Chapter 121-Sudden reunion

Chapter 121: 121-Sudden reunion

"You were for real. I mean...you are seriously related to the princess?!" She asked again as they alighted from the carriage.

Just then, the strangest thing happened. Without answering her, Taratoya’s aura and the way she carried herself changed.

It wasn’t subtle. The woman who had been stumbling around the lake pretending to be helpless suddenly disappeared.

Her shoulders straightened, her chin lifted high and her steps became measured and graceful. Even the way she held her body changed.

The playful expression remained, but beneath it was a sharpness, confidence, and unmistakably aristocratic that was undeniable.

Maisa stared at her with her mouth wide open. Taratoya had gone from a seemingly helpless vampire who had needed rescuing to someone who looked as though she had been raised in a royal court and could never fall weak at someone’s feet, let alone a redblood.

She lacked Varitreya’s flawless composure, but there was no mistaking the resemblance in their bearing.

Maisa’s eyebrows rose. "You’re different here," her voice was tense. She felt as though she had met a master and had been played right from the start.

Taratoya looked at her innocently. "Am I?"

"You’re practically a different person. How can you not realize it yourself?"

"Perhaps you’re finally seeing the real me. And it comes so naturally that I myself didn’t realize," she answered.

Maisa raised her walls and guarded heavily against her. She was the type of vampire or person that screamed trouble and Maisa whose fate was determined to send her down one rabbit hole after another couldnt afford to be associated with her and whatever troubles her presence will brew.

"That is somehow more concerning."

Taratoya laughed and then she reached out and took Maisa’s hands as though it was something she had done a million times in the past. Maisa tensed under her touch.

"Come on."

"Where to?" she questioned, her eyes darting over to the fields and falling on her mate’s figures. She could feel the flower of fate pulsing in her chest.

"To greet my cousin and merry band of misfits."

Before Maisa could object, Taratoya pulled her through the gates. They crossed the enormous courtyard and headed straight toward the fields.

The three riders were still racing, completely unaware of their arrival. They seemed to be having the time of their lives.

Taratoya lifted both hands around her mouth. "GO, VARI! GO!"

Her voice carried across the entire field and all the riders immediately looked over. But before they could see who had shouted, Varitreya leaned forward, her blood horse surged ahead.

The distance between her and Kayden vanished almost instantly. One second they were side by side and the next, Varitreya crossed the finish line.

The horse slowed beneath her with a powerful snort as Kayden came in second and Lumi a short distance behind him.

"Unfair!" Lumi called out, even though she knew she stood no chance of winning from the start, I was still wrong for Varitreya to steal that second of their distraction to reach the finish line before them.

Varitreya dismounted with effortless grace. "You agreed to the race me knowing full well that i stand defeated only by my mother, the queen."

"I agreed to race. I didn’t agree to lose," Lumi pouted. Hard.

Kayden laughed as he climbed off his horse. "You’ve been saying that for the past three races and you’ve lost each time."

"Because the problem remains the same..." she paused, "Varitreya is a monster on the field."

Then all three looked toward Taratoya. Their expressions changed the second they locked eyes with her.

Varitreya’s eyes narrowed slightly when she Taratoya, Kayden’s brows lifted. Taratoya was already a rare sight to see, he was happy she made time to come see them. Lumi’s face brightened when she saw Taratoya but then she noticed who was standing beside her and there other followed too, Maisa.

The three of them froze almost simultaneously. A few seconds later, footsteps thundered from the direction of the mansion.

Addessa and Zolani appeared, apparently drawn by Taratoya’s shouting. They too stopped dead when they saw Maisa. For one strange moment, nobody said anything.

Seeing the way Maisa stood side to side with Taratoya, fingers intertwined as though they were close left her mates confused. Seeing Taratoya was already shocking but seeing her with Maisa nearly sent their souls running from their bodies.

Taratoya simply smiled. She lifted one hand and waved. "Hello, nightmares," her tone had changed, the playful warmth was gone.

There was something darker in her voice now, something almost mischievous and evil. "I have missed you."

Addessa was the first to recover. Her eyes immediately narrowed on Maisa. "What is she doing here?" she pointed directly at Maisa.

Taratoya’s grin widened. "Nice to see you too, Addie. How beautiful you’ve become since last i saw you."

"Don’t call me that."

"Still touchy i see."

Addessa ignored her and looked at Maisa. "Why is she here?"

"Because I brought her here," Taratoya answered cheerfully.

Addessa’s expression darkened. "Of course you did. Why wouldn’t the agent of chaos travel hand in hand with the devil incarnate?"

Taratoya maintained her expression and held Maisa’s hand tightly, feeling Maisa trying to pull away. She didn’t give her a chance to withdraw or move back. "That is not a nice thing to say, Addie."

"I wasn’t being nice."

Kayden finally approached her. He looked at Taratoya for a moment before his expression softened. "Teetee, it’s always nice to see you, dear?"

"Well, at least someone missed me," Taratoya snorted at the others.

"You wish," Lumi countered but she didn’t seem at all annoyed or irritated.

Kayden stepped forward anyway and pressed a quick affectionate kiss to her cheek in greeting. "Welcome home, Teetee."

Taratoya wiped her cheek dramatically. "You’re still annoyingly affectionate, Kay."

"And you’re still pretending you don’t like me. We both know I am the only male vampire you find interesting."

"Keep dreaming, Kay. Dreams are what founded most of the existing nations."

Then Addessa muttered, "Truly, Teetee, your taste is changing. From wicked... to worse."

Kayden laughed at the joke and subtle insult thrown at Maisa, Taratoya gave him a look and he made a motion of sealing his lips and threw away the key.

"What is that supposed to mean, Addie? Are you by chance insinuating that I suddenly grew a heart?"

Before anyone could answer, Lumi practically jumped off her horse. "Maisa!"

She hurried over and wrapped Maisa in a warm hug. Maisa stiffened for only a moment before relaxing.

"Lumi..."

"It’s so good to see you," Lumi cheerfully expressed. "I thought that I wouldn’t get to see you until school break ends. It’s good you are here."

Lumi pulled back, smiling so sweetly that Maisa couldn’t help returning it. Before she put a word in, Lumi hugged her again.

Behind them, Zolani stepped forward with eyes full of hatred. "Have you forgotten the punishment you just endured and the warnings from your parents about her, Lumi?"

Lumi immediately shot her a warning glare. "I am greeting my friend. Last I checked, that wasn’t a crime."

"You’re becoming very bold, Lumi Ashbourne."

"I’ve always been bold, Zo," she fired back, holding her ground. "I don’t turn my back on people as easily as you do. You and Addessa could teach vampires how to grow heartless overnight."

"You have been reckless and i would think you’d learn your lesson after what happened."

"There’s a difference?"

"According to your parents, yes. There is a difference."

Lumi ignored her and hugged Maisa even more warmly. She refused to back down and what everyone didn’t realize was that, the more they told her to keep her distance from Maisa, the more she’ll get close to her.