Blood Awakening: The Strongest Hybrid and His Vampire Bride

Chapter 617: I Will Protect Your Dreams

Soon, Zara’s arms wrapped around Nikolai’s head, her pink lips parted, and she let his tongue into her mouth as she sighed against his face. The sudden intrusion sent tingles down her spine as she subconsciously tightened her lips around his tongue.

The moment she sucked, a strange but pleasant flavour flowed into her throat. After she tasted Nikolai’s saliva, Zara wanted more and more, sucking and curling her little tongue around his to encourage him.

Wet sounds of kissing echoed in the small hole hidden from the tunnels.

’I feel like my stomach is floating!’

Zara opened her tightly closed eyes to find a handsome face inches from hers. She noticed the hairs along his jaw and the fluffy eyebrows above his sharp eyes.

’He’s so handsome, but why did I kiss him?!’

Her hands ruffled through his silky hair while filled with delight and panic, she couldn’t help but push her lips against his harder, wanting to feel this strange warmth more and more, and she couldn’t help but love the way his tongue flicked against hers, before coiling around it.

’Is this a kiss... why is it so different from books?’

Eventually, their lips pulled apart with a wet smack, and threads of her saliva drooped from his extended tongue, which he slowly curled back into his mouth.

’Ah, he’s going to taste my spit, embarrassing.’

Djinn were typically more conservative with relationships between men and women, so this sudden French kiss blew Zara’s mind.

She staggered, only to fall into Nikolai’s muscular arms, which held her up.

"Don’t fall too hard now." He teasingly smirked.

"Ah, you..."

Her eyes darted from side to side as she wondered what she could do or say after acting so childish and then suddenly kissing him.

’What if he thinks I am annoying, or hates me?!’

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Nikolai watched her blushing face while collecting his thoughts. Yes, he spoke about becoming her husband and supporting her.

However, that was more of a mental and platonic thing because he knew that their relationship was still shallow. Because his feelings were still only in the liking phase, he couldn’t claim to love Zara and knew she didn’t love him either.

’Well, it’s too late now.’

Since they’d kissed, he couldn’t just be heartless and shove her aside; after all, they could cultivate their immature or weak feelings, and the kiss jump-started these kinds of thoughts for both of them. He placed a hand on her small face, cupping her chin.

"Do you understand what you’ve just done?" He asked in a deep, aggressive voice.

Zara’s misty eyes shook as she glanced up at his face, the colour of her skin now close to bright red as she clung to his shirt, frozen in place.

A moment passed, and she slowly shook her head.

"Since you kissed me, there is a price to pay."

Her body trembled at his words.

She looked deeper into his eyes, as if worried about something bad, but he just smiled back, lifting her chin.

"You can’t run away from me anymore." Nikolai’s arm tightened around her waist, then he leaned close and whispered in her ear. "Even if you planned to escape after solving the issue in Al’Qutar, it’s impossible now. How could I let such a delicious meal escape my grasp?"

Zara’s hands pushed gently on his chest as she let out a cute sound before his large thumb closed her lips, squishing them flat.

He enjoyed how soft and flexible they were.

"Zara."

The moment he called her name, her shoulders straightened, and she snapped her head up to glance into his eyes again.

"Good girl."

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’How embarrassing!’

Astonished at herself, Zara could only remain passive.

"S-stop... don’t tease me." She managed to speak back, but each time his thumb brushed against her lips, the ticklish feeling sent tingles down her spine. Zara couldn’t forget the feeling when his tongue invaded her mouth.

The strange yet addictive taste and feeling of electricity spread through her body as if energising every cell in its path. She tried to deny it, but her feelings, which were vague before, became more tangible.

"What’s the matter?"

’Ah, stop with that sexy voice.’

When he purposely spoke with a lower tone, tingles washed over her body, leaving small bumps on her arms and legs.

"N-Nothing!" She tried to gather her courage, but the warmth from his hand holding her back and breath tickling her neck crumbled her defences.

"You’re quite cute like this."

Nikolai’s hand slipped lower, resting on her buttocks.

"Ah..."

Zara wanted to complain, but the moment he noticed her change, he leaned close again, weakening her resolve.

’Why can’t I go against him, this beast of a man!’

However, she couldn’t say anything; his sweet words and the support granted were things she’d never felt before. It was a whole new world, causing her emotions and thoughts to spiral into an uncontrollable maelstrom.

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Nikolai managed to calm the teary-eyed princess down after a while; she eventually stopped fighting back and now leaned against his chest without issue.

He truly didn’t intend for things to move this fast.

Alas, things already reached this point, so he could only take responsibility.

"Have your emotions settled?"

"Mm."

"Do you really mean what you said about your cousin and aunt?" He spoke with a slow, gentle voice, trying to both comfort her. Nikolai couldn’t believe she truly hated her cousin and aunt, and rather, the outburst was more due to personal feelings.

Zara didn’t answer for a short while.

She gently traced shapes across Nikolai’s chest, while peeking up at him from time to time.

It was likely a fresh and new feeling for her.

Nikolai didn’t rush anything, instead remaining quiet while listening to her occasional stories or thoughts in the small tunnel despite the discomfort.

Eventually, she sighed and started to speak.

"I love my aunt and cousin. When I lost everything and became depressed because of those people calling me a failure, and my brother took the throne to protect me from them, they were the ones who supported and remained at my side."

He didn’t interrupt and listened to her speak.

Simple emotions of affection, but the jealousy towards her cousin grew each time Zara thought that she wasn’t worthy of the throne.

"But, one day, I realised that I never really wanted that thing." She looked up at Nikolai, her eyes bright as she suddenly laughed with a broad smile.

"Really?"

"Mhm, the only reason I came back was that I love this planet, the people, my aunt, cousin and brother... if I didn’t, then they would suffer even more."

Nikolai couldn’t help but close his eyes and feel a sense of kinship when he first took the seat of a patriarch. He only did it until his grandfather came back. He wanted his father to take the role because he knew it wasn’t something he wanted.

Yet, the more he learned, the more people he met, this role eventually became something he took more and more pride in.

’Could I have been with Leona if I didn’t become the Patriarch?’

’Would I be like this with Zara now?’

Thus, he no longer regretted or hated the seat; he wanted to make the place they lived even a little better for the future patriarch and his children.

"Then have you told your aunt and cousin these feelings in private?"

He glanced at the shocked expression on her face, wide eyes, lips open wide and shook his head. "You should speak to them. Because they probably believe they’re doing this for you, just like you’re doing it for them."

When his father vanished to fight and gather money, or the time he hid his powers and suffered just to live a mortal life with Nikolai.

Until he finally spoke to his father, Nikolai didn’t know about these things.

If they didn’t speak, there was a chance they both ended up fighting, or something might have gone wrong between them.

"Will they understand me? What if they’re disappointed?" She asked in a weak tone.

"Then let them, in the end I’ll still be here won’t I?" He leaned closer, his hands large enough to wrap her back and thigh, pulling her against his chest. "Whatever you wish to achieve, or dream of doing. I will help you attain it."

Her lips curled upward as she giggled. "Even if I want to be a horrible tyrant princess?"

He responded with a villainous grin. "Who shall we crush today, princess?"

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Meanwhile, standing at the edge of the corridor, Verda placed a hand against the wall while gazing at the pair huddled in the corner with a softened gaze. She’d chased after them a little later after sending the Shadow Guard to fulfil their orders.

Only to catch up and find her little treasure kissing this beast of a man.

At first, she wanted to tear them apart, but listening to his words and the fact that it was Zara, her innocent little flower, who kissed him, she stopped herself.

’Tsk, no wonder this kid has so many women.’

Verda hated men who were skilled at dealing with women. From the moment she met Nikolai, alarm bells rang in her head, telling her to be wary of him.

Now look, he was eating her precious little cabbage!

However, the more time that passed, the less she could hate him, and her anger swiftly cooled. Listening to the honest words that Zara would never speak to her shook Verda’s heart as she sat against the wall and closed her eyes.

’So you didn’t want to become the queen. It was all for us?’

Her lips curled, forming a bitter smile.

She’d been around Zara like a second mother from the moment her sister passed, just like her treasure, Zana. Verda couldn’t say she loved either more than the other. One, her flesh and blood, the other her sister’s memento and lovely angel born to bring light into her world.

’I should have been there for you more, little flower.’

Torn between saving their land and her niece’s heart, she chose the land.

Verda didn’t feel shame or guilt; this was just her oath as a guardian. She just wished that there could be another path that would lead to the happiness of everyone.

"What should I do? I made a scene! Will Aunt Verda be angry at me?"

Her heart tightened at Zara’s words; she clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.

"It’s fine, you should speak to her like normal. If you want to, I will help you, but I think your aunt would love for you to be honest with her and tell her everything."

"But, won’t she be disappointed?"

’How could I?!’

"Of course not, your aunt loves you sincerely, trust me. If things go wrong, then I will let your aunt beat me."

"N-No, you can’t. Don’t fight my aunt again!"

’This girl. She’s clearly defending an outsider over her family!’

Despite her inner grumbling, Verda, who leaned against the wall, couldn’t help but curl her lips into a faint grin, knowing that Nikolai might be a playboy with several wives. But at least to Zara, he seemed sincere.

’Well, let’s give him a chance.’

Without a noise, she left the spot, placing a cigarette in her mouth as she walked back to her private quarters, waiting for her little niece to confront her.

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"What’s wrong, Nikolai?"

Zara’s soft voice distracted him as he glanced at the falling gravel near the corner, a smile growing on his lips as she turned back.

"Oh, nothing. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised later."