Blood Awakening: The Strongest Hybrid and His Vampire Bride

Chapter 637: To Face Destiny

Nikolai, Clara and Zara discussed their possible options and plans for hours after the events, with the idea for Clara to use her fairy magic on Zara, masking her existence and taking Zara with her when she met Sarah tomorrow afternoon.

"Are you sure nothing can go wrong?"

"Why’re you so worried about, can’t you trust two of your wives?"

Ever since they had sex, Zara’s mental state continued to grow, adjust and mature. Nikolai glanced at the Soul Force dancing in her six palms, each one taking the form of a different miniature animal. ’Is it due to her gaining the power she always sought?’ He shook his head and leaned back, crossing his legs.

"Is it wrong to worry about my beloved women?"

Clara dove into Nikolai’s lap, hugging his arms and fluttered her lashes.

"Brother~ you know this isn’t something you can help with... if they see you. It’ll be obvious who she is, but both of us wearing shadow guard uniforms wouldn’t stand out."

’Ugh... so damn cute.’

Despite his constant connection with Clara, the special trait of her blood arts constantly overwhelmed his calm state. ’This sneaky little brat, she better watch it when she comes back...!’ He told himself while nodding along to her.

’Well, it’s not like I can’t understand their plan.’

However, if he didn’t make a stand, even if it was just to show his thoughts and emotions, these girls would complain just the same.

"Fine, just..." He alternated his gaze between the two beautiful women and almost choked. "Make sure you take care of each other."

"I promise, Nikolai."

Zara stared right into his eyes and held his palm with all her hands, the dissipating soul force seeping into his hands, spreading a comforting warmth through his body.

"Of course, brother."

Meanwhile, Clara leaned her cheek against his chest, hiding her face. But he could see the tips of her ears become bright red, and just chuckled, knowing that Clara never showed her affection normally.

"Then shall we contact Verda and your brother?"

"Dinner will be soon, let’s talk about it over dinner and face their anger." Zara winked.

"Yeah, sure."

To avoid any leaks and possible troubles, Nikolai contacted Verda about their plan.

.

.

.

Later that night, the group sat in a private room awaiting the arrival of Vladik and Verna. Since it was an unofficial family meal, the tables were filled with simple yet high-class dishes and lacked the extravagance of the banquet.

’These are royal leftovers...?!’

There weren’t many people left in this detached palace because of the Balthazar clan interrupting the banquet, and because of their plan, most servants returned to the main palace to avoid issues.

The only ones remaining were maids who served as Shadow Guardians.

Who could prove their absolute loyalty.

Nikolai sat in the seat opposite the head seat, with Zara to his left and Clara to the right. Originally, the head seat should be Zara’s despite Vladik’s rank as the king.

Technically, Zara’s blood is thicker and has the familial head role. But she happily sat with Nikolai, claiming she wanted to avoid clashes with her brother.

Nikolai glanced at the sky with a curious glint in his eyes. He watched the countless stars and the twin moons lighting the sky. "It’s a little late, are they alright?"

"Well, it might be a bit longer..."

Zara’s cheeks reddened as she smiled back at him.

He noticed her strangeness and cocked his head, asking her. "What’s wrong?"

"O-Oh, it’s just... well... my brother used to be... You know."

Clack!

As she was speaking, the doors opened, with two elegant people stepping inside, both of them wearing a purple evening robe, and with a smile, the pair entered.

Verna’s cheeks were slightly flushed, and a glossy tinge to her skin. Vladik’s cheeks appeared hollowed out, but his eyes shone like the stars.

’Oh, they had that kind of issue.’

Nikolai noticed Vladik clearing his throat.

"Ahem, little sister, can you not speak about such things in front of our esteemed guests?"

"Oho, brother, you’ve learned to talk back now?"

"Brother? Heh, call me His Majesty, you little twerp!"

Zara imitated a gag, as she covered her lips. "Oh god... brother, what happened to you?!"

Nikolai watched this scene, completely stunned. He never thought their relationship would be bad, but compared to earlier, when the two of them acted all regal and proper. ’What the hell is this brother-sister duo?!’

A soft elbow hit his stomach.

"Ugh?"

"Fufu. They’re quite charming, right?" Lady Verna winked at Nikolai while leaning her chin on a pair of her extra hands and watching the two siblings fighting like children. "We’ve been friends since Zara could walk, so it’s rather pleasant to see them like this again."

She spoke slowly, in the common tongue of Nikolai’s world, whispering just low enough for him to hear and the other two to miss it due to their little fighting.

"Thank you for giving our little Zara the confidence to stand on her own two feet."

The beautiful sister-in-law’s scent resembled a more mature Zara; the special herbs and aromatic plants, which only grew in Al’Qutar, carried a sweet, yet fruity note.

"N-No"

She turned to him and shook her head, poking his chest with one of her hands.

"Don’t be modest, from the moment I met you, and saw her looking your way... even today when you saw that crazy vampire shoot her..."

She paused, lifting a glass of purple wine, different from the blood wine, which they mixed with blueberries and created a sweeter drink to counter the spicy curries they enjoyed.

"You didn’t know what that green fluid was. It could have killed you. And yet you used those precious lips of yours to suck it out. Never underestimate how important that act was in the eyes of our Djinn."

"Importance?"

"I want to eat Val’sharva!"

"No way, it’s too spicy for my Verna!"

Verna glanced back at the two still fighting over what dishes they wanted to eat, and slowly flicked them to Nikolai again as she tapped his glass with hers.

"To the Al’Qutar and the Djinn, their monarch is the closest being to Ishtar, or Shamsh... and in the eyes of most *Gulp* Zara, is that monarch, do you understand?"

Nikolai’s spink tingled, the severity of his actions didn’t register, because for him... Zara was his lover, his future wife. It wasn’t about proving a point but saving her.

"I just saved my wife’s life..."

Verna suddenly clapped her hands, and their argument stopped.

A moment later, Verna nodded to them, and she turned back to Nikolai with a brilliant smile on her face. "Good!"

"Nikolai, you passed every test with flying colours. Welcome to our family. My dearest little werewolf Brother."

"Welcome to the bloodline, brother!"

Vladik held his cup in the air, but the moment he tried to drink the wine, Verna swiftly snatched it free and replaced it with a pale green drink.

"Darling, we still have work to do, you cannot get drunk~ here, have this delicious energy boosting smoothie."

"B-But darling...!"

Vladik glanced at Nikolai, his eyes like those of an abandoned puppy.

’Brother, forgive me, but I do not wish to anger your tiger wife!’ He could only pray in his heart that his brother-in-law didn’t die from being squeezed to death.

"Mhm, no. Ah. Little fairy, we’ve managed to get permission for you to enter the royal library, but you have to enter alone; even Nikolai cannot enter..."

"Eh, why?" Zara asked.

"Little sister, you plan to play dead to force their hand, how could he be allowed to enter when the marriage is null and void?!"

"...I... I don’t like that!"

"Oho?" Verna smirked at the reaction of her sister, unable to stop playing this brother and sister, even at her current age. "Do you love him that much, fufu. Little Zara used to say she would never marry, darling~ look at her now!"

"Such a happy day, *sniffle* My sister, finally..."

"Stop the fake tears, or I will beat you right here and now, Vladik."

"Ahh?! Wife~ she’s threatening to beat me!"

"Haha....Hahaha....Hahahaha..."

The three of them glanced over to Nikolai, who hammered the table, suddenly bursting into laughter so strong his eyes glistened with tears.

"What’s so funny?" Verna cocked her head while watching the huge werewolf laughing like a young boy. "Well, his voice is nice, let’s let it go."

"Darling... you wouldn’t..."

Vladik glanced at his demure figure and Nikolai’s broad shoulders and large figure, then back to his wife, a little worry in his eyes.

Verna slapped his thigh, then started scooping dishes and various starters onto his plate. Her eyes were soft and affectionate as she leaned close to his cheek and whispered.

"Idiot. You are the perfect man for me."

And like this, the meal passed, Nikolai learned more about Zara’s family, how her brother might seem altogether and regal in public. But he truly didn’t want to be a ruler; he desired to paint, to write novels and enjoy a free life with Verna.

At the close of their dinner party, Vladik invited Nikolai to the balcony.

He held a small glass of the purple alcohol, something Verna begrudingly allowed, and smoked a pipe with a stern gaze overlooking Al’Qutar.

"Brother, I will not mince my words."

"Go on."

"My sister, can I truly trust you and your clan to protect her?"

With the question, he offered another nozzle of the pipe to Nikolai, his eyes sharp like a hawk, nothing of the soft and funny brother or the regal king. A fierce, protective and loving brother was all that faced him in the cold night.

"I have complete faith in them..." Nikolai held the pipe, but before he smoked, he noticed the twitch in Vladik’s lips and closed his eyes. "But should they fail... If they cannot protect her, I will kill anyone involved and then take my life."

"You would die for my sister, when you have so many others?" Vladik pressed the attack.

"Because I have made a promise to her brother. I will honour this promise, that is the way of my family, our clan and the pride I have that we will not fail."

A gust of wind blew past them, bringing sand, cold and a strange warmth from the flickering torches beside them.

Nikolai took the pipe and enjoyed a large taste.

As he blew a huge circular smoke ring, Vladik’s deep voice followed.

"From now on, do not treat me like the king. We are brothers."

When Nikolai looked into his eyes, there was no doubt or worry.

Only a roaring flame.

"Yes, brother."