Blood Awakening: The Strongest Hybrid and His Vampire Bride

Chapter 631: The Hidden Dragon

The moment Nikolai met eyes with Lord Vladik, his future brother-in-law and the current King of Al’Qutar, an abrupt chill spread across his entire body. Like a watchful serpent, Vladik’s eyes traced Nikolai’s every curve or movement with his intense, serpentine glare.

’It’s like he wants to eat me...’

Nikolai returned his gaze, unaware of the reactions from around him. Naturally, there were things in Al’Qutar one normally avoided.

To meet the eyes of the King was to challenge his authority.

However, that didn’t matter to Nikolai. This man would become his family, so he insisted on knowing Vladik better. He ignored the cautious murmurs around him and examined the man standing atop the steps in front of him.

An unhealthy pale pink skin, he carried a look five-tenths similar to Zara, but his defined jawline and strong facial features appeared to come from a different parent. Yet, Nikolai knew instinctively that he was Zara’s brother.

’Their aura and little gestures are so similar.’

He peeked at the beautiful princess beside him, curling his lips at how Zara bit her lips and narrowed her right eye in the same way Vladik did the instant their eyes met. Nikolai took great pride in his role, title and prestige, enough to refuse bowing to anyone.

Nevertheless, upon noticing the gossip in the room, he made a decision and threw away his pride and allowed himself to take the high road. Of course, he smiled at Zara a second time, the silly princess inclining her head in confusion.

’You’d better pay me back later.’

Step.

Nikolai walked to the bottom of the stairs, before taking a sharp breath, and folding one arm across his chest, the other behind his back. His posture was neat, straight and pristine, something Verda taught him only a few times.

"Nikolai Báthory Volkov, Patriarch of the Volkov Werewolves, and the Moonlight Alliance leader, greets the star and moon leading the beautiful sands of Al’Qutar."

Then, with a slight bend of his knees, he lowered his waist.

"Please forgive my poor accent."

He spoke not in English, but the common tongue of the Al’Qutar, a greeting he’d learned in advance with the help of Verda, and the princess behind him blushing bright red.

Although becoming an ancestor boosted his natural learning, knowledge and intelligence, making it quite simple to learn new things. Nikolai made an extra effort to learn the basics of their unique language to show his sincerity.

From the corner of his eye, Zara covered her lips with her eyes open wide, the surface brimming with tears again.

’Yes, this is worth a little shame.’

"A smile worth a thousand diamonds."

When he looked back, he found that Lord Vladik’s eyes followed his upon hearing his words, and he noticed his sister.

"I see, to think that I doubted your earnest feelings and reason for approaching my sister." Vladik’s hand gripped Nikolai’s shoulder and lowered his head to his ear. "I would love to speak with you in detail after the banquet ends, my future brother-in-law."

’Eh?! Isn’t he meant to be weak and sickly? What is this Great Elder level of physical force!? A scam! The people are being scammed!’

Although his speech welcomed him, there was an icy chill and throbbing pain from the hand grasping his shoulder. ’If not for my overwhelming strength, this cheap king would have crushed my shoulder!’

Vladik retracted his hand with a beaming smile, then his sickly visage became non-existent as he threw both hands into the air, announcing to the crowd.

"It is my pleasure to meet you, son of Vladik. Once, a long time ago, our mother and ancestor goddess Ishtar and your forefather battled alongside each other. So, tonight is a banquet not only for the return of my sister. But the return of an old ally, and to a new hope through your union."

He then took a glass of wine with a beautiful purple hue.

"Now then, my beloved people and those who follow the Goddess’s footsteps. Join me in a toast to the eternal sun and our cherished golden sands."

Out of nowhere, dozens of servants with trays holding multiple glasses of the beautiful purple wine appeared.

A servant offered a slightly darker shade of the wine to him.

Nikolai didn’t hold back and took the glass. It carried a delicate scent with sour notes, and immediately, he noticed the blood.

This wasn’t part of the Djinn culture; they didn’t drink blood, only he did.

’I’ll have to thank my brother-in-law again, no... was it sister?" He noticed the queen waving at him with a smile as she tapped the glass in her hand.

Nevertheless, meeting Zara’s family went much better than he imagined.

.

.

.

From the side, Zara watched Nikolai drinking the sacred wine with a smile. A powerful thump overwhelmed her chest just as she threw those thoughts to the back of her mind. While thinking, she clenched the empty glass in her hand tight enough to shatter it, but luckily, she avoided disaster.

’He accepted everything... what do I do?!’

It was scary and overwhelmingly exciting to do those things in the carriage, but accepting that glass from the head maid was akin to becoming family in front of the people and nobles of Al’Qutar...

Zara peeked through her fingers with tingles spreading over her skin, forming little bumps as she shivered. The excitement instantly became awe; not a single one of the nobles showed a frown, and everyone drank their wine.

She couldn’t see anyone forcing themselves; they all drank happily without an issue.

’Is brother really no good, mother?’

This part of a banquet carried a deep meaning that Zara and the others failed to teach Nikolai. She peeked at her husband-to-be, who became encircled by old men who were once retainers of her father, always dragging him away to smoke or play card games.

She clenched her fists tightly, watching this scene, wondering if Nikolai would also leave without noticing her for the rest of the night.

Suddenly, a soft voice came from behind her.

"What’s wrong, jealous they’re going to take him away?"

"Eh?! Sister!"

Verna’s eyes narrowed into crescent moons, seeing Zara’s reaction, "Are you smitten with him?" She shifted closer and hooked Zara’s arm; her breath exuded the fragrance of grapes, different from the wine; it was purely juice.

"S-Sister, what do you mean? H-How could I be smitten..."

Despite this, her eyes remained locked on Nikolai, his handsome, well-shaped jawline and high cheekbones. Which women couldn’t find him attractive, but when it came to love.

Zara clenched her teeth and didn’t speak.

However, her heart tightened whenever his eyes moved towards her direction. Zara didn’t want to name these feelings; she forced them down... but the rapidly beating heart in her bosom ignored those wishes.

"That expression, oh my~ do I have a little niece or nephew to expect in the near future?"

Verna’s fox-like smile annoyed Zara, but seeing her so happy and positive melted those cold feelings like ice thrown into the desert.

"W-What expression?!"

"Oh come on, my dear little sister~ those eyes are burning more than any star, and they’ve only looked at one thing since you came home. That handsome little werewolf..." She eyed Nikolai, who stood at least a full head above even the tallest Ishtarian Djinn. "Well... he’s certainly not little. So. Won’t you tell me exactly how amazing he is, you little rebellious girl swore never to return, and now you’re here all love-struck!"

Verna clutched Zara’s arm relentlessly, keeping her in place.

"S-Sister, please~ release me."

Zara’s cheeks became hot when recalling her memories inside the carriage, and thoughts which lingered on Nikolai.

The future she imagined carried an exciting and addictive flavour.

Verna’s jaw dropped as she pulled back, no longer making fun of her sister-in-law. She just smiled, her hand stroking Zara’s hair, twisting through the silky locks.

"I see, you’ve truly fallen for him. Me too, I feel the same about your brother, the way he smiles, speaks... the way he lifts his brows when saying something he doesn’t want to. Or how he becomes passionate all of a sudden when you think he’s angry."

"Sister?"

"Mhm, sorry, your sister is a bit emotional and rambling, but I have good news for you. Hehe."

Zara couldn’t match her sister-in-law, Verna’s skills and rapid turnovers in emotions always confused her. At first, she thought this beautiful woman disliked her and used her brother to gain power for her clan.

’She wouldn’t suffer like this if it were the case...’

And the look on her face when she spoke about her brother.

Zara knew it all too well.

"What do you want to tell me, Sister Verna?"

The beautiful queen glanced at Zara, then her entire face appeared to bloom like a desert rose. "My dearest sister, your brother’s illness..." She then cast a glance around with a sharper, more reluctant gaze and bent in. "It’s cured, at least partially... the most important thing is you might have a niece or nephew soon enough!"

The news shot through Zara’s body like a bolt of lightning.

Although learning about her brother’s sex life remained a little awkward, knowing he could have children, that was enough... more than enough.

’Then, do I even need to become queen?’

While lost in thoughts, strange sounds and the soft squeak of a nervous woman echoed from the entrance, causing Zara’s brows to furrow.

"Kya!?"

"Sister, what’s wrong?!"

Verna’s brows creased as she scowled at the doorway.

"It seems that my family has chosen to visit despite having no invitation..."

The Balthazar Clan crashed the party.