Blood Awakening: The Strongest Hybrid and His Vampire Bride

After meeting his mother, thoughts lingered in Nikolai's mind, causing him to become restless. With each step, the stairs creaked louder and louder on the way back upstairs. Nikolai wasn't in a rush, as if delaying his conformation with Selene, his steps heavy as if the weight in his chest dropped into his stomach, weighing him down.

'How do I approach her?' he thought upon returning to his room and stumbling inside with unsteady feet.

The curtains swayed from the evening breeze from the open window, a scent of salt and flowers pouring into the room as he closed the window and locked it with a sharp snap.

Nikolai gazed at his reflection in the glass before showing a bitter smile.

"I look like shit."

Not quite the young boy who played with Lunaria as a child, neither the man Selene loved. Right now, he felt like something in between, an ugly middle ground made of too many promises that he struggled to keep and not enough time to fix them all.

"Phew," he sat down on the edge of the bed and placed his hands behind him, leaning on them before closing his eyes to take a moment's rest.

He listened to the silence, hearing the creak of floorboards, a slight rattle of pipes, the silence of the house mixed with his own breathing.

The soft tick of the brass clock nailed to the wall felt like a warning.

Nikolai closed his eyes and focused his mind.

Lunaria's smile, her intense emotions and reactions over the times he met her, whether they were children or adults, a brief memory but one that held great importance to him.

The way she jumped from the window with her melancholic face, refusing to take his hand after revealing her true form, the same window he watched from his bed.

Lunaria was willing to die for her sister.

But for Nikolai, that option wasn't something he could condone or accept. So he would stop it. Not caring if Selene accepted it or not, Nikolai stood from the bed and prepared himself, clearing his throat before leaving the room.

***

The corridor almost felt darker since he had left his room a second time. The sound of Nikita now faded and became nearly silent. Instead, a low, rumbling snore leaked from her door, her cute sounds bringing a smile to Nikolai's lips.

Each step towards Selene's room caused thoughts and doubts to increase in his mind until he stood outside her door illuminated with a small golden glow from the flickering lights on either side.

He knocked once.

There wasn't a response, but something shifted inside.

He knocked again a moment later with a lighter touch. "Selene, It's me."

Once again, a soft rustling came from instead, the sound of bare feet patting polished wood.

Then the door opened slowly with a creak, revealing her surprised pale face and crimson eyes glowing in the flickering lights. She didn't seem annoyed but rubbed her eyes with a slight yawn before sliding the door further.

"Nikolai," she said with a soft, sleepy voice and stepped aside without question. "Come in."

When he entered, Nikolai could smell the aroma of rose tea and old parchment. Her clothes folded neatly and hung in the walk-in wardrobe. A thick book lay open on the bedside table with the spine cracked and face down... it seemed to be a childcare book for new mothers.

"I didn't think you'd come back tonight," she asked while closing the door. "Aren't you tired?"

"I had to speak with you," he said, standing awkwardly in the centre of the room.

She studied his face while pulling his hand towards the bed, sitting with a faint smile, smoothing her skirt as she peeked at Nikolai with a wry smile. "Is it something about my sister?"

"Eh?" Nikolai gasped while looking at her. "You knew?"

Selene narrowed her eyes, maybe amused at his reaction as she extended her hand, stroking along his jaw with her sharp nails, lifting his face with a low chuckle. "Risa and Kumiko struggle to keep things hidden, I heard you met her... but didn't know for sure until I asked."

Nikolai couldn't help but lower his face, a little embarrassed that she had figured him out so easily.

"I learned about things from—Luna's point of view and some things that we didn't know before."

Selene didn't force him to continue and listened while using her fingers became more animated, brushing across his lips, pushing them apart while trembling slightly.

'Is she nervous, or maybe it's just anger?'

Nikolai leaned back, turning to Selene, admiring her beautiful and serene profile, before placing a hand on her shoulder and pulling her onto his lap. She looked surprised at first, before curling up and getting comfortable, as her eyes narrowed in delight.

"So..." Selene spoke with a soft voice, "what happened?" she asked.

She fluttered her long lashes before showing a lovely smile and hugging his waist.

He took this chance to tell her what happened and the things that Lunaria told him, and the fact she didn't have much longer to live. He saw Selene's eyes flicker and dart around as her pupils became dilated at one point then thin like slits the next.

"Do you believe her?" Selene's voice cracked.

Nikolai didn't hurry his answer.

Even though he had his answer, he brushed the loose hairs on her face, tucking them behind her ears with a warm smile. The click of the analogue clock ticking away became a comfortable ambiance as they gazed into each other's eyes.

Then he answered with a neutral and calm voice, "I do."

"I see."

Selene's face didn't change; her eyes remained fixated on his, with a faint smile on her lips as she nodded, before stroking his muscular forearm. "Do you want to give her that body? But isn't that..." her voice stopped as if worried about continuing.

"You don't have to react like that—you're right." Nikolai sighed while stroking her soft cheeks, as if to calm his raising nerves. "It's what I planned to use for my mother."

Her face became clouded, and she closed her eyes slowly as she took a deep breath. "Nikolai, why you are doing this, is it for me or my sister?"

The question seemed innocent enough, but he could feel it from the tremor in her voice. He could tell that this question held significant weight in Selene's heart.

"I am doing it for both," he answered, but he continued as her eyes snapped open, glaring at him because he seemed to take the easy route. "I want to save Lunaria, because I want to but I also know that its more important to me because she's your sister."

"Heh, you idiot." Selene poked her cheek, "just do what makes you happy, honey."

"Are you sure?"

Selene's lips curled into a smile, and she reached out, cupping his cheeks with narrowed eyes. She rubbed his face with a look of affection.

"Of course, now... how about we do something more interesting?" she asked, pushing him back with a sudden action, surprising Nikolai until she straddled his body and smiled.

Maybe it was because she was jealous of her sister taking up most of his mind, or it could be genuine desire, too.

Nikolai didn't know, but he felt relieved she accepted things so easily.

"How about it, big boy?" She licked her lips with a seductive flick, circling her mouth, before reaching down and pulling Nikolai's shirt up to reveal his muscular chest.

"Can you tell how much I've missed you?"

Nikolai's shock lasted a few moments before he recovered and spread his arms out with a chuckle.

"You seem quite thirsty tonight, princess." His playful voice caused her to blush as he laughed at how she always reacted to the nickname he gave her, but the shy vampire princess flared her nostrils with a snort and yanked open his shirt collar, revealing his neck with pulsing veins that throbbed like a tempting meal in her vampiric eyes.

Selene's nose crinkled as she leaned forward and tapped her lips against his cheek, slowly lowering her face with light, affectionate kisses until she reached his neck. Then she opened her mouth and, with a wet smack, kissed him again while grinding her hips on top of his.

"I am thirsty, so..." Nikolai gulped and moaned from the feeling of her fangs scraping against his flesh, sending a sharp tingle down his spine as if she was injecting an addictive venom into his veins. "Please quench my thirst, Husband."

Her improved attempts to seduce him tickled him more than anything, but she also managed to get a reaction from him, and the moment she sensed the right moment to strike.

Selene's delicate fangs extended and pierced his neck with ease.

It felt like a pinprick before her jewel-like eyes peered up at him, and all other thoughts vanished.

"You look so pretty tonight." He complimented Selene, causing her cheeks to turn bright red and suddenly started drinking his blood with a rough suckle. "W-woah! Hey—slow down," Nikolai chuckled in panic, feeling her small mouth suckling on his neck and her fangs digging slightly deeper.

The dull ache from her embarrassed suction became painful as she fed.

"Mm!"

Selene's throat narrowed with small moans as she swallowed his warm blood, causing her eyes to shine brighter with each mouthful.

Her lips became warm as the warm liquid leaked from her lips, dripping down her chin as while wetted her lips. The glossy shine added an erotic charm to the already irresistible vampire princess as she focused on his neck.

"It seems you're enjoying yourself."

Selene pulled her face back with a slurping sound and licked her lips while panting with glassy eyes. She stared into Nikolai's eyes, and with a slow movement, she wiped the blood from her lips and licked the excess blood with a slow, tempting flick of her tongue.

"I am—very much so." Selene snorted. "Do you have a problem?"