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

Chapter 42

I woke up to something, or more like someone, squeezing the life out of me.

A rare, deep smile overtook my features when I saw the mass of silky dark hair over the dark sheets and Yasmina's peaceful features as she snuggled more against me.

I figured she slept really well whenever I held her, and I didn't mind either. I'd keep her by my side for eternity, and I wished I had the power to enter her dreams and slay any demons that dared to disturb her beauty sleep.

I shifted so that I had a closer view of her immaculately sculpted face. Her pouty lips that were slightly parted, her brows that were a bit furrowed , and her firmly shut lids.

God, she was just so ethereally beautiful it hurt.

I felt so proud to have her all to myself. I always turned murderous at the thought of someone who wasn't me having her.

I kissed the top of her head and smirked when I saw a tiny smile tug at her lips. She didn't smile much, but whenever she did, it felt like my entire world was lighting up.

I was glad that I had come clean about who I was and why I had done all those atrocious things. I couldn’t lose her. She was the only thing keeping me emotionally and mentally together right now, the only person keeping my faith in humanity.

Breaking up or separation didn't exist in my dictionary, and therefore, that was never going to happen. I had to constantly make things right before she went deeper into that busy, little brain of hers.

Yasmina was stuck with me forever. That's what soulmates are about, right?

I gave her the chance to run, and she didn't take it. My little bunny was too curious about me and I didn't mind.

I could tear myself open in half if she wanted to know me from the inside out. In its literal fucking sense.

I was glad that she finally knew about all the bad shit that I went through and that my love for her was very genuine. I loved her with every damaged fibre in me, and I truly hoped that was enough for her.

I was willing to do absolutely anything for her and it scared me. I didn't think I was capable of love until Yasmina. Until she drew me in the way a siren would a sailor.

Now that she knew almost everything, it felt like I had relieved a huge burden from my shoulders. In fact, I loved her even more than I used to, if that was possible. Especially after all we’d been through.

I hugged her even tighter, soaking in her warmth and femininity like a deprived man. I'd never done this before, but I was learning to cuddle for her sake.

Just so her nightmares would stop haunting her.

I inhaled her hair, leaving gentle kisses in the process. I couldn't fall asleep so I found it fitting to admire and appreciate Yasmina's celestial presence beside me.

I'd give her every fucking form of affection that existed in the universe, I had the time and energy. I slipped off the chain that I always kept around my neck then clipped it around hers, watching the silver glimmer softly around her neck. It was the first time in sixteen years that I was taking it off.

The first time since the night my mother left.

"I love you," I whispered, the truth in the words sounding so foreign on my tongue. I had told most of my victims that I loved them, but it was all part of the strategy to lure them enough to be comfortable until I could kill them.

This time, the words were coming from the bottomless, dark pit in my soul. The words were a representation of a phoenix rising from the ashes.

I didn't want to be pure or perfect, I just wanted to be hers. Loving her was slowly becoming my true and only purpose in life.

"Hmm, you're awake," she whispered, burying her face in my chest and an odd warmth spread deep in my gut. I was going through a lot of confusing, intense emotions and I didn't know if it was normal.

I was just too scared to ask the boys. They'd definitely make fun of me.

"Yeah, can't sleep," I whispered. She tilted her head back to peer at me. "You don't have to wake up, you can sleep."

"Mhm-hm, I can't leave you to the chaotic thoughts in your head." Yasmina grunted as she adjusted her posture so that her chin was on my chest while our legs tangled. She noticed the chain around her neck and smiled, tilting her head as she realised that my neck had nothing.

“This chain means a lot to you, I can't. It's too sentimental.” She was about to remove it, but I stopped her.

“You mean a lot to me. You don’t have an option.” I smirked and she visibly blushed.

I thought her to be the prettiest girl I’d ever lay my eyes on, and even then, pretty was a mere understatement. Her beauty and perfection couldn’t be condensed into a mere word; it was just too infinite and celestial.

My hands moved to squeeze her ass cheeks and she giggled as I used them to hoist her up. Once she was close enough, I devoured her mouth in a slow, passionate kiss that made my toes curl.

I usually didn't like kisses, but every time I looked at Yasmina, I had the insane urge to taste every inch of her knowing very well that I'd never get bored.

I couldn't get enough of the physical touch, and it was never my love language until I met this minx.

Our tongues rhythmically interlaced and swirled as she tugged on my hair, kissing me with so much need. Fuck yes.

Fuck. Yes.

I pulled her closer, my other hand moving to the back of her head. I couldn't get enough of her. My soulmate. Something I didn't believe in until her.

We breathed deeply when we pulled away, her fingers tracing the scars on my face with so much fascination engraved in her features.

"You have a pretty face," she whispered, leaning to bite my bottom lip, sucking it sensually before letting go. She turned me on without even trying. I stopped wondering why my life was so incomplete the moment I met Yasmina.

"You know what would make it look prettier?" I asked with a wicked smirk. She raised her brows when I slipped my hand under her nightie to caress her warm pussy. She slept bare all the time.

"You sitting on it. This beautiful pussy painting my skin and mouth," I murmured deeply, my cock hardening when she half-moaned and half-gasped softly.

Fuck me, if that wasn't the sexiest sound I'd ever heard in my life.

"It's too early to fuck, everyone will hear us," she whispered cautiously and I smirked again.

"The walls are soundproof. But even then, I'm sure they'll be wishing they were me when you're screaming my name." She gasped at my remark, hitting my chest lightly.

"Don't say that. I don't always scream." Yasmina was blushing and I had the urge to take a picture of her and tattoo it to my skin.

"You sure? I can prove that you do." I effortlessly flipped us so I was on top of her, her legs wrapped around my waist. I had clearly caught her off-guard and now her eyes had turned several shades darker.

“You’re already hard,” she whispered in fascination, cupping my manhood with her tiny hand. I debilitated upon her touch, moaning under my breath. My body began to overheat and the need to have Yasmina consumed my entire existence overwhelmed me.

I loved this girl with every molecule in my body, so much that the thought of losing her made death a perfect endgame. I had almost died for her, I wasn’t scared to do it again.

“You’re the only person I’ll ever trust with my body,” I murmured to her, exhaling against her mouth and humming when her tongue swiped across my bottom lip.

“Is that right?” I nodded like an obedient puppy. That’s just how smitten I was with her. She flipped us again so she was on top, then began to go lower until she was level with my erection.

“You’ll be the fucking death of me.” I bit my lip, watching as she pulled my sweatpants down to reveal my cock.

Yasmina hummed, then briefly teased my tip with an inch of her tongue. I hissed in wanton, precum leaking down my length. It felt like I was about to explode, but I wasn’t there yet. I guess I deserved this for teasing her too before.

“Baby, fuck,” I whispered breathlessly, flexing my hips eagerly, but she tilted away.

“No no, you have to be a good boy for me.” She leaned to kiss my tip and I clenched my fist in an attempt to reign everything in. She was driving me fucking insane and I was this close to losing it. “Clear?”

I nodded, and she smirked in response. “Your words, pretty boy.”

“Clear, it's clear,” I huffed, remaining still as the agonising pain intensified. I didn’t have much restraint, and she was taking her sweet time.

Yasmina sat up and I began to draw blood from my bottom lip when she pulled her nightie off, revealing her big, gorgeous breasts. My mouth watered at the sight of her rosy, pierced nipples, and now my cock was a pathetic mess as she was completely bare.

She giggled when I twitched, eager to feel her warmth. Whether it was her mouth or pussy, it didn’t really matter.

She leaned over and retrieved something from the nightstand, and my breath hitched when I realised that it was the new vibrator I got her. She took out the small, rounded device, then put it between her legs, sighing in pleasure when it began to quiver once it was snug.

I watched her with animalistic desire, licking my lips as she crawled towards me. A violent shiver wracked through my body when she took my length down her mouth in one, sexy motion, and it felt as though everything around me was spinning.

She repeated that motion, sucking me slowly and gagging slightly as I hit the back of her throat. My head tilted back as the euphoria coursed through my veins, Yasmina’s voice vibrations pushing me over the edge. My hand instinctively went to her hair, needing to make the process quicker.

She stopped completely, and I groaned as I felt her throat contract slowly around my cock. Fuck, she was serious about me behaving. I exhaled in distress, letting her hair go and tucking my hands behind my head.

Yasmina began to bob her head again, and I couldn’t help the moans that escaped my lips. She flicked and swirled over my sensitive spot and I quivered, needing more. She took me to a celestial level of pleasure that no one ever had or ever would.

I was proud to have her as my soulmate.

“I'm about to come, holy fuck,” I breathed, gripping the satin sheets so tight I thought they'd rip. Just as I was about to tip off the cliff of pleasure from the increasing pressure of her mouth, she pulled away, wiping the back of her mouth with the back of her arm.

“Delicious.” She bit her bottom lip, straddling me swiftly, and that’s when I realised that she was completely drenched. Her inner thighs glistened as she positioned herself over my cock.

Her hair fell over her shoulders and I thought she looked ethereal. Her venom green eyes were hooded with pleasure as she stared down at me, lust and love swirling in her orbs. She blushed when I winked at her, urging her to do as she pleased with me.

“Use me, kücük tavsan. Every part of me belongs to you,” I murmured, wondering how she would react if I offered to rip my heart out for her to keep and assure her that no one else will ever own it.

We both moaned when I was finally in her, stretching her walls and feeling her juices slide down my cock. I let her extract pleasure from me, tilting my head back as I got buried deep in her warmth. I never wanted to get out of this dream.

She began to bounce, picking the pace little by little until I could hardly feel myself anymore. Yasmina had officially ruined me for anyone else. My love for her was utterly psychotic, but infinite. I'd do absolutely anything for this girl.

In the dangerous sense, of course.

I hissed when she tightened around me, leaning down to take my bottom lip between her teeth. She looked so good above me, like Medusa—short of snakes in her hair. Everything about her was so perfect, it was hard to believe that she was even mine.

I had her all to myself with no regrets now.

Just as the ecstasy started flowing in my veins, her phone vibrated on the nightstand. She paused, gasping when she checked the caller ID. I groaned when she lifted herself from me, leaving me cold, empty, and fucking starved.

Yasmina scrambled to answer her phone, a small sob escaping her lips as soon as a deep voice sounded on the other end. I was already on high alert, ready to slaughter anyone who was giving her a hard time.

“Dad, I miss you.” Her voice trembled as she spoke, and I sat up, pulling my sweatpants up and touching her shoulder.

“I am so sorry, I didn’t know. Please don’t be mad at me, you're all I have left,” Yasmina whispered and the guilt spread throughout my chest like a wildfire. Of course, it was all my fucking fault.

“I can't, I won't give him up. I love him,” she whispered to her father and that warmth began to transform into something else. I moved closer to her, kissing her shoulder and rubbing her back in reassurance.

“Can I speak to him?” My heart paced when I heard the words and I exhaled deeply, making eye contact with Yasmina.

I had to face him and stand for the both of us. I nodded, then she put the phone on loudspeaker.

“Mr. Villalvazo.” His dark voice sounded on the phone and I almost flinched. He was superior and far much scarier than Rico and the Mafia team combined. He had the same power as Alonzo Valdez.

“Yes, sir. That’s me.”

“Hmm, so you are keeping my daughter company at night. What shall I do with you?” He spoke more to himself and I smiled.

“Whatever you would like, sir. I've been to the depths of Hell for this girl, and I'm not afraid to revisit the experience just for her,” I said firmly and he was quiet for some time as Yasmina sniffled.

“Interesting, I’ll consider it. I see you’ve brainwashed my little girl.” He sounded so impassive, I didn’t know if he meant it in a good way or not.

“I beg to differ, sir. I'd say your daughter has more influence on me than I do on her. She’s independent and makes her own decisions, and I fully respect that.” He was silent for some time before speaking again.

“I like you. You are a good Pakhan. Anyway, I'm planning my trip back and I'm trusting you with my little girl. If you fuck it up, I will have your head, boy.” His deadly tone was very apparent, but I was ready for anything.

“Understood. I’ll do everything in my power to treat her like the queen she is.” Yasmina blushed when I met her gaze and I winked.

“Wonderful. In that case, I will be sending you your mother’s location.” He spoke calmly and everything around me seemed to stop.

I lost my ability to breathe as I thought of finally meeting my mother after sixteen years of separation. I'd craved for her love and attention, I'd sacrificed myself in hopes of finding her, and I was finally getting the opportunity to see her.

I hadn’t realised that I had completely lost it until Yasmina was climbing into my laps and wrapping her arms around me.

“Thank you so much, Dad, that would mean a lot,” Yasmina spoke on my behalf and her father hummed.

“Great. Stay safe, I’ll call you later.” He hung up and Yasmina held me tighter.

I buried my face in her neck, sniffling against my will as the realisation hit me like a rock. I was finally meeting her after so many years of pain, torture, fear?—

“Breathe, Kai. She’ll welcome you with open arms, and the both of you will heal,” she murmured and I tightened my grip around her.

“What if I'm not ready?—”

“That’s nonsense, you are ready. You’ve waited for sixteen years, it's time to meet her.” She kissed my cheek and I felt my heart elevate. My love for this girl was inexplicable.

I took a deep breath then faced her when we let go. On cue, her phone pinged and she smiled. “Let’s do this.”

?`??????????????′?

Kai was deathly still as we stared at the house before us. This was the address that my father had given us. The place was so deep in the woods that no one would assume there was life here.

Kai had to break the chains of the gate with his expertise because they were far too tangled and heavy to manipulate. No wonder she couldn't leave this Hell hole.

I intertwined my fingers with his and he finally looked down at me. My heart clenched as I deciphered the doubt and fear that swirled in his eyes. He was still unable to believe that he was about to see his mother after so many years.

I squeezed his hand gently, causing him to exhale softly. "Let's go." I nodded my head towards the house.

We began walking towards the porch, but Kai suddenly stopped, pulling me back with him. I turned to face him. I gave him a questioning gaze, and that's when I realised that he was shaking from anxiety.

"Kai," I whispered as he shook his head, avoiding my gaze. He was about to break down and I could feel it.

"I can't do it, Yas. I just can't," he whispered, and when I moved to cup his cheek, his glassy eyes met mine. "What if she doesn't love me anymore? What if—what if she doesn't remember me?"

"Don't say that, Kai. Of course she remembers you, you're her son. And she's always loved you, she'll never stop. She's probably praying to get you back every day, and this is your chance to make her prayers come true. This is your opportunity to heal your inner child and find the happiness you've been seeking." I smiled and his eyes softened, his gaze consuming me so much that my knees went weak.

"I love you, baby. I don't know where I'd be without you. I was just, scared, I guess. But you make it all better, you make me…all better," he whispered, kissing me so softly I almost moaned.

"It's okay to be scared, Kai. I know how hard it is for you, but I'm here. We're doing this together, okay?" He nodded, stroking my cheek briefly before allowing me to lead the way.

We stood in silence for a little while, and I gave him time to collect his thoughts. I didn't want to rush him, and after a couple of minutes, he lifted his trembling fist to knock.

The first four knocks were very subtle, one would've missed them if they weren't paying attention. And after another deep breath, he added another four, much louder and commanding than the previous ones.

We heard some footsteps and I squeezed Kai's hand in reassurance, a silent way of convincing him that everything was going to be fine.

I held my breath as the door opened, revealing a short, stunning woman who looked exactly like the female version of Kai. The tension crackled in the atmosphere as Kolette walked towards Kai, her mouth covered as she started sobbing violently.

Kai was so still, his own eyes glassy as he surveyed every inch of his mother. He had a mix of so many emotions as he stared at her. Relief, disbelief, bewilderment, excitement—everything.

I stood back as they took time to acknowledge each other, and after a few moments, Kai was the first to reach for his sobbing mother. They both held each other tightly, and my heart ached when I noticed Kai crying as well.

His inner child was slowly protruding, and he was finally ready to heal.

“My baby,” Kolette whispered, squeezing Kai with all the strength she possessed. He wasn’t ready to let go of her, either. It was such a beautiful moment to witness. I wiped my tears as they slowly pulled away, smiling at each other in the process.

“I waited and waited. Your little boy has been waiting for sixteen years.” Kai’s voice was so broken, I resisted a loud sob. “I nearly froze to death outside because I knew you would come. You always did, but you never did that day.”

She shook her head vehemently, unable to utter any words as she hiccupped. I genuinely felt so sad for her, and it didn’t help that her tiny body was shaking like a leaf.

Kai held her close until she was a little more stable. She ran her hand down his cheek before speaking. “They took me away. If you had stayed in that house, they were going to kill you. Your father had unfinished business with them and they thought he was home. They s-saw me and I thought taking you outside meant they wouldn’t find you. I wanted you to run away.”

“They found me when I broke into the house to look for you. They took my freedom as well, Mom. You shouldn’t have left me.”

Kolette’s bottom lip trembled as she squeezed her eyes shut then reopened them. “I'm so sorry, my baby. I wish I hadn’t. I hope you forgive me?—”

“I have. I want us to make up for all the years we lost instead of lamenting over the past. I've spent my entire life searching for you, and I'm so glad you're finally back in my life.” Kai spoke solemnly and I sniffled with a smile. He deserved this. He deserved a happy ending.

“I love you very much, I always have and it will never change,” she whispered, giving him hugs and kisses that made me giggle. “You kept your promise.” Kolette gestured to me and I blushed.

Kai’s eyes averted to me and the look in his eyes made my knees weak. I’d never been looked at with so much love in my life before, it melted my insides completely. I hadn’t known that love ran deeper than the heart until Kai.

He had the power to break me and put me back together in the ways he desired, and I'd conform.

“I did. Mom, meet Yasmina, my princess.”

I had actually met the woman he suffered his entire life for. The woman he believed he would find after years of separation.

“I can't believe I'm finally meeting you. Kai has told me so much about you and how he was going to find you,” I said with so much bewilderment, and a huge smile overtook her lips. She was really beautiful, it was no wonder her son was just as good-looking.

"Has he? Thank you for taking good care of my son, you're an angel. I'm so glad you've helped him find me, I can't thank you enough for that." She outstretched her arms and I immediately embraced her.

She smelt of warm vanilla and citrus, and it finally made sense why Kai had an inclination to those scents. It reminded me of his wild reaction the one time I applied a vanilla-scented night cream.

Vanilla reminded him of his mother.

"You don't have to thank me. Soulmates would tear the world down for each other, and this is just the minimum that I've done for him," I told her when we pulled away.

“He has truly found his princess,” she said, tears in her eyes. She moved towards me then held my hand gently. “I’ve always told him to find himself a princess who will warm his heart, and he listened. Feel free to call me Mom, and you can come in."

Kolette led us into the small house, the space cosy, but lacking something. The warmth was evident, but the void was so apparent. I wondered if she stayed here alone.

"Rico came occasionally to leave me supplies and make sure I haven't escaped. It's been days since he came. I stay here on my own, and it gets very lonely." Her voice quietened, prompting Kai to put his arm around her.

"We're here now, Mom, and we're going to get you out of this place. Rico will never get to you ever again." Kai spoke firmly and the smile on her face was priceless. She clearly loved her son more than anything else in the world.

"Oh, how I'd love to go out into the normal world. Do you still love reptiles? Hide and seek? Cupcakes and cookies?" She asked with so much hope, my heart clenched.

"I've never stopped. I haven't changed one bit, Mom." Hearing Kai speak so tenderly to his mom made me tear up all over again.

Everything about Kai started making sense now, and the fact that most of his life had fragments of his mom was the most fascinating part.

The fact that he always loved hide and seek finally made sense in that he found comfort in finding me, and that distracted him from the fact that he hadn't found his mother yet. Or, it gave him hope that he'd someday get to her.

He loved reptiles because those were the creatures that intrigued him and his mother had accepted and encouraged him to be himself.

And of course, he baked cupcakes in memorial of his mother. I almost broke down as the pieces came together, and that's when I realised how truly broken Kai had been.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn't realised it was just Kolette and I in the room.

"He says he wants to check the house, typical Kai. Always looking out for the people he loves." Her hazel eyes glistened with unshed tears, but they sparkled when she gazed at me. "You're a beautiful girl, he chose well."

I blushed profusely, giving her a shy smile. "Thank you, Mom. I'm just so happy for you and Kai, it's an unforgettable day."

“Indeed, it is. They took me away from him when he was still a little boy and forced me to erase my entire identity and existence. I’ve watched my baby grow, but I wasn’t even able to hold his hand and guide him through life. I wasn't able to love him the way he needed to be loved.” She sniffled.

Without thinking, I moved to hug her tightly. She chuckled softly then hugged me with even more passion, and it was a mother’s embrace that I never really got to experience at an older age. We were both crying as we embraced tightly, as though we’ve known each other for a lifetime.

“It wasn't your fault,” I whispered softly as she sniffled, rubbing my back gently.

“You're right. I'm glad the wait is over after sixteen years.” When we pulled away, I wiped the tears from her cheeks. Now that I was looking at it, her eyes were a bright hazel colour that was almost unnatural, much like Kai’s. I guess he got the gold eye colour from his mother.

They had the same dark hair and the same nose. They had a serious resemblance, and I thought he looked so much like his mother.

But then again, I hadn’t met his father.

“I'm so glad you're reunited now. It's all you've wanted, I'm sure,” I said when I pulled away. The urge to tell her everything I know about Kai just so she could catch up on her son gripped me.

“Absolutely. He’s all grown up now, and I'm even happier to see his princess. He promised me that he would find a princess who would make his heart beat fast, and when he did, he’d take her to our secret spot.” Her eyes lit up and I tilted my head curiously.

“He did take me to a nature-like library in the castle and when I asked him what it meant to him, he got upset and never gave me a response.” My mind fleeted back to the day that I could vividly remember and I smiled as I thought about it.

“Yes, that was our secret spot. He promised me that he’d never let her go, so I guess we’re both stuck together now.” We both giggled and I nodded enthusiastically.

“I'm not letting him go either.” I winked.

“If he does, I’ll kick his ass so hard and he’ll come running back.” We giggled again, much louder this time and simultaneously covered our mouths. “He even gave you the chain I left him sixteen years ago when I was captured. You really are special to him.”

My hand instinctively moved to touch it and I smiled, remembering the night he gave it to me. “He’s even more special to me, and I'm never taking it off.”

“So, are you willing to tell me about your and my son’s love life over tea and cupcakes before we go through his baby album?” she asked with so much hope. And for the first time, I truly felt what it was like to have a mother figure in my life. I adored her already.

Kai walked in on cue, a wide smile on his lips when he saw Kolette and I together. This was probably the best day of his life, and I was so glad to be a part of it.

“I'd love to. Be my guest.”