Blood Awakening: The Strongest Hybrid and His Vampire Bride-Chapter 366: The Path We Must Take

Nikolai closed his eyes with a sigh, dealing with his wives was almost as difficult as the moonlight alliance. He couldn't help but feel Risa and Kumiko were sneakier and held more greed than he thought, though their greed was related to him. 'Well, at least they haven't caused too much trouble.'

Selene reluctantly left the room and promised to meet with her mothers and try to help support Nikolai in a different form. Though his Luna, the moonlight alliance, wouldn't accept a vampire into the council meetings so easily.

"Well..."

"Leona?" That's when he noticed the redheaded maid standing beside the door, quietly watching him with a mysterious face.

"A-Ah, My Lord? Forgive me, I was just distracted."

Well who wouldn't be when forced to give their master a handjob and have his seed shot all over their face and body. 'I feel guilty, but... deep down it makes me want to do it again.'

Nikolai couldn't help but feel he was a helpless creature with too much lust.

Leona stood against the wall, like a sculpture with her hands folded in front of her apron, her eyes refusing to rise above his collarbone.

"I was just about to bring tea," she said quickly. "The others requested something calming."

Nikolai stepped toward the window, letting the light from the curtain slit cut across his chest.

"Were you waiting for them to leave?"

She didn't answer, so he looked over his shoulder.

"Or were you waiting for me?"

Leona's eyes lifted—just slightly. Her face didn't blush. Not this time. Only her ears turned a shade darker.

"I wanted to apologize… about what happened."

"You don't need to."

"But I do," she said. Her voice was steady now. "It was unprofessional. You were wounded. Vulnerable."

Nikolai leaned against the frame, arms crossed. "You didn't force me."

Leona shook her head. "But I didn't stop you either."

The silence stretched between them.

Nikolai's breathing became slower and more ragged, the tension in his shoulders not quite gone, but dulled.

"You're not one of them," he said. "You're not expected to act like a wife."

Leona nodded once. "I know. I just…"

She lowered her eyes again, hands clenching slightly.

"I didn't hate it."

That made him look at her again.

She didn't flinch.

He sighed through his nose and turned away.

"You shouldn't say things like that," he muttered. "Not to someone like me."

"I know."

Another beat.

Then she added, quietly:

"But if you ever… need help again. I'd rather be the one you call."

"Don't tempt me, Leona."

Nikolai's voice was low, rough, and his eyes shone with an aggressive light. He spent the time resisting these urges that he felt towards her. There were plenty of women to sleep with, but after tasting something, one becomes hungry for more.

But, with a deep breath, and biting his lip unit his teeth broke the skin. He managed to wake himself up and recover before taking it further.

Nikolai turned away and left the window, with his hand still pressed against the frame. His heartbeat had steadied, but his teeth still ached from the bite.

Leona didn't speak. She stood exactly where she was, eyes slightly lowered, but not avoiding him either.

Nikolai moved past her and sat at the huge table, reading through the documents of his wives, their plans and details... but found several notes to him.

Risa's cute love notes.

Kumiko's stiff romantic poem... and Selene's gentle lines, hoping he gets well soon.

"I'll need black tea. Strong."

"Yes, my Lord."

"And stop apologizing."

"…Yes, my Lord."

With that said, Leona left the room without another word. She looked back at Nikolai, her eyes different from usual, before the door closed with a thud.

He could still taste her scent in the air, and that was the problem.

Leona was gone now, quiet as always. He hadn't told her to leave, but she knew when to go. Her footsteps faded down the hall, too light for anyone else to notice, but not him.

He sat down, not because he wanted to, but because standing any longer felt like posturing for no one.

His coat was waiting on the back of the chair. He didn't reach for it.

The room smelled faintly of iron and perfume. Selene's scent lingered in the cushions. His blood clung to his shirt collar. Even after bathing, the filth from the Bone Saints still felt stuck under his skin.

He didn't need tea. He needed to hit something.

A knock came twice, firm. Male voice, restrained, just outside the door.

"My Lord. The Moonlight Alliance has sent a courier. They've called an emergency assembly."

Nikolai didn't answer.

A pause.

The voice continued, lower this time.

"They say Clan Zharin's envoy is dead."

He stared at the floor for a moment, then stood.

Of course he is.

There's always some problem...

He picked up his coat.

The corridor outside his room was filled with guards, most of them pretending not to glance in his direction. Nikolai didn't take any notice and just let out a bitter sigh. He turned left, not toward the main hall, but toward the western wing — the private quarters.

They were expecting him in the council chamber. The Moonlight Alliance didn't like to wait. Too many old names with older pride, and yet none of them had the spine to face the Nosferatu directly. All of them posturing, pointing fingers. Zharin's envoy was just the first.

But right now, he didn't care.

He found Nikita's room with the door slightly ajar. She hadn't bothered to lock it — or maybe she knew he'd come.

Nikolai stepped into the room and observed her room and stepped close to her bed, the small wolf half hunched over a white basin, her hand stroking her stomach while the other gripping the stone basin, she seemed in pain while wheezing with tears coming from her eyes. Her white hair was messy and damp, while she struggled to breathe with a wheezing sound.

He stepped inside.

"You're throwing up again."

"I've been throwing up all morning," she muttered, voice low.

Nikolai walked over and picked up a clean towel folded on the bed.

She didn't stop him when he moved behind her, pressing it lightly against the back of her neck. She flinched at first, but leaned into it.

"You should be lying down."

"I was," she said. "Then I needed to puke."

He helped guide her back toward the bed. She didn't resist. Her body still had strength, but she was burning through it fast.

"I hate this," she muttered, voice thin.

"I know."

Nikolai sat beside her and brushed her lips with a fresh towel, his eyes focused on Nikita's face, worried about her.

Nikita leaned against him while resting her head on his shoulder. No words. No pressure. She was tired, and he didn't need her to explain it.

After a few breaths, she spoke again. "You're supposed to be with the council."

"They can wait."

Nikita didn't argue.

"…You'll come back after?"

He nodded once.

"Then go."

"You sure, I don't mind staying."

"Nn..." Nikita's eyes closed, curling into a crescent shape as she grinned. "Hehe, thank you."

He didn't want to, but waited for several minutes before finally tucking the sleeping wolf into her bed. She stopped being sick and finally nodded off.

"Take care, little wolf."

—

The council chamber was filled before he arrived.

Nikolai walked in without his coat, sleeves rolled up, shirt still creased from the bed. He didn't speak, didn't look at anyone until the door shut behind him. His steps were slow, deliberate. No rush. Let them feel the silence.

Eight seats filled the long table. Seven were occupied.

The heads of the Moonlight Alliance — or what was left of them. Two human houses, one beastkin elder, a pair of twin witches from the East Sector, a dull-eyed warlock from the Spine, and House Zharin's representative, stiff with anger. An empty chair beside him.

Nikolai didn't sit right away.

The room stayed quiet.

Finally, the warlock cleared his throat. "You're late."

"I was occupied."

"With what?"

"My lovely wife."

Nikolai dragged out his chair and sat in the head seat, not showing any weakness. Not relaxed. Not slouched. Just watching.

"Where's your report?" one of the twins asked.

"You brought me here," Nikolai said. "Start talking."

Zharin's representative leaned forward. "You know why we're here."

"I do."

He crossed his legs while reaching into his jacket, pulling out a folded sheet of paper covered in blood, before he placed it on the table.

"Your envoy was found outside our gates two hours ago. Throat torn. Eyes missing."

"Is this a threat?" the man snapped.

"No," Nikolai said. "This is what's happening now. To all of us."

Zharin's man didn't speak. His lips pressed into a flat line. Eyes didn't move from the page.

Nikolai sat still.

"They tore out his tongue too," he said. "Guess they didn't want a message. Just a body."

"Who did it?" the warlock asked.

Nikolai looked at him.

"You already know."

The twin witches shifted in their seats. One spoke. "The Nosferatu?"

"No... that would've been too convenient, right?. I believe... there is a traitor in the alliance."