deep pink held my rapt attention.
I did not notice the bride at first.” Afshin was back to staring a hole through Sasha who’d stepped off to the side to speak with Teegan.
Omega was within arm’s reach standing guard over the women.
Their dresses were the same but it didn’t matter because I could search Asha out in the dark with a thousand other bodies standing between the two of us and know when I’d reached her.
“Besides her sister being thinner than she is, I can just tell. Even though they’re trying to wear something that was loose enough so it wouldn’t be noticeable. I have no problem telling them apart.”
I filled in the differences between the women and I wondered if Asha kept her outfit similar enough to her sister’s so they wouldn’t know which was the bride. The only difference was that Sasha’s trim had been done in a hot pink color but at first glance it looked similar enough.
“Zhen zhis is truly an especial day.”
“Uncle, has Cupid come and shot you in zhe ass? You look at her like I look at my Vanya.”
Xerxes was grinning at his uncle who put his head down bashfully but I could tell he was battling the urge to put his eyes on Sasha.
“I can see her with a crown on her head wearing a beautiful white gown as she’s being crowned my queen.”
I looked at Xerxes so that he could get his uncle under control but he was just smiling like this shit was normal.
“Uhhh you not gonna step in?” I motioned toward his uncle with my head and Xerx’s hands went behind his back to emphasize how little he was going to interfere.
“Zhere is no need. Some of us, zhe lucky ones zhat Allah has blessed know when we have found our person. Do you zhink I would have gone zhrough such lengzs for someone ozher zan Vanya? No, I knew upon seeing her face zhat she was mine, I was hers and we were meant to be togezer. If zhat is how my uncle is feeling zhen zere is nozhing any of us can do. We cannot stand in zee way of fate.”
“What is her name?”
“That’s Sasha Avery.”
He scoffed as though her name was beneath her.
“No, her real name. No one would name a being as perfect as her somezhing as plain as Sasha. I can already tell her name holds power.” We were all looking at one another while Xerxes smiled.
I didn’t bother to wait too long and just gave him the information he wanted.
“It’s Asmarina.”
“After the capital city of Eritrea. Her name means united. Zhat is her purpose in zhis world.” He sounded smitten, damn near half in love and despite not wanting to give into my own feelings I was pissed that his kingly ass was showing me up at my own wedding function.
I just knew if he was anything like his nephew Afshin would start spittin’ game and have me looking out of my depth with my own wife.
I looked down at the king, and he had his eyes trained back on the twins. “How in the fuck—”
Xerxes hit me in the chest with the back of his hand taking my eyes off his uncle.
“Don’t even ask. I doubt whether he knows.
My uncle retains almost everyzhing and forgets nozhing.
It is what makes him so beloved by our people.
I’m attempting to understand how you zhink zhis outsider will be accepted, uncle. ”
“The better question is whether I care, nephew.”
And that solidified everything. I knew that Xerx got his swagger from his mama because Auntie Babette was bad as hell.
But this right here showed that Bijan had to be something in his own right to pull her.
And that arrogance was apparently hereditary because the normally calm king was speaking like a completely different man.
And damn if I didn’t have firsthand knowledge of how one of those twins could turn your world upside down.
“Well, he doesn’t drink so we will have to do so on his behalf. It seems my uncle has found the next queen of Persia,” Xerx slapped his uncle on the back and Afshin didn’t even blink an eye.
“I want you all to know that your meals are being cooked in a separate facility so there’s zero chance of cross-contamination. There’s no way we could’ve had a wedding and not roasted a pig but we wouldn’t disrespect you by preparing them together.”
“It was nice of you to consider us when making your plans.”
It was my turn to give a nod of respect because we were working together to assist Mr. Avery and maybe more in the future, given how he was looking at Sasha.
“Xerxes is my brother, you’re his family so that means you’re mine too. The rest of your entourage will have the same meals and I’ve already let the caterer know that you have someone who is overseeing the food and why. They won’t mess up.”
“We appreciate your care in this.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“Respecting another’s culture is a big deal.
It’s the highest honor you can give another person.
” His eyes went to Sasha and he stared at her with an intensity that was all too familiar.
At that moment the twins threw their heads back and laughed together the sun streaming in through the windows making them look angelic.
“Hopefully soon I will return the favor to you and your bride at my own nuptials.”
“I appreciate you allowing me to be here today.”
Faith looked lovely in a gold dress that had too many old muthafuckas looking her way. She might not have been around much lately but I still didn’t want somebody trying to get at her like that. Shit was weird.
“It wasn’t something that should’ve been up for debate.”