Blood Awakening: The Strongest Hybrid and His Vampire Bride

The days passed quickly, and Nikolai planned to spend time with his lovers.

These were the last seven days before the banquet gala. Various advertisements appeared on television and in the city. Those who could visit changed from the typical vampires and close relatives to even humans.

Nikolai and his father remained on high alert as Viktor prepared the entire compound for battle, facing their worst enemies.

In the end, Nikolai believed there was nothing he could do but wait.

The days passed without a hitch, and Nikolai's rest and training sessions within the mansion continued.

Five days remained until the Gala, and today, Nikolai visited the city with Risa.

He closed his eyes while waiting at their meeting spot, the bustling city passing him by in a blur. Nikolai spent the last few days honing his skills, but felt something was off.

A strange sensation gnawed at the back of his mind, as if danger were lurking just around the corner.

Yet, wearing his smart blue shirt with short sleeves, tight, straight jeans, and a jacket to blend into the crowd, he tried to ignore the unease, focusing instead on the excitement of spending time with Risa. He had to remind himself to relax, after all, not to stress himself.
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'There are lots of people out today...'

Despite it being a weekday, Nikolai counted thousands of humans rushing around, purchasing, window shopping, and going about their business. The buildings towered over him, almost suffocatingly so.

He stood amidst a bustling sea of humanity, surrounded by skyscrapers and glass towers.

'When did I change?'

"Nikolai?"

He kept his eyes closed, slowly flicking his eyelids as he tried to adjust to the thick scent of oil, gasoline, and human sweat. It was as though he could smell everything unpleasant around him—the rustling of clothes, the thumping of hearts, the pulsating blood coursing through veins.

"Are you okay, Nikolai?" A soft voice spoke once again, different from the horrid sounds of the city.

Nikolai opened his eyes, only to find Risa's face staring back at him. Her eyes, emerald eyes shimmering like two deep wells of concern, slightly parting her lips as if she was about to say something else.

The sounds of the city suddenly faded, and the foul smells were overwritten by the calming, floral scent coming from Risa's body, as her long lashes fluttered. She looked stunning in her red dress that hugged her slim waist, with a black jacket on top and a pair of black heels.

"I'm alright..." Nikolai mumbled before taking a deep breath.

"You sure~ here, come let me see."

Risa shifted closer, her movements elegant yet flexible.

She reached up and placed the back of her hand on Nikolai's forehead, her touch stiffening him. The cool sensation of her skin sent a jolt through him, leaving him frozen in place.

"Sorry, being in this group of humans... somehow made me dizzy and feel unpleasant."

"Don't worry, you've been a little too reclusive since everything started getting hectic. We'll take it easy today. After all, I'm your only girlfriend for the day!"

Risa grinned with her mouth spread wide, her white teeth shining in contrast to the dark background.

'Like a ray of sunshine in the dark.'

"Hmm, then shall we get something light to eat, maybe a coffee?" Nikolai offered his hand with half-closed eyes. Thankfully, when Risa came close, the foul scents and feelings vanished.

"Mhm! You know what I love," she exclaimed while hooking arms with Nikolai.

They entered a small cafe inside the department store, normally a little expensive compared to Moonducks, but the aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted them like a snake charmer, guiding the two inside.

"It smells so good~ hehe, I want a caramel latte with an extra shot!"

"Then I'll get a caramel macchiato with two shots."

Nikolai stepped forward, but Risa's hands pressed on his chest plate as she curled her lips into a soft, sweet smile.

"Nope, I'll pay! After all, you need some relaxation after everything. Plus, you're mine for the day."

With those words, she spun around gracefully, almost floating, her heels clacking against the floor as she walked away.

Risa ordered their drinks quickly, a smile plastered across her face.

They sat at the corner table near the window. The bright sun shone down upon the couple. Risa's pale complexion seemed to glow under the warm sunlight.

"Doesn't everything seem so much better with the sun?" She asked with a tilt of her head.

"I mean, it is nice. However, there is a certain charm to the moonlight."

Nikolai responded as he sipped his drink, holding the steaming glass mugs in their hands. His lips quirked up slightly, forming a half-smile. It had been ages since they had done this, just the two of them. A date.

'No, maybe we never dated like this... I have been rushing too fast, like a fool.'

He never realised until now that he had spent the past few months rushing, constantly chasing after ghosts and shadows and pushing himself to the limits.

Nikolai sighed after swallowing the sweet, creamy liquid. Risa chuckled as she stared outside the window.

"Yeah... It does... So... how are you feeling?"

She turned to him, her expression serious, her emerald eyes shimmering with concern.

"I'm okay, really." He tried to reassure her, but she wasn't buying it. "You can talk to me. I may not understand everything, but I'm here for you."

Nikolai normally views Risa as someone who enjoys playing around, but he would never have imagined her to be so caring and considerate.

These narrow-minded thoughts made him feel terrible, and he looked away awkwardly. Then Risa reached out and took his hand in hers. She stroked the back of his hand gently, comforting him.

"We all know how difficult your role is, how hard you work and push yourself to ensure our safety and happiness." Risa's voice is a low, gentle murmur flickering in the cafe's ambience. "But do you know, Nikolai, how much we worry about you when you give no thought to your safety, happiness, and life?"

Her words struck a chord within Nikolai, echoing deeply inside him. He hadn't considered how his actions might affect others, how people could view his relentless pursuit of strength and the perfect method to bring his mother as self-neglect.

'When did Risa become so mature and comforting?'

He smiled softly, lifting his gaze to meet hers, revealing a side of him he rarely showed. "Thank you," he whispered sincerely, squeezing Risa's hand. "Do you want to go enjoy some shopping?"

Risa watched his expression, her eyes blinking as she nodded, a soft smile gracing her face.

"Yeah!"

They finished their coffees and began exploring the department store together, their footsteps weaving through the crowd.

Risa normally led the way, eagerly looking at various stores, ranging from clothing to jewellery, but this time she wrapped her body around his arm, and enjoyed a slow, calm pace as they moved around.

"So, what do you think of my outfit?" She asked while posing seductively.

"It's beautiful. The colour suits you well, and the dress fits nicely."

"Hmmm~ is that all?"

Her eyes narrowed, a devilishly seductive smirk spreading across her face.

'It seems like Risa wanted something else...'

Nikolai's gaze travelled down her figure, noting the way the dress highlighted her curves, making her look even more attractive.

He understood what she desired, and chuckled in his mind, leaning closer and brushing his lips against her ear, blowing hot breath down her neck. "It makes you almost unbearably attractive, so much that I want to push you against that wall and ravish you right here."

"Hehehe!" Risa giggled with a wide grin on her face. Her cheeks flushed a deep pink, and her green eyes glowed with mischief. "Oh, that's lovely to hear, but let's save it for later!" She tapped his cheek playfully before taking his hand again.

After a few hours of exploring, they ended up in front of a large department store, its windows filled with luxurious items.

"So, are you happy with that?"

Nikolai watched her curiously, wondering why she chose a small platinum bracelet with blue gemstones—thankfully they were real ocean sapphires, but nothing too extravagant.

He thought she might want something more significant, but he noticed she was only interested in this small bracelet.

"Mhm!"

Risa's lips curled into a smile that never changed. She constantly peeked at Nikolai before chuckling to herself and pointing to a new store or place to check. The feeling was strange, like being tugged along by an enthusiastic child eager to explore everything.

However, Nikolai understood that the places she took him were ones that he also enjoyed, as if this date was for him.

"Alright, where do you want to go next?"

The sun started setting, painting the sky with vibrant hues of orange and purple.

They sat down at a bench on the roof of the department store, with a small observation deck, which overlooked the city, watching the crowds pass by.

Risa's hand gripped Nikolai's, her slender fingers intertwining with his. She turned to look at him, her eyes twinkling with mischief and anticipation.

"Well..."

She hesitated for a moment, biting her lower lip nervously. "Did you have a pleasant time—do you feel relaxed?"

Her question caught Nikolai off guard, causing him to pause.

'Wait, Risa had been acting differently the entire day because she wanted me to relax?' He stared at her, surprised by her thoughtfulness.

'She put aside her own desires and focused entirely on me, to make sure I had a great time.'

Nikolai couldn't help but feel touched by her actions.

"Yeah... I did. Because you worked so hard for me, I had a wonderful day. Thank you, Risa."

His voice came out softer than he expected, like a warm breeze caressing her skin. He leaned in closer, closing the distance between them until their foreheads touched.

"I'm glad," she whispered, her breath tickling his skin.

"Now what would my little princess wish for, our date still has quite a few hours."

Since she worked so hard, he wanted to return the favour.