Chapter 123-Bet on you (2)

Chapter 123: 123-Bet on you (2)

The Vancrest hacienda had settled into the quiet rhythm of evening by the time Taratoya decided it was time to create another chaos elsewhere.

She found Kayden alone near the stables, still wearing the loose riding clothes he had changed into after the race.

"Kay."

He turned to face her, and Taratoya crooked a finger at him. "Come with me."

Kayden raised an eyebrow. "Where?"

"I have something for you," she smiled, setting the bait. Knowing how much Kayden loved getting gifts, she knew he’d be hooked. And as expected, that immediately caught his attention.

"What is it?"

"A gift," she didn’t reveal more. "Want it?"

His suspicion only lasted a second before curiosity won. He handed his blood horse to one of the stable vampires and followed her.

Taratoya led him away from the mansion and toward a smaller guesthouse tucked among the trees. It was far enough from the main building that their voices would not carry back to the others.

Since it was content, Kayden didn’t run at full speed and gave her a headstart and let her lead.

When Kayden arrived at the guesthouse and tracked her inside to the bedroom, he entered the bedroom without hesitation.

He found Taratoya sitting cross-legged on the edge of the bed, examining her perfectly manicured nails as though she hadn’t summoned him there at all.

"Teetee, you called?"

She looked up. A wicked smile spread across her face. "I got you something that I think you’ll love."

"A gift... for me?" He played along. He was getting a gift, how could he not be happy?

"Obviously for you, Kay."

Kayden’s expression softened. Taratoya was exceptionally good at that, making people feel chosen. It was her finest traits, and it usually left vampires at her mercy.

"I didn’t want to give it to you in front of everyone," she continued. "I didn’t get anyone else anything, after all..." she placed a hand over her heart dramatically. "You’re my favourite, Kayden. Only you."

Kayden immediately smiled. "You know exactly how to manipulate me, Teetee."

"I prefer the word charm, baby."

"What did you get me?" He went straight to the point knowing her games were just starting.

Taratoya stood and pointed toward the bed. There was a person beneath the blanket. He could tell from the shape under the blanket.

Kayden’s entire expression changed. "You brought someone here?"

Taratoya said nothing and simply shrugged like it was no big deal. She wasn’t one bit fazed that he seemed to mind.

His eyes narrowed. "Is that a human?"

Another wicked smile crossed Taratoya’s face at his innocent guess. Kayden stared at the covered figure, then back at her.

"You actually brought me someone?"

"Yes, and I am confident that you’ll love my gift."

He walked closer but stopped before the bed. Something about the situation felt wrong. He had expected Taratoya to pull some ridiculous prank, perhaps present him with an expensive weapon or some rare bottle of blood, but this was different.

"This isn’t funny, Teetee. Who is it?" He grew cautious.

"I never said it was a joke," she stepped closer and gently touched his cheek. "Don’t become so serious, Kay. Never lose that cuteness of yours. It’s one of the reasons i love you the most."

Kayden caught her wrist. "Taratoya," he called her name, for once, there was no playfulness in his voice. "What are you up to?"

She studied him for a moment. "Why so serious? It’s not like i hid an assasin under the covers to kill you," she said dramatically and went ahead, and she pulled the blanket away.

Kayden glanced over at the figure and froze. His entire world seemed to stop. "Luan?"

Luan Ashbourne lay on the bed, fully clothed and unconscious. His body was relaxed and lazy upon the bed.

Kayden couldn’t speak. His eyes darted from the unconscious vampire male wrapped in ribbons and bound to the bed by strong titanium ropes and onto the wicked vampire standing next to the bed.

Taratoya folded her arms. "You hide your feelings well, Kay."

Kayden’s jaw tightened. He could instantly tell that Taratoya had peeled off the layers and layers of masks he’d worn to hide his feelings for Luan and found out his secret.

"But nothing stays hidden from me," she proudly admitted.

He looked at Luan again. The person he had spent so long watching from a distance. The person whose smile could ruin his entire evening simply because Kayden knew it wasn’t meant for him.

The person whose attention always seemed to drift toward someone else, Addessa, like moth to fire. His hand slowly fell from Taratoya’s wrist.

"What have you done?"

"I brought you an opportunity. You’re welcome."

Kayden’s body grew tense, "I never thanked you, Teetee... this isn’t funny," his voice came out more harsher than he had intended because he was nervous and panicked.

"No?"

"No!" Kayden stepped between Taratoya and the bed. "He’s a person. A vampire is not a gift you can kidnap and wrap up and give me."

Taratoya’s expression became slightly more serious. "I know he is a vampire. I am not blind."

"Then how can you call him a gift?"

"Because I knew you’d never approach him yourself, and watching you pine for him fromna distance is seriously hurting my eyes."

That struck harder than Kayden expected. He looked away and avoided Taratoya’s eyes. Did he really look that bad pining for Luan from a distance? He wondered.

Taratoya had seen through him. Of course she had. She wouldn’t be her if she wasn’t up in everyone’s business, sniffing out secrets and using them as she saw fit.

"You’ve spent all this time hiding behind an icy exterior," she continued. "Watching him, following him with your eyes... finding excuses to be near him. And every time he chooses Addessa, you convince yourself that you already know the answer so you don’t dare do anything about your feelings... so i did it for you."

Kayden’s expression tightened. Every word thar Taratoya spoke was the bitter truth. Though he acts tough and is never hesitant to take risks, Luan was the risk he couldn’t ever bring himself to take.

"Even if he was standing right next to you. You wouldn’t dare take a step towards him..."

"He loves her," he said, his voice weak and broken by years of watching Luan love Addessa.

"Maybe, sweetie..." she uttered. The single word made Kayden look at her.

Taratoya shrugged. "Maybe he doesn’t... maybe he does. But you don’t know because you’ve never asked him or even take a step back be with him.

Kayden looked toward Luan. Luan remained asleep, clearly unaware of how little value his consent held in Taratoya’s eyes.

"I can’t do this," Kayden whispered. "I can’t take advantage of him.’

Taratoya’s smile faded. "Why?"

"Because it wouldn’t be right."

The admission seemed to surprise even himself. Kayden had faced powerful vampires without flinching. He had raced Varitreya across half the countryside. He had stood before people who could crush him with their magic and emerged victorious, but Luan?

Luan terrified him.

"I don’t want to hear him reject me," Kayden admitted. "I’d rather keep wondering... I would die if he woke up and had nothing but hate for me."

Taratoya tilted her head. "That’s cowardice dressed up as patience. Plus, he already hates your guts, doesn’t he?"

Kayden glared at her. "You’re horrible at being a friend, Teetee."

"And you’re wasting years... just waiting instead of claiming what you want," she moved toward the door. "Kay, since when did you develop a human moral compass?"

Kayden frowned. He was many things, but being accused of being all up in his feelings like humans felt like an insult that hit the nerve.

"You’re a vampire," Taratoya brushed a hair from his face and tucked it behind his ear. "A ruthless, bloodthirsty, powerful... whiteblood vampire. Stop acting like you’re incapable of making difficult choices and decisions to quench your thirst!"

She paused beside him. "I’ve served him for you... whether you take him or not, it is up to you."

Her gaze shifted toward Luan. She brushes a cold finger over Kayden’s left arm and wrapped it on his shoulder and leaned towards him, her hair following the movement of her head with no single strand out of place. "I’ve wrapped him so nicely. Don’t waste my effort by letting this opportunity pass you by."

"He isn’t something you and I own. I can’t just claim him," Kayden argued.

"Your choice... impress me," she whispered and bolted.

Kayden was left alone in the guesthouse with ab unconscious Luan and a difficult choice. Feed his feelings or respect Luan?