Chapter 201: 201-A candlelight surprise
At a secluded estate surrounded by ancient trees, Taratoya stood in the middle of an enormous dining hall, supervising the final arrangements with an expression of absolute seriousness.
"Move the candles three inches to the left," she ordered.
A servant obeyed and moved it as she instructed but it displeased her.
"No, the other left."
The servant froze, her left and Taratoya’s left was the same. The other left that Taratoya was talking about was right but to correct the queen’s niece was suicide.
Taratoya closed her eyes. "Never mind. Just leave them there."
The poor servant looked as though he would rather face a pack of bloodthirsty werewolves than endure another minute of the mistress’s instructions.
Taratoya, however, had no intention of making things easy for anyone. Not tonight. Tonight had to be perfect for her dear one.
The dining hall had been transformed into a breathtaking candlelit sanctuary. Hundreds of candles illuminated the room, their warm flames reflecting off polished black marble and the delicate crystal glasses arranged across the table.
Deep red roses adorned the walls, interwoven with pale flowers that released a faint, intoxicating fragrance. Soft crimson curtains framed the tall windows, beyond which the moon cast silver light over the estate gardens.
At the center of the room stood a long dining table prepared for two. Not a gathering of nobles or a formal banquet attended by half the court. Not an extravagant celebration designed to impress guests who would spend the following morning gossiping about every detail.
Just two places; one for herself and the other for Katrina.
On the table sat an elaborate dinner prepared especially for her beloved, accompanied by a bottle of rare crimson wine that Taratoya had spent an unreasonable amount of money acquiring.
There was also a small velvet box beside Katrina’s place setting. Taratoya glanced at it for the seventh time. Then she picked it up, opened it, examined its contents, and closed it again.
"Is it too much?"
The head servant standing nearby hesitated to answer but said, "My lady, the gift is exquisite."
"That wasn’t my question."
The servant swallowed.
Taratoya stared at the box. Inside lay a delicate bracelet crafted from white gold, its center stone a deep red gemstone that seemed to hold a tiny flame within its depths. The bracelet was enchanted to recognize Katrina’s blood and would remain warm against her skin, protecting her from the cold that often troubled her.
It was practical, beautiful and, most importantly, it was something Taratoya had chosen herself.
She had considered dozens of other gifts, including an entire jewelry collection, a manor overlooking the northern sea, and a private garden filled with rare flowers.
In the end, she had chosen the bracelet because Katrina would be able to wear it every day and Taratoya wanted her to have something that would remind her of being loved even when they were apart.
"Do you think she’ll like it?" Taratoya asked quietly.
The servant’s expression softened. "Your beloved will surely appreciate the thought you put into it."
Taratoya looked down at the box. For someone who could command a room with a single glance, she found herself strangely helpless when it came to expressing the depth of her feelings.
She could threaten enemies without blinking. She could stare down powerful vampires and make them reconsider their life choices. But the thought of Katrina looking at her with disappointment? It was unbearable.
"Very well," she murmured. "You may leave."
The servants withdrew at once. When the doors closed behind them, Taratoya remained alone in the candlelit hall.
She looked around, taking in the flowers, the carefully arranged table, and the soft glow that transformed the room into something almost dreamlike and she exhaled.
"Katrina," she whispered to the empty room, testing the name against the tenderness gathering in her chest.
A small smile touched her lips. Tomorrow, the entire vampire world would celebrate love. But Taratoya had no intention of waiting until tomorrow to remind her beloved how precious she was.
Tonight belonged to them and she intended to make every moment count.
Upstairs, Katrina had no idea what awaited her. She was sitting beside the window in their bedroom, dressed in a comfortable gown, watching the lanterns illuminate the distant streets. From where she sat, she could hear faint music drifting across the estate grounds.
The Week of Hearts had begun. She had always loved this time of year, though she had never been particularly fond of the extravagant public celebrations.
She preferred quieter expressions of affection: a warm hand resting over hers, a thoughtful gift, or the simple comfort of falling asleep beside someone who made the world feel less frightening.
Her thoughts drifted toward Taratoya. A fond smile appeared on her face. ’Will she remember?’
Taratoya could be difficult, stubborn and excessively protective. Sometimes so dramatic that Katrina wondered whether her beloved had been born with an entire theater troupe living inside her soul.
But she was also the person who remembered how Katrina liked her tea, who noticed when she was tired before she said a word, and who could spend an entire evening pretending not to worry while hovering close enough to catch her if she stumbled.
Katrina touched the ring on her finger. "Foolish vampire," she murmured affectionately.
A knock sounded at the door. Before she could answer, it opened slightly, and a servant appeared.
"My lady, Mistress Taratoya requests your presence downstairs."
Katrina turned from the window. "Now?"
"Yes, my lady."
"Did she say why?"
The servant lowered her eyes, clearly fighting a smile. "She instructed us to tell you that it is a matter of great importance."
Katrina raised an eyebrow. Great importance? Had something happened? Had an unexpected visitor arrived? Or had Taratoya found another excuse to drag her into some elaborate discussion about a new game?
Katrina rose from her seat. "Very well. I’ll be down shortly."
The servant bowed and withdrew. Katrina took one last look at herself in the mirror before leaving the room.
She had absolutely no idea that downstairs, Taratoya was pacing beside a table set for two, rehearsing what she intended to say and silently threatening every candle in the hall not to go out at the wrong moment.
And when Katrina finally reached the staircase, the first thing she noticed was the fragrance of roses. The second was the soft glow spilling from the dining hall. She slowed down.
She heard Taratoya’s voice. "Before you say anything, I want you to know that if the food is cold, I will personally have words with the entire kitchen staff."
Katrina stopped on the final step. A laugh escaped her before she could suppress it.
Taratoya appeared in the doorway and for one brief moment, they simply stared at each other. Then Taratoya’s stern expression crumbled.
Her gaze softened as she took in Katrina’s face, and the nervousness she had been trying so desperately to conceal returned in full force.
"Happy beginning of the Week of Hearts, my love," she said, extending her hand.
Katrina looked past her into the candlelit room. She saw the flowers, the dinner, the two places set at the table and finally, the girl who had arranged everything.
Her eyes widened slightly. "Taratoya..."
Taratoya held out her hand a little farther. "I know it’s not tomorrow yet," she said, her voice suddenly quieter. "And I know everyone else is busy preparing for the ball and Addessa’s birthday, but I wanted tonight to be ours."
Katrina’s expression softened.
Taratoya swallowed, then added, almost shyly, "Besides, if I waited until the official celebration, I’d have to share the entire week with everyone else’s romance."
Katrina laughed. "You jealous creature."
"Entirely. And I am all yours, Kat."
Katrina blushed. "You are indeed something else," she said.
"Only when it comes to you."
Katrina placed her hand in Taratoya’s. The moment their fingers intertwined, Taratoya’s shoulders relaxed as though she had finally been granted permission to breathe.
Katrina stepped closer and brushed a kiss against her cheek. "Show me what you’ve prepared, my love."
Taratoya’s smile returned, brighter than the candles surrounding them. "Gladly."
She led Katrina into the dining hall, where the flames flickered gently around them and the rest of the world seemed to fall away.
Outside, the vampire world celebrated the beginning of the Week of Hearts.
Inside, Taratoya began hers with the woman she loved most and for that one beautiful night, nothing else mattered.