Page 104 of The Awakening
“G!” Nino turns to face him, his brow creased. “You’re beingrude.”
Giovanni’s stony face breaks into a smile, and he reaches up and clasps the back of Nino’s neck in a rough but playful gesture. “I’m just joking, kiddo, calm down.”
“It’s not funny.”
“Oh my God.” Cellina’s free hand is massaging the bridge of her nose as she shakes her head. “Could you just behave for five minutes?”
“Nope. I’ve been behaving my whole damn life.” Giovanni wiggles his eyebrows, smiling at me and still gripping Nino’s neck, pushing him in a downward, bowing motion. “Nice to meet you, Jae. I know you’re new to vampire shit, but please remember that she’s bonded.”
“G!”
Giovanni only laughs, but Cellina lets go of my hand, and with lightning speed quickly flicks her mate in between his eyebrows. His palm releases Nino’s neck and flies up to the center of his forehead. “Fuck—”
“You’re doing too much right now. It’s embarrassing.” Cellina shakes her head and folds her arms as she looks him over.
“Hello, Jae.”
When I hear the deep, calming voice of the vampire pope himself, I take a breath and relax my shoulders. “Hi, Haruka. It’s nice to see you again.”
He smiles. “You as well.” I suddenly realize that he and Nino are wearing the exact same tuxedo. The color is similar to Cellina’s dress, but their bowties and pocket squares are sage green. Giovanni’s tuxedo is the same, except he isn’t wearing a bowtie and his shirt collar is casually gaped open.
“How are you feeling?” Haruka asks. “You had expressed concern about coming here and how your nature would react to everyone.”
Haruka and I have spoken at least once a month since I left Japan. But I try not to bother him too often because, well, I try hard not to bother anyone. I breathe in, assessing the environment as Nino comes and stands beside Haruka.
Giovanni’s energy is like a hard, vertical wall in front of him. But it feels like… a façade? An immediate show of power, but he’s exposed on the sides. There isn’t anything to back it up. And as for Haruka and Nino, well… the energy coming from them pulses all around us. It’s potent and drowns out everything in a strangely pleasant way. It radiates fully from Nino but feels stifled when I focus on Haruka.
I’m amazed at the varying levels of control and manipulation emanating from all of them. I suppose when you’re born and raised vampiric, managing your aura isn’t really an issue.
“Jae?”
“Ah—I’m alright. So far so good, although I would like to chat with you later, if you have the time?”
Haruka tilts his head. “Is that so? Nino has been adamant that I speak withyouwhile we’re here. Is your matter urgent?”
“Not really. I just… I’d like to know how to control my, er… aura. Better.” It feels awkward even saying it. My “aura.” Christ.
“No no, wait.” Nino’s amber eyes widen and he turns slightly, reaching out and gripping Haruka at his waist over his suit jacket. The movement surprises him, because he jumps at Nino’s touch. “I’llteach you about that—controlling your aura,” Nino assures me. He looks at his mate, and they exchange a pointed look before Haruka rolls his eyes. Nino scrunches his nose. “I’m good at controlling and manipulating it now, aren’t I?”
“Of course,” Haruka says.
“So I’ll help Jae.”
“What’s the problem?” Junichi walks up and stands beside me. I was only vaguely aware of him fussing at Asao in the corner after we walked in. Seems like they’re finished now.
“There’s no problem,” Nino says, leaning in toward Haruka’s cheek. “But if Haruka teaches Jae how to control his aura, maybe you’ll never see it again.”
Haruka shakes his head in a laugh that registers from his throat. “That is not true.”
“Mmhm,” Nino snarks, then presses a quick peck against his mate’s cheek.
“Well, I certainly don’t want that,” Junichi states. “But I don’t think I have a say in it.”
I look up at Jun, because it feels like there might be something hidden in the statement—some passive-aggressive undertone. But I’m immediately distracted by the luster and depth of his eyes staring down at me, and my nature (which had been very kind to me up until this point) does something like a somersault in my belly. I look away and take a breath. What were we talking about?
“They’re ready for us,” Asao says, standing by a door across the room.
“Okay, one more time.” Cellina joins the huddle, and Giovanni and Sydney close the circle behind her. With all the commotion, I hadn’t even noticed him. I smile in his direction, and he gives me a cheerful wave.
