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

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

DUST ON ROADS — DARCI

" I can't believe you coerced me into this, you know I hate going out," I grumbled while contouring my high cheekbones with a concealer stick.

"You're going to love the place. Dad says that he changed the menu and put a section with my and your favourite foods." Yelena pouted her lips to apply a bold red lipstick.

Yelena Dubois and I met at an ice-skating tournament back when we were fourteen and we'd been inseparable ever since. She had been my first female friend and I had clung to her for dear life. She was a French Government Official's daughter, and just like me, a daddy's girl.

The difference between her and I was that she constantly nagged her father, complaining in French about how her car would've gotten a small scratch from her reckless driving or how she'd be failing to find her favourite skincare products on this side of the world.

We were both in the business sector as we both had to inherit our fathers' businesses soon. Yelena was already managing a popular fashion store that her grandmother had started, but I hadn't been ready to take on any responsibility.

I wanted to make a name for myself.

I had been inches away from being crowned snowboarding World Champion last season and that had been snatched away from me by one, unfortunate accident. I had been in the top three, but I received that information in the hospital.

Every part of my joints had burned in pain as I heard the news that didn’t matter to me. I wasn’t the World Champion. Holding that trophy before thousands of people and winking cameras had been my ultimate dream, but I never got to experience it.

And this year, I was determined to win. I would be the World Champion this time.

"Besides, we're leaving for the mountains in a few days, might as well go out and have a good time." She shrugged nonchalantly. We asked Kayden to come along, but he was taking his bike for a spin today.

"You're right. I think Coach Karter is taking us to the next level this season," I sighed, finishing off my look with some thick, sparkling gloss.

I was wearing a neon green bodycon that ended mid-thigh with some matching block heels. I finished off the outfit with a cropped, neon green, puffy jacket to keep the cold out. It was fairly warm outside, but the occasional, freezing zephyr made it difficult to walk out without a jacket.

"Yeah. That man could tell me to jump off a cliff and shit, I'd do it in a heartbeat." She let out a half moan, half sigh and I gave her a creeped-out expression.

"Hmm. I had a feeling that you liked the new coach." I rolled my eyes. Yelena got almost anyone she wanted with just the subtle flutter of her lashes and the low, seductive tune of her accented voice.

She was drop dead gorgeous with short, silky, ginger hair, deep, hazel eyes and plump, red lips. She had an irresistible sex appeal.

"Haha, not yet. But soon, you should have seen him in his office, damn.” She giggled as I slapped her arm.

"Of course, he has blue eyes," I scowled.

"You know that’s my ultimate weakness," she winked, inspecting her outfit, "and you? Have you seen someone interesting?"

"No, not really.”

"Did you see the new guy? Kayden’s new friend? The one with the golden and silver eyes? Damn, I saw him leaving Coach Karter's office and I swear I nearly ran away." We burst out laughing.

"Yeah. There's something about his energy." I shook my head.

"I know. He's mysterious and cold, he didn't even respond when I said hi. Everyone is obsessing over him." She pouted in irritation. "But I don't blame them. If I were to point out the hottest guy around here, it would be him."

"And here I was thinking you were all for Coach." I poked her.

"I totally am. I wouldn't be exactly comfortable with Kai. I mean, imagine those eyes staring down at you while he's fucking you, girl, I'd actually faint on the spot." She fanned herself and I rolled my eyes once again.

"That's enough. The driver is here." I gestured to the SUV that had parked a distance away from her dorm room.

"Perfect. I plan to get a little tipsy, c'est une nuit sans fin !" she squealed before pulling me along with her. It is a night without end.

We sat in the back of the car after the guard opened the door for us. I had to convince my personal bodyguard, Lucian, that I would be perfectly fine at the restaurant. He preferred to keep a close eye on me and I knew it.

I wouldn't be surprised if he secretly tagged along and hid in the shadows because he knew what my father was capable of if something ever happened to his little girl.

Lucian has been with me since I was twelve. He was supposed to be there, watching, but not to be seen. I didn’t want him following me everywhere, so he always watched from afar and stepped back when I requested. The academy had tight security so he didn’t have to be here, but my father had insisted.

He'd seen me through all my phases, picked me up and held a box of tissue throughout the night, made sure I had a proper meal through my unhealthy, self-conscious phase, and even stayed up late whenever I was having nightmares.

We soon arrived at the restaurant, and after getting past the secured entrance, we made it in. It was glitzy and dark themed, sporting gleamy, marble counter tops and tables, golden chairs, and a large fountain in the middle of the restaurant.

The azure water was illuminated with a range of fascinating colours and I looked around in awe at the elegance of the people and the environment.

I wanted to leave already.

We got a table by the balcony that had a splendid view of the gigantesque, snow-capped mountains in the distance. I could feel the pain of my faded scars the more I thought about going up there for a whole month for training. My stomach churned in anxiety, something that never usually happened.

So why now? Why was I so nervous about this season?

" Oui, merci . And you, Mina, what are you having?" I finally snapped back into it and I looked at Yelena and the waiter, who were both waiting for my response.

"High Noon, on the rocks," I said without looking at the menu.

"Coming right up." The waiter walked away as I inhaled the fresh, chilly evening air. This side of the world, although cold, always had the best conditions: peace, undisturbed nature, and pure water.

"Oh, guess who's here, too?" Yelena whisper-yelled. I raised my brows in question, but I was soon aware when the shadow loomed over me. Turning my head, I came face to face with none other than Trent, my… meaningless fling.

In other words, I got tired of him and blocked him everywhere.

"Babe, didn't expect to see you here. Long time." He gave me his playboy smile that all the girls in the academy fell prey to. He was good-looking with light, sandy hair, deep, twinkly brown eyes and a nose piercing, but he hadn’t been my type in the slightest.

I took a sip of my highball drink the moment it arrived, the sharp tanginess of the sparkling lemon calming under the influence of the apricot brandy and sweet raspberry liqueur. I set the glass down, sucked the cherry while under his lustful gaze, and proceeded to ignore him.

“This is probably your cue to leave, she clearly doesn’t want to talk to you,” Yelena suggested, but he didn’t make a move to leave.

“I just want to talk to you for a minute, please, babe,” he pleaded. I gave him a strong glare, one that he had to look away from.

“If you call me babe one more time, I swear you won't like me,” I spoke calmly, but the underlying threat hung in the air. “Two minutes is all you'll have.”

"Thank you, come with me." Trent led me towards the corridor and despite my high defences, I followed him. Rest assured, if he tried anything funny, I'd most definitely hurt him.

I stopped and folded my arms, looking absolutely bored as he smiled at me. Had he forgotten that he was at the very top of my never-ending shit-list?

"Shit, I haven't been able to get you off my mind, Yasmina." He shook his head and I remained blank, much to his dismay.

"Hmm, are you done?" I impatiently shifted my weight to the other leg. “You have thirty seconds left to make this count,” I drawled, my voice lacking any tangible emotions.

“I want you back,” he blurted, and I almost laughed. But I didn’t do that.

“Fuck no,” I put it simply. But if it hurt him, he didn’t show it.

In fact, he dared to move even closer to me.

“Come on, we can put the past aside?—”

“I will stab you if you come any closer.” I whipped out my pocket knife in the blink of an eye, and he must have assumed it was a joke, because he dared to grip my wrist.

Before I could make any move, a massive hand settled on his arm and I winced when it was twisted ruthlessly. I raised my brows when I realised that it was none other than Kai breaking his arm.

Trent howled in pain, but Kai didn’t show any mercy. I internally winced when his arm hit an unnatural angle, the bones snapping one by one.

Serves him fucking right.

“Fucking apologise now or you lose both arms. Your life will be complementary.” Kai’s voice was low, but firm and assertive. Trent was visibly trembling from fear.

“I'm so sorry, Yasmina, so sorry,” he said breathlessly as I simply stared at him with no expression whatsoever.

“If you ever see me, walk the other way. Because if I ever see you, I'll finish you off.” My cold voice echoed in the corridor and he nodded frantically.

Kai was reluctant to let him go. Something about the way his dark stare followed Trent when he basically ran away with a limp arm told me that it was not the end. I had an adamant feeling.

He finally turned to me, and I lost all cohesive logic the moment I met his disarming stare; the silver eye brighter than usual while the gold one was a dull, pale colour.

He moved by an inch, his hand slowly coming up to brush gently over my cheek. My breathing quickened and I felt the heat simmer over the skin, the burn intensifying with the way he was looking at me.

Gosh, he was actually touching me. He was fucking touching me and I secretly wanted more. I usually didn’t even like physical touch, but something about Kai’s touch was different.

He seemed to be making sure that Trent hadn't harmed me in any way, and his jaw locked when he lifted my arm and saw some red bruises on it.

Leaning away from his subtle yet igniting touch, I ripped my arm away. I was doing my best to resist him and deprive him of the satisfaction of knowing that he had me under his spell.

He seemed to be devouring the remains of my sanity, dragging me into his dark spiral once again.

I instantly figured out why I had so much fear for this season. Him. This lethal, powerful man before me who has barely said a word, but has managed to disable me completely.

I hated the way my body reacted to him. And I absolutely hated him for how he made me feel. I shouldn't have clenched my thighs under his gaze, but it was too late. Far too late by the close to non-existent smile that crept onto his lips when his beautiful eyes trailed to where my muscles had involuntarily contracted.

“Mine,” Kai whispered darkly, staring right into my soul. My brows furrowed in confusion as I tried to make sense of him.

Giving me one last promising look when I glared at him, he left, his delicious, icy scent leaving me in a state of unfathomable frustration. The entire space smelt like him: crisp vanilla against a slate of dry, frosty aqua with a strong hint of pure, delicious man.

Something told me this wouldn't be the end of it—evident in the way he turned back and winked, his silver eye hypnotising me enough to forget about the bruises on my arm.