JEOPARDY: The Cursed Soldier.

9. Partying with the rich brats.

All rich people have one thing in common; They splash money on the most ridiculous things.

Kayla concluded as she took in Ivan's house. It was, of course, way smaller than Angela's. Rightly so, since Angela's house housed hundreds of people. Yet if her senses were to be believed, other than the screaming, dancing, drinking, and making-out teenagers on the ground floor, there was no one else in that house.

A breathtaking, three-floored, triple-winged glass-walled mansion. Meaning only Ivan and her parents lived in that house. Three people in such a huge mansion. Ridiculous.

The second fact that supported her conclusion was the amount of food, alcohol, and games at their disposal. Of course, Kayla didn't include herself in the experience, despite the many offers she got to sample the alcohol in that room. Or to get naughty in the spare room -- not her words but a quote from one of the said party freaks.

Kayla's eyes were on Angela, who was plastered on Ivan, their mouths locked in the most nauseating tongue fest she had ever witnessed. Despite the deafening noise in that room, she could hear the disgusting sound of their kissing. Clearly.

The only reason she was still standing and not retching: was the 12 years of training under her belt, and the fact that she had nothing to throw up.

Ivan had thrown that party on a Friday, meaning they had gone to school as usual (where Angela was yet to realize that Kayla needed food, so Kayla never ate). Then they had gone back to the palace where Angela had decided that Kayla should stay outside her room as she got ready to keep her mother from barging in -- Angela's words. Angela hadn't told her mother about the party because she knew the request would be refused. So, instead, they had kind of snuck out.

Anyway, long story short, Kayla hadn't eaten the whole of that day. And since her body was already adapted to the eating-and-sleeping-by-9pm routine, she was starving.

"I don't know who lied to teenagers that making out in public is hot... It. Is. Just. Disturbing." Kayla actually startled when the voice sounded beside her. She turned and came face to face with a blindingly good-looking man and frowned.

She didn't recognize him.

Skyview High School didn't have a lot of students, so she had made it her first mission to know each student and their scents. That way, if a stranger entered, she would know it. Immediately.

The hazel-eyed man with brown unruly hair, standing in front of her in gray sweats, was not a student. Her eyes immediately moved to Angela, who was safe and still tongue-deep in Ivan's throat. At the same time, her hand reached for the dagger on her waist.

"Relax, girl. I mean no harm." The handsome suspect raised his hand in surrender while his lips broke into a face-splitting smile and his beautiful eyes lit up in what she read as admiration. "I'm an invited guest. Well, kind of, since I kinda live here,"

Kayla's eyes jumped back to his face with a new intention while one of her ears stayed on Angela. She took in his chiseled features, elegant partly crooked nose, full pink lips, and now that she was paying more keen attention, dirty blonde hair.

He was exceptionally good-looking. But other than that, he didn't resemble Ivan. At all. They were too different.

She took in his build. Even in his sweats, she could tell that the stranger was broader and more built than Ivan but also a tad shorter. They could be friends. But brothers? Only if each took after a different parent.

"He's my cousin. Well, our mothers are cousins." He laughed at that, his eyes dancing as they stayed on hers. "We both take after our fathers. That's why we don't look alike. The only thing we have in common is our panty-melting good looks, since our mothers knew how to pick their men."