Chapter 129-A romantic gesture

Chapter 129: 129-A romantic gesture

"Maisa again!"

The complaint echoed through the dimly lit room just as the door opened and a figure slipped inside.

Taratoya didn’t immediately look up. She merely flicked her fingers and one candle after another burst to life.

Flames bloomed across the room, casting warm light over the extravagant bedroom and revealing its deliberately dramatic décor. Black and crimson dominated everything the luxurious furniture, heavy curtains, and silk covers spread across the enormous bed, even the clothes scattered neatly around the room.

They were Taratoya’s favourite colors, and she had made certain that anyone entering her room would know it.

She was sprawled across the bed in a position that looked almost impossible to maintain comfortably, her feet twisted together while her upper body rested lazily against the headboard. A book lay open in her hands, though judging by the amused curve of her lips, she hadn’t been paying much attention to it.

"I can’t stand it," the newcomer continued.

Taratoya finally turned a page. She kept her focus on the book even though she stopped reading the minute she had company.

"Are you even listening to me?"

That earned her attention as Taratoya lifted her eyes from the book. Her black eyes immediately settled on the masked girl standing near the entrance. Then, a soft smile blossomed across her face.

"Has anyone ever told you that you’re cute when you’re jealous?"

The girl stopped. With an irritated sigh, she reached up and removed her mask.

Taratoya’s eyebrows rose dramatically. "Oh, my..." She gasped.

It was the water vampire from the lake. The same vampire who had chased her across the shore and the one who had nearly drowned her.

Taratoya immediately clutched her chest and threw herself backwards against the pillows.

"Please, spare me!" she cried dramatically. "Don’t kill me!"

Her voice was so convincing that anyone passing outside the room might have genuinely believed someone was being attacked.

"Save me!" she even imitated the desperate tone she’d used at the lake. The one that she used to lure Maisa to her side. "Someone help me!"

The room fell into silence, and then, without warning, she switched from crying, and Taratoya burst out laughing.

"Hahaha!"

Her laughter filled the bedroom, completely destroying the illusion of fear she had just created.

"Hahaha!"

There was something almost villainous about the sound now. It was mischievous, calculating, and entirely too pleased with itself.

Katrina planted both hands on her waist. "Is it funny?"

Taratoya laughed even harder. She laughed, clutching her stomach and leaning her head back.

"It certainly wasn’t funny watching you fall into her arms," Katrina’s glare sharpened. "And having her hold you so close to her like you belonged to her."

Her complaints only encouraged Taratoya to laugh even harder than she already was.

"Hahaha!"

She finally dropped the book onto the bed and allowed herself to laugh freely, her shoulders shaking with amusement.

"Katrina..." she drew out the name sweetly. "My sweet Kat."

Taratoya rolled onto her side and propped her head against one hand, looking at the irritated mixed blood with unmistakable amusement.

"You have absolutely nothing to be sour about when it comes to Maisa," her smile widened. "Or any other girl or vampire."

Katrina’s eyes narrowed. Taratoya’s grin only became more mischievous. She clearly had no intention of letting her sweet Kat win this argument.

Taratoya patted the mattress beside her and motioned for Katrina to come closer.

"Come here."

Katrina stared at the empty space beside her but didn’t move. She was still angry or, more accurately, she was determined to remain angry.

She wasn’t going to let Taratoya charm her way out of this one with a few sweet words and that infuriatingly beautiful smile.

First, the girl had conveniently fallen into Maisa’s arms, then she had travelled with her, and now she had been training with her. Katrina had every right to be upset, and she intended to make Taratoya suffer for at least a few more minutes.

Taratoya studied her silence. One second, two, three... Katrina still didn’t move. With a quiet sigh, Taratoya pushed herself upright.

Unlike the lazy way she had been sprawled across the bed earlier, every movement now seemed deliberate. She swung her legs over the edge, straightened her clothes, and rose with surprising steadiness.

There was something almost amusingly calculated about the way she moved, as though she had already predicted Katrina’s stubbornness and had planned for this exact outcome.

Katrina watched her approach. Her expression remained pouty, her arms stayed folded, but her eyes betrayed her.

The closer Taratoya came, the softer Katrina’s gaze became. She could never truly stay angry with that vampire.

Taratoya stopped directly in front of her. For a moment, neither spoke, and then Taratoya reached down and took Katrina’s hand.

The gesture was gentle, almost tender, completely different from the mischievous attitude she had displayed moments earlier. Her fingers closed around Katrina’s hand, and with an easy tug, she guided her toward the bed.

Katrina allowed herself to be pulled down. She immediately looked away, determined not to make it too easy.

Taratoya smiled. "Maisa is a means to an end," she said calmly. "She’s not worth you wasting your feelings on."

She reached toward Katrina and brushed a loose strand of crimson hair away from her face.

Katrina immediately pushed her hand aside."I don’t care about your explanation!" her pout deepened. "First, you fell into her arms, then you travelled with her, and now you were training with her."

She pointed accusingly at Taratoya. "Not fair."

For a moment, Taratoya simply stared at her, and then a laugh slipped out of her mouth.

"Hahaha!"

She burst into laughter, which made Katrina’s eyes narrow at her. She felt like Taratoya wasn’t taking her feelings seriously.

Taratoya laughed even harder, bending forward and clutching her stomach. "Kat, stop..." she managed between laughs. "Please."

She tried to catch her breath. "I can’t laugh anymore."

"I’m not exactly trying to be funny here."

That only made Taratoya laugh again. Katrina’s cheeks puffed slightly as she folded her arms tighter.

"You have to be trying to!" Taratoya finally forced herself to calm down. She wiped the corner of one eye, still grinning as she looked at Katrina.

"This is the first time anyone has considered controlling a blueblood just to beat a redblood to a pulp a romantic gesture."

Katrina’s mouth fell open. "That isn’t what I..."

Taratoya gently caught her chin before she could finish. Her black-painted fingernails gleamed beneath the candlelight as she tilted Katrina’s face toward her.

"Look around."

Katrina blinked, but her eyes still moved around the room.

"Do you see any dark red in this room?" She slowly turned Katrina’s face toward the room. "Anywhere?"

Katrina’s eyes wandered across the familiar surroundings. The room was full of black and crimson everywhere.

The walls carried deep black accents. The furniture was decorated in dark crimson details. The curtains, bedding, cushions, ornaments, and even the smaller objects scattered around the room carried the same two colours.

It was like every room Taratoya chose eventually became an extension of herself. Black for Taratoya’s blood and the crimson for Katrina’s.

Katrina’s expression slowly changed as she realized what Taratoya was getting at.

Taratoya leaned closer. Her voice dropped into a quiet whisper beside Katrina’s ear. "This is what I would call a romantic gesture."

Katrina went silent. For several seconds, she simply stared at the room, and then she looked back at Taratoya.

"You’re impossible, Teetee. Fine, I’ll forgive you this once."

Taratoya’s smile widened. "Impossible as I might be, i am confident that you would still cross hell for me."

Katrina immediately looked away again. "I am still angry."

"Of course you are."

"I am, Teetee," Katrina insisted.

"Absolutely. And you have every right to be, Kat," Taratoya indulged her.

"And I’m not forgiving you that easily."

Taratoya nodded solemnly. "Naturally. I should work to earn your forgiveness."

Katrina glanced at her suspiciously. "Why are you agreeing with everything I say?"

"Because you’re cute when you’re angry. And i love it when you act cute."

Katrina’s pout returned instantly. Taratoya laughed softly before planting a kiss at the corner of Katrina’s lips, and for all her complaints, Katrina didn’t pull away.