Kai Villalvazo’s Nemesis (The Kalon Tetralogy #1)

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

NIGHTFALL — DXVN.

" Be good, kiddo. I'm sure you'll nail it this season." My cousin, Kendrick, patted my back in reassurance after making sure the guards had gotten all my luggage and equipment out of the cars.

I had brought my Mercedes Maybach GLS, a convertible Tesla, and a brand-new grey Discovery for sports. Two of the guards had driven the Discovery and Tesla here and it was parked in my reserved garage.

The prestigious premises of Willowcrest Academy catered for all sorts of trust fund kids, ranging from children of ministers to the children of multi-millionaires.

This was where most socialites took their children for refined, quality education. That muchwas evident as I scanned the environment flooded with luxurious cars, suitcases, and most people being accompanied by butlers or personal bodyguards.

"I hope so,” I sighed. I adjusted my grey bomber jacket I pairedwith black, body-hugging trousers and furry snow boots that crunched the white fluff beneath.

"You're on your way to being a World Champion, don't give up. If anything gives you problems, call Dr. Ross. He's staying in the area for your sake." Ken gave me a hug and I smiled. It was such a sensitive topic considering what happened the previous year. My cousin was the most supportive person I had in my life.

Actually, the only person I had in my life, along with Kayden.

My and Kayden’s father were best buddies, so we’ve known each other for so many years. Him, Kendrick and I hung out a lot, along with my best friend, Yelena.

My mom had died when I was only two, then my father had excellently raised me all by himself. I was just another definition of a child born with a silver spoon in their mouth; a spoiled daddy's girl.

Whenever he was on long business trips, like the one he was currently on, he always sent me lots of money to make sure I got whatever I wanted. Everything was taken care of by him from the house and garden maintenance, to account subscriptions.

"You're always looking out for me. I love you." I held him tighter.

"Of course. I love you, too.” He gave me a small smile when we pulled away. My father had taken him in when he was only four after his parents died in a crash. He was a year older than me, so we were like siblings.

Kayden walked towards us, a toothpick rolling between his lips as his cold, slate eyes scanned the place. He had a beautiful masculinity to him, a brutal one that had all the girls in the academy, except me, drooling over him.

He was very observant, too, and was most likely putting everyone on his shit list. We often snowboarded, played cards, and basically talked shit about people together.

We first met when we were both five and our fathers were having a business meeting at our house. Our fathers were business partners and figured their kids could probably be friends since we were around the same age. He was the first to approach me with a doll covered in earth, mentioning that he was digging around the backyard and found it buried.

Truth is, I didn’t like the doll anymore and buried it myself, because it was dead to me. Its hair was pulled out and I had attempted to stab its plastic body with a red marker for the bloody effect. But he brought it back, washed it in my sink, then gave it back to me.

That night, I buried it again and it became a cycle of him returning it while I took it back to its grave. I finally kept it when he named it after himself, saying he gave it his heart. He said that it would be my good luck charm and since I was so young, I believed him.

We became best friends because every time his father came over or vice versa, we’d play together the whole day. He taught me most of the bad things I do, including a lot of self-defensive mechanisms. At primary school, it had always been the two of us because everyone had been too scared of us. I didn’t do anything without him: my partner in crime.

Kayden didn’t like anyone and it was very hard to get on his good side. Most people stayed away from us; the only time they got close was through Yelena and Kendrick.

He’s never had a serious relationship, either. I don’t think he ever will; he was far too emotionally detached to love someone.

“I don’t like any of the new students. They all seem dumb,” he muttered, pushing his hands into his pockets.

“You don’t like anyone,” I deadpanned. He shrugged, hardly making a facial expression. He had about one to two expressions: a smirk or a frown.

"So—"

"Yasmina! Kayden! Great to see you guys on board already." The deep voice of my snowboarding coach met my ears and I sighed when I felt his presence inch closer and closer.

I turned to face the youthful man, a smile plastering over his lips when I met the gaze of his twinkling, cerulean eyes. He was very friendly—outside of practice, of course. Everyone knew his training was hardcore.

"Coach Karter, good to see you." Kendrick shook his hand firmly.

"Indeed. I see you've brought my best players," he said as he gestured to Kayden and I.

I shook my head, rolling my eyes. "Stop flattering us, Coach. You know how it is on the tracks."

"Don't worry, we'll be working on it this season. You're going to be Champions." He nodded confidently.

"I told them the same thing, but I had to lock Yasmina in the house because she wouldn't stop going for practice. The doctor had mentioned that she was at a major risk of getting permanently disabled," Kendrick said, spilling my medical information to my coach.

I had the urge to knock his brain out, but I clenched my fist with a sigh. Well, thank you for nothing, Ken.

"Is that so? I guess we'll have to go a little easy on the activity. I'll look into your practice schedule." He rubbed his chin in thought, his eyes drifting to something—or perhaps, someone behind me. "Oh! Wonderful! It's going to be an excellent snowboarding season this year."

We followed his gaze to the three buff men who were standing by a massive, shiny Range Roveroffloading some luggage. They were obviously affluent with the number of cars in their reserved spot, even more so in their dressing. They were all hot as fuck, but one obviously stood out among them.

The one in the dark shield glasses and a black beanie. I could barely make out his features, but his sharply chiselled jaw and abnormally tall stature told me all I needed to know.

He was definitely new here. I'd been here for two semesters and knew almost everyone here by now. Perhaps he was one of the few I'd never seen before. But that wasn't possible; he seemed like a very prominent person in society.

"Vazalo, over here!" the coach beckoned and all three of them turned in our direction. My heart involuntarily pulsed when their tall figures moved towards us with a hypnotising rhythm, their movements coordinated as they got closer to where we were standing.

I suddenly felt so tiny surrounded by all the men, staring up at them and attempting to decipher where they were from.

Italy, maybe?

"Yasmina, Kayden, meet your fellow snowboarding friend, Kai Villalvazo. I'm sure you guys will get along well." Coach Karter looked up at the guy who had initially caught my attention.

Now that I had time to introspect, I finally felt it. I felt the temperature drop around me as his dark aura lurked inauspiciously. I couldn't pin point it, but something about the proximity of his presence brought on something very primal in me. Fear, I'm assuming.

"Thank you for accepting our boy onto the team. I'm sure he'll do well and get along with his new friend," said the man with the stubble. He looked to be the one in authority. His thick, foreign accent was so clear, I failed to identify it completely. They were all staring at me in awe, except the one with the shield glasses.

But then again, I couldn't really tell.

"Absolutely. We needed more people on the team, anyway," Coach Karter said with so much enthusiasm.

Now I could definitely feel his concealed gaze on me. The prickles over my skin told me he was definitely running me through an analysis.

As if in slow motion, he finally removed the dark shield glasses to reveal his face. A soft gasp involuntarily elicited from my lips. A chill cruised down my spine when his beautiful, heterochromatic eyes met my chartreuse ones.

Before me stood the most beautiful man I'd ever seen.

His left eye was a rich, lipid gold colour, almost a toasted, warm hazel sensation. The right was a sharp, metallic mercury shade, icy and void, the contrast powerful enough to allure just about anyone. Holy fuck, he was so handsome. More than I'd ever imagined.

Kai had a timeless, breathtaking beauty to him; one that brought a feral heat to the middle of your core. I could feel it on the spot, right before his intrusive eyes. My thighs clenched in an attempt to suppress my feminine urges.

How was it possible that he was even real? He was something you’d normally encountered in a vivid sci-fi movie, but here he was, in all his glory.

Something about his cold, calculating stare brought an instant shiver in me, and I got extremely nervous with each passing millisecond as his gaze challenged—no, intimidated me.

Kai was taking his time to study every inch of my body and my skin burned under his scrutiny. He was probably measuring exactly how long it would take to destroy me beyond redemption on the slopes.

He had high cheekbones, his face accurately angled to perfection as though he had been carved out of pure marble. There were three faint strikes against his cheek, as though a severe warning from the Moirai; from each of the goddesses who spun the threads of human destiny.

His lips morphed into a flawless, sensual pout, his Cupid's bow enhancing his existent magnificence. It didn't help that he had slit browsadding to his irresistible sex appeal. I could hardly look away; I was obviously mesmerised with the way my lips were parted.

His eyes casually travelled down to them, and he bit his bottom lip with a small smirk. I finally forced my mouth closed, looking away from him. He was the type to manipulate you into spreading your legs at first sight and well—I was ashamed to admit that I'd be a willing victim.

"Nice to meet you." My womb shouldn't have reacted to the suave, deep tenor of his voice, but shit. It was so mellifluous, seductive, and rich that I internally wondered if he was a musician. It was soothing and, as expected, beautifully manipulative.

"Don't be rude, Yas," Kendrick tapped my arm and that's when I realised that I still hadn't responded. To make matters worse, I hadn't accepted his outstretched hand. I was probably glaring, too.

I cautiously stepped forward, my face firm as I latched my tiny, cold hand into his massive, warm one. Entering his cold realm, an instant current of electricity flooded my body and I resisted a visible shiver, inhaling deeply when my hand fit perfectly into his.

His scent—holy fuck. It was a frosty blow of icy, cool citrus, aquatic, and herbal with a fresh rendition of ambergris. His fragrance was slightly mineralic, the complex arrangement of silky sandalwood, rich frankincense, and a subtle, creamy wave of vanilla disengaging into a balance of natural and unique. His masculine musk co-ordinated all the phenomenal elements into something exquisite—mouth-watering, to be precise.

I love scents; I studied them due to the fact that I was looking for a signature scent not too long ago. His combination, however, was top tier. I’d never encountered it before.

For a hot moment, everything and everyone around us vanished when I met his powerful, disarming gaze again. His hand squeezed a little, the strength in his grip so subtle yet noticeable. It was a threat: precise and brief.

He could no doubt take a bear down with his bare arms and it showed. Veins had never looked so attractive on a man's hands until I encountered Kai.

The man was fucking massive, my head level with his chest. He had huge, stalwart biceps, ripped and long, strong legs that were endless. He seemed to be warning me again for the final time, or better—frightening me with the way his thin pupils were pulled taut, his energy becoming murkier by the minute. And I could feel it all.

I could feel him sucking my soul effortlessly with his intense gaze. Something he was clearly skilled at with the way my heart pulsed faster and harder.

I was fighting for my sanity in his presence as a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. The veins in his neck became more apparent as he ran me through a silent analysis, attempting to infiltrate all my dark secrets and take complete control of me.

But I knew he could sense my own dominant energy that subverted his. His nose slightly flared as my head tilted in satisfaction.

"Likewise, Vazalo." I shouldn't have taunted him by using his last name, but something deep in me urged me to. Something that had accepted his challenge. He easily deciphered this—and he wasn't expecting it.

His jaw locked an inch, his brow arching by a carefully measured fraction. I pulled my hand away from his grip then stepped backwards.

It was clear that he found me attractive, but I probably wasn't his usual type. Something about his attitude told me that he needed a vulnerable, submissive girl to cater to his energy.

And I wasn't her. Thank fuck for that.

Kai gave Kayden a bro hug and they seemed to be silently surveying each other. Kayden definitely thought he was cool; he never greeted anyone who wasn’t close to him with that hug. Especially upon meeting for the first time.

Kai gave Kendrick a nod, sensing his reservations from a distance. Kendrick was a sunshine guy, but he was also a nervous wreck when it came to men similar to Kayden. He had no choice when it came to Kayden; they were brothers from another mother.

"Well, I guess I'll see you guys next week. Make sure to stop by the office for your schedules," Coach concluded before walking away.

Something in the way Kai flashed me his sharp, pure white teeth accompanied by fang-like canines told me we wouldn't get along at all. He was so fucking hot, but our auras repelled like magnetic fields of the same category. We were both powerful in our own way and it showed.

He slipped his glasses on and, without another word, walked away from us along with his two companions. I rolled my eyes and turned to Kendrick, who looked confused as hell.

"Something about that guy isn't quite right, but I can't put my finger on it. You should probably stay away from him. Or maybe I'm overthinking," he mumbled.

"You are. Maybe you found his eyes interesting." I shrugged. A part of me was so eager to be within Kai Vazalo's vicinity. There seemed to be a lot of depth to him, so many dark, undiscovered secrets that he concealed beneath his flawless fuckboy facade.

"Definitely. Who the hell has a gold and silver eye? It's rare. I swear if he didn't look so human, I'd think he's a prototype." He laughed and I shook my head.

“I like him, he's a tough guy.” Kayden smirked. “We’re recruiting him into the squad.”

Kendrick gave him a horrified look. “No ways. He’s the type to eat us alive?—”

“I'd do the same, but I'm here, aren’t I?” Kayden spoke nonchalantly and I almost laughed at the interaction. They butted heads a lot when they were not racing or talking about racing.

Kendrick mumbled something under his breath then turned to me.

"I'll update you on how everything goes." I gave him another tight hug.

"Wonderful. I'll head out, I love you." He kissed my forehead.

"I love you more. Drive safely." I waved at him then followed my guard to my dorm.

But not before glancing at Kai Vazalo, whose head was already angled in my direction.