Blood Awakening: The Strongest Hybrid and His Vampire Bride

Next came the market square. Stalls crowded beneath canvas awnings, hawking everything from cheap jewellery to steaming paper cones of fish and chips. Leona insisted on trying them, pressing a hot chip against Nikolai's lips until he gave in.

"It's good, right?" she said, cheeks puffed as she chewed her own portion.

"Too greasy," he muttered, licking the salt from his fingers. "But not bad."

"I think it's supposed to be greasy." She laughed and wiped a smear of vinegar from his chin with her thumb. "I like the crunch of the batter..."

"I see, then... let me try some more."

Nikolai enjoyed the chips, not fries, but thicker and with a moreish taste that he couldn't help but wolf down two trays without noticing. The sausage and gravy with onions brought the dish together, although he didn't get the fish that Leona had.

Maybe we could try more cuisines in the mansion...

The pair travelled the streets, buying strange gifts and items that seemed tacky or stupid, but it brought a smile to Leona's and Nikolai's faces; that was all that mattered.

He planned to spend another day with Anya; otherwise, it wouldn't be fair, but today was her day, and he did anything she seemed to want.

Night came too quickly as their hands swung in the quiet streets of Ironcaster... During this time, they saw many people heading home from work, as well as others starting to arrive in the city from outside, using the tram and trains.

"It looks like it'll be a busy night." Leona mumbled to herself.

"Yeah, the weather is nice and it's not a workday tomorrow, it's gonna get busy."

Nikolai's prediction came true as they travelled to the next stop on their date.

Streetlamps glowed in halos of mist, and music spilt from the pubs, drunken voices clashing with the roar of football on televisions. Nikolai led her through quieter streets where the pavement gleamed wet under their shoes.

Today, Ironcaster City played against Ironcaster United in a football game, also known as Soccer in other parts of the world. They stopped at a bridge overlooking the canal. Water rippled with the reflection of neon, and an old ironwork factory that loomed beyond, its chimneys dark now but still intimidating.

Leona leaned on the railing, eyes half closed and filled with glee as the breeze tugged at her hair. "I could almost forget," she murmured.

"Forget what?"

"Forget the Arena, the clans, the blood. Here, with you… it's like I'm just a woman on a date."

Nikolai stepped behind her, his chest pressing against her back, arms looping around her waist as he hugged her tight, a hint of alcohol on his breath. "You are. Tonight, there is no maid, no clan, no master. You are just my woman, my lovely Leona on a date."

Her breath stopped, and a shiver tingled down her spine that brought goosebumps to her skin as she turned to face him. Their lips touched, a soft kiss that soon became passionate and deep, her hands gripping the iron railing for balance as his tongue tangled with hers.

When they finally broke apart, she was breathless. "We should… get to dinner."

"Later," Nikolai said, nipping her neck once, enough to make her gasp. "You are too beautiful right now, so let's just enjoy this moment."

She laughed through her burning cheeks.

"You idiot... if we stay here the only place we'll go is a hotel."

***

They wandered again, the time before dinner approaching. Hand in hand, they slipped into a bookshop, something rare in their country.

An old man stood at the counter, with grey hair, messy like wisps of dust. Leona lost herself among the shelves of dusty novels and technical books while Nikolai leaned near the doorway, watching her beaming eyes and lips move silently as she read titles.

When she finally picked a book, it was a slim romance with a painted cover — she pressed it to his chest.

"This is for me?"

"For both of us... we have things to learn."

Nikolai bought it without protest.

By the time they stepped back outside, the streets had thinned.

A light rain had begun again, pattering on the cobbles. Nikolai guided her back toward the car, but instead of heading straight to the hotel, he took a detour through the city's old quarter, with narrow lanes lined with Italian cafes and bakeries, the air rich with the scent of garlic and basil.

"It's amazing that this country has every other cuisine as if it's their national dish..."

Leona inhaled deeply, eyes shining. "Is this where dinner is?"

"Not yet." Nikolai smiled as he opened the car door for her. "That's for later. I've got something special booked."

She slid into the seat, eyes lingering on him as though she wanted to ask more. But she didn't, because she trusted him, and the glint in his eye made her excited for the surprise he had in store for her.

The Supra's engine growled again, rolling them back into the night.

***

The Supra purred through Ironcaster, its engine echoing between narrow lanes where strings of lights hung overhead, their glow caught in the rain. People bustled beneath umbrellas, voices mingling with the hum of conversation spilling from pubs.

Nikolai parked in a small courtyard where ivy climbed the walls.

A painted sign above the door announced La Familia, the city's oldest Italian restaurant, its windows golden with warmth.

Leona's lips parted as she stepped out of the car. "Nikolai… this looks expensive."

"Good." He took her hand. "My wife deserves everything expensive."

"W-Wife..."

Although he made her his Vampire bride, it hadn't set in yet that she was married to Nikolai. Even the other women still didn't have a sense of reality, which was why he planned to marry them like humans in the future.

After everything ended.

Inside, the air smelled of garlic, wine, and baked bread.

A violinist played softly in the corner, the notes winding through candlelit tables. The maitre d' greeted them with a bow, leading them to a private alcove where red velvet curtains shielded them from the main room.

He half expected a chef with blond hair and wrinkles to shout about raw meat or where the lamb sauce was—it was that fancy.

Leona sat across from him, her hands folded in her lap, cheeks flushed with excitement. "You really planned this."

"Of course," Nikolai smirked. "A date isn't a date unless it leaves an impression."

"How did you remain single for so long!?"

"Well..." He couldn't tell her that his feelings for Nikita were confusing for him, as he wasn't always this confident and talented.

Their meal came in courses — warm bruschetta, a rich risotto, and roasted lamb with herbs. Leona's eyes lit up with each bite, her usual self-control abandoned as she tasted everything. Nikolai watched her openly, chin propped on his hand.

"Stop staring," she muttered, though her smile betrayed her.

"I can't," he said. "You look so charming when eating... I cannot help but wonder if you are Aphrodite fallen down to earth."

Her eyes lowered, lashes brushing her cheeks. "Charm won't get you anywhere..."

"Really...?"

Nikolai's tempting voice, like a whisper, sent tingles down her spine as Leona rolled her fork, trying desperately to avoid his fiery gaze. She loved it. The meal. The affectionate flirting... Nikolai. All of it! It made her heart pound, racing rapidly.

"I'm so lucky."

His last whisper only caused her heart to thump as if it might jump out of her throat.

The wine flowed easily between them. By the time dessert arrived — a delicate tiramisu dusted with cocoa — Leona was laughing freely, the candlelight catching her green eyes. She leaned over the table, stealing the spoon from his hand to feed him herself.

"Say ah."

He bit down deliberately on the spoon, dragging the bite from her grip. "Mmm. Sweet."

Her cheeks heated further. "Idiot."

***

After dinner, Nikolai led her into the night, both of them stumbling a little from the wine. Of course, he had chosen this place because it served blood wine. A monster restaurant that his father suggested. A place where his parents once dated before getting married. Nikolai looked back at her lovely face that scrunched up with a pout.

"You... spent so much on just my food!"

"Haha, you're just drunk, that much is nothing for me. You're priceless to me."

"Hmph~! I will ignore your sweet words."

The drizzle had eased, leaving the cobblestones slick and gleaming. A neon sign buzzed ahead, casting pink light over the pavement: Capitol Picture House.

Leona tilted her head. "A cinema?"

"Well, shouldn't we sober up a little?" Nikolai stepped closer to the entrance before turning back with dramatic flair. "Besides, it's not just any cinema."

He guided her through the doors. The lobby smelled faintly of popcorn and polished wood, the red carpets worn but clean. Movie posters lined the walls were not blockbusters, but classics, painted in bold colours.

"It's an old mansion," Nikolai explained as they climbed the stairs. "They still show films the way they were meant to be seen. No crowds. No noise."

"Amazing...."