"You guys moved in. Why?" Kashi asked. "I thought you owned a castle on a hill or something."
"I do own a castle." Chaos paused. "Not on a hill, though." His gaze drifted briefly. "Xavier, where is that castle again?"
"Iceland," Xavier replied.
Kashi, "..."
Zarri, "..."
Dante looked between everyone.
He just called me poor in several languages.
Chaos turned back to Kashi, looking far too satisfied with himself. Kashi gave him a look that clearly said the question had been rhetorical.
Chaos shrugged. "I did tell you I own half the houses on this estate. I simply decided to move closer to my properties."
"Ahem!" Alex coughed loudly into his fist. "More like closer to his bebé."
Chaos did not even look at him. He flicked one hand.
Xavier understood immediately.
He walked over, caught Alex by the collar and started dragging him away.
"Wha—hey! Xavier, hands off me! I only spoke the truth!"
Alex's protests disappeared down the corridor.
"Come, Young Master Sergeyev," Xavier said calmly. "There is still plenty to unpack."
"Ooh, I'll help!" Zarri hurried after them.
Dante watched everyone leave. Then recognised an opportunity. "I'll help too." He vanished after Zarri. And just like that—Kashi was alone with Chaos.
She looked towards the corridor where everyone had conveniently disappeared.
Tsk.
With a quiet breath, she moved to the sofa and sat, letting her gaze travel around the house.
Chaos joined her.
The house had gone strangely quiet after the others disappeared, leaving only the faint clatter of boxes somewhere down the corridor and the distant sound of Zarri arguing with Alex about something neither of them cared enough to investigate.
Kashi leaned back against the sofa. Chaos sat beside her. Not too close. Which was suspicious.
Kashi glanced at him. Chaos was already looking at her.
She paused. "What?"
"Nothing."
"You have a staring problem, Chaos."
His mouth curved. "I have an appreciation problem."
Kashi turned away, but she could still feel his gaze against the side of her face. Persistent. Warm. Annoying. She lasted perhaps ten seconds before looking back. He was still staring. "Chaos."
"Saints."
Neither looked away. The silence stretched between them, It should have been awkward.
Instead, something shifted. His expression softened first.
Only slightly. Enough for the arrogance to fade, leaving something quieter behind.
Kashi's irritation faltered. She hated when he looked at her like that. Like she was the only thing in the room worth seeing. Her gaze dropped briefly to his mouth. Then returned immediately to his eyes.
Unfortunately— he noticed.
A quiet laugh left him. Kashi looked away again. This time, Chaos leaned closer, enough to make her painfully aware of the space between them. "Kashi."
She ignored him.
"Look at me."
"No."
"Wildflower."
Her head turned before she could stop herself. Chaos smiled.
Kashi's expression hardened. "I hate when you do that."
"Do what?" Said Chaos.
"Say things like you already know I'll listen." Kashi frowned.
"But you did."
"Shut up."
His amusement faded when their eyes met again. No teasing now. No smugness. No game.
His pale blue eyes searched hers slowly, as though trying to memorise something.
Kashi swallowed. "What are you looking at?"
"You." The answer came without hesitation. Something tightened in her chest.
Kashi gave a short laugh. "That was disgustingly corny."
"I know." Chaos lifted one hand. "I'm not ashamed." Slowly, he brushed a loose strand of hair away from her cheek. Giving her every opportunity to move.
Kashi didn't.
His fingers barely touched her. Somehow, that made it worse. His hand lingered near her face.
Neither moved. Then Kashi reached up and caught his wrist. Chaos's gaze dropped to her hand.
She could have pushed him away.
Instead, her thumb moved once across his skin. Chaos went still.
Kashi's lips curved. "Something wrong?"
His eyes returned to hers. "Cruel woman."
"You like that."
"I do."
That pulled a smile from her despite herself. Chaos leaned closer until their foreheads almost touched. "Kashi?"
"Mm?"
"Can I kiss you?"
She studied him for a long moment, then tilted her face slightly towards his. "Is the young Riegrow master always this polite?"
Chaos grinned. The gentleness vanished from his expression, replaced by something darker. "Barely." Then he kissed her.
There was nothing hesitant about it. One hand settled at the back of her neck as his mouth met hers, the kiss rougher than the last, hungry enough to steal her breath.
Kashi caught at his shirt. Chaos drew her closer.
His fingers slid into her hair, tilting her head as the kiss deepened.
A low sound escaped him. He pulled back just enough to breathe.
"You want this?"
Kashi looked at him.
Chaos's voice dropped. "You want me to lose control?"
She answered by pulling him back to her.
That was enough.
His hands found her waist, drawing her flush against him as the kiss resumed.
Kashi shifted backwards against the sofa, Chaos following until there was barely any space left between them. His hand tightened at her hip. The other slid along her thigh.
"Easy…" Kashi breathed. He stopped just enough to look at her. "Haa… wait."
Chaos forehead touched hers. "You're going to be the death of me." his mouth moved along her jaw, brushing the sensitive skin beneath her ear before returning to her lips. His hands settled at her waist again, drawing her closer—
Crash!
They broke apart.
Dante stood several feet away. A box lay crooked in his arms.
He watched them in absolute horror. Like a father who had just discovered his daughter doing things with a man he had not yet approved.
"Dante—" Kashi's voice came out weaker than intended.
Dante raised one hand. "Nah." He walked towards the door. "Not today." he slammed the door behind him.
Kashi shot to her feet. "Dante!" She ran after him without another word.
Chaos remained on the sofa.
Alone.
For several seconds, he simply stared at the doorway, his expression had darkened.
"Young Master." Xavier's voice came from behind him.
Chaos turned.
Xavier stood near the corridor, having apparently witnessed enough to understand exactly what had just happened.
Chaos looked towards the door Dante had escaped through. "Can I kill him?"
Xavier shook his head. "No. He seems close to Miss Kashi."
Chaos's eyes slowly returned to their usual pale blue.
He stood and flexed his hands.
"We'll see about that."