JEOPARDY: The Cursed Soldier.

15. Boys boys boys

"I thought he was lying." Ryan exclaimed, running down the stairs towards Kayla who instantly lowered her dagger but not her guard. "Yet here you are."

He was smiling. Widely. His perfect teeth flashed at her, while his green eyes shone on his well-sculpted face. Kayla kept her eyes on him while she tried to focus her other senses on the house and its occupants.

Her ears dictated nothing while her nose caught three scents: Ryan's potent pineapple-like scent, Ivan's apple and spice scent, and an unfamiliar female's faint scent. Probably Ivan's mom.

Other than that, nothing.

Other than she and Ryan, there was no further sign of life in that mansion.

Kayla resisted her urge to frown. It bothered her that a mere seconds prior she hadn't been able to scent or hear Ryan either.

Are my senses weakening?

The thought drove a fresh panic over her, which she pushed back as she focused her attention on the dimpling handsome human before her.

"I am a hugger. But I can tell you're not... Sooo, how do we do this?" Ryan asked, opening his arms for her.

Kayla eyed him for several seconds before stretching her hand for a handshake. With an amused smile, Ryan took her hand and shook it, vigorously. His hands were smoother than Ivan's. But also coarser than she had expected from a man born from such wealth.

"I can't believe Ivan left you here—standing like a fish in a desert. No offense, of course." Ryan started, not letting go of her hand, instead, leading her back to the two-seater and making them sit right next to each other. That painfully warm smile, still intact.

"He didn't, actually. I just thought I heard something moving and wanted to investigate." Ryan's brows raised to his forehead as he moved his widened eyes to hers. Kayla averted her eyes and looked at the stairs. "Is Ivan upstairs?"

"Yeah! He's the one who sent me down to keep you company. I kinda thought he was lying. Last I talked to him, he told me you guys hardly get time to talk."

Kayla simply nodded, still trying to test her senses by sniffing Ivan out again... Still, nothing.

"Since we're on the subject of keeping each other company. Watcha wanna do?... Games? Movies? Documentaries... anything you want, I got it."

Kayla focused on Ryan again. "Aren't you supposed to be upstairs with Ivan, dealing with whatever brought him here from school?"

"They don't need me there. It's a mother-son thing. After all, I'd rather be here with you—keeping you entertained."

Kayla rolled her eyes and ran them around the room they were in. Today she was getting an opportunity to gawk at something so beautiful without feeling self-conscious. And it was true, that room was simple but beautiful. From the layout of the gray couches, the small marble table, the big black screen on the wall, the small bookcase on the side, and the adjoining modern kitchen.

It was still the house of her dreams and she could see her family living in a house like that. But it was a fool's dream. An impossible dream.

"So what's it gonna be? While you think about it, I will go get us some drinks. What's your poison?" Ryan suddenly stood up, a light shining in his eyes in what looked like mischief. Kayla shook her head in response to his question.

Ryan chuckled, shaking his head. "Nope! I won't allow you to come and leave our house, twice, without so much as a drink. Pick something now before I pick something that will have you unconscious for days."