Chapter 125-On your own terms

Chapter 125: 125-On your own terms

Kayden braced himself against the cold marble of the chamber’s table, his breathing uneven, heart hammering in his chest. The weight of Taratoya’s words refused to leave him.

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

Kayden clenched his jaw, squeezing his eyes shut. He had fought harder in keeping his feelings a secret than he ever had before. He had fought with ruthless precision, with an edge to his strikes that even he hadn’t expected to be discovered. And yet, Taratoya had seen through him. She had seen into him.

He slammed his fist against the table. ’No!’ He shook his head, staring at Luan who was yet to regain consciousness, and the only thought he had was, ’This was not who he was.’

He was a blood lord. A future grand duke and the future judge of the highest courthouse in all vampire nations. A vampire expected to rule, to produce heirs, to lead the nation with strength and dignity. He couldn’t lower himself to take advantage of an unconscious vampire.

Yet when he had shut his eyes in the heat of the moment, the face that had surfaced in his mind was Luan. His bra would create fantasies of the many ways he could have the male, even though his body wasn’t brave enough to live out those fantasies in real life.

He didn’t think of Luan, the future head of the blood council, but of the blue haired heartthrob who had a place in his heart.

Feeling torn between the two choices, he turned to the only person he trusted.

He retrieved his blood mirror and called Varitreya. In less than a minute, Varitreya was standing in front of him.

"This better be good if you’re interrupting my feeding..." she paused when she spotted Luan on the bed, all tied up. "I have questions," her eyes narrowed.

"So do I?" He pulled inside the room and locked the door.

For a few breaths, they stood face to face without a word. They both had plenty of questions for the other, but neither of them knew where to start from.

Varitreya broke eye contact and glanced at Luan. "Why is he here in this state?"

"A gift from Taratoya."

That caught Varitreya off guard. A gift from her self-serving cousin? It gave her no comfort.

"But wait...why would Taratoya..." she held her tongue and looked into Kayden’s eyes. That one look told her everything she needed to know about the situation. "Oh... oh," she reacted as the truth dawned on her.

"Do you hate me?" Kayden asked, nervous about what her opinion was on him having feelings for Luan.

"No, no, Kay," she pulled him into a hug. "I don’t hate you or see you any different," she comforted him.

"Are you sure?"

He leaned on her shoulder and wrapped his hands around her. It was nice to see that their friendship remained the same even after the secret he’s kept hidden in his heart was exposed.

"I am sure," she affirmed. "Additionally..." she paused, breaking the hug so they were face to face again. "I don’t hardly one to judge when it comes to this."

"You mean... Maisa?"

"Mmh," she nodded. With her zing and choice of lover, she was the last person to judge him about his preferences. "So, what’s the deal here, exactly?"

Kayden brought her up to speed with how things played out with Taratoya. The more she listened, the more concerned Varitreya became.

"What do you think I should do?"

Varitreya debated how to express her opinion. in the end, she decided to be brutally honest with him.

"Kay, you of all people should know that sometimes a leash can be disguised as a gift."

"I know that."

"With all the gifts we received from the palace this time on top of all the gifts we are already juggling, are you sure you want to accept another gift...especially from Taratoya?" She asked him in a soft tone, hoping she sees things from a clear perspective and not one blinded by emotions.

"Varitreya... I..."

"With all the eyes on us and the palace’s leash growing more tight by the day, are you certain you want Taratoya wrapping hers around your neck?" She ushered him to take a seat. "You know that her arrival here wasn’t an accident. The palace sent her to make sure we lived up to their expectations."

"I am well aware of that," Kayden expressed. He ran a hand over his hair, squeezing his eyes tightly shut. "I know that Taratoya serves no one, not the interest of the palace or ours. She exists to serve Taratoya’s interest and nothing more... I know all that..."

"But she’s dangled your deepest desire before you, and you can’t decide if passing up this opportunity will be worth it," Varitreya read the situation as it was.

She pulled Kayden close to her and laid his head on her shoulder before she began to massage his head for him.

"I just can’t stop thinking about how much I’ll regret it if i let this chance pass," he expressed.

"You’ll regret it more if you do take it."

Kayden lifted his eyes to look into hers. His eyes pleaded with her to elaborate, and he hoped the explanation Varitreya gave will be enough to help him clear his thoughts and think straight.

"I know it’s hard liking him from a distance, and as your friend, i want you to be happy but not on Taratoya’s terms... but your own," she said.

Her terms would serve as chains on his neck that she can tighten and loosen whenever she wants to get what she wants from him. And when those chains start suffocating him, Kayden will regret not just this day but his feelings for Luan and thar they would hurt even more.

"I want you to love on your own terms. The consequences will be yours, and so will the victory, and only you will be the master of your story... not anyone else," she kept moving her fingers gently on his hair and scalp.

Kayden closed his eyes. The massage was calming him down and giving him a clear view of the picture Varitreya was painting.

He could see clearly the risks of taking Luan now. Taratoya would hold it over his head, and he’d never live it down. The vampire was good at playing games and manipulating vampires into building the steps she needed to achieve her objectives.

As long as someone was useful, she’d build them up to the skies, only to break their illusion. The choice she gave was simply, keep being a stepping stone for her, or she’ll drop you down from the sky. Most of the time, seeing the grave distance from the sky to the earth, most chose to keep serving her.

"The palace has granted you more titles and possible positions, Kayden. Do this today, and Taratoya can use it to twist your hand later on and have you serve her wishes whether you approved or not," Varitreya continued to give her friend her honest opinion. "My cousin is good at siring slaves with her charm. Don’t fall for it."

Kayden sighed. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his mind, clearing all thoughts and Taratoya’s words from his head.

"And in as much as you are a whiteblood and the Krauss name is powerful, if Luan’s father and mother push the right pressures... you could end up losing more than your future," she warned him. "I’d think about that before touching Luan."

"What would you have me do, Vari?"

"Get strong," she encouraged him. "So strong that neither the palace, your family nor the likes of Taratoya can dare to put a leash on you!"