'Til Death Do Us Part: The Wedding Vow, #4

Copyright © 2023 NaNaKo Sai Gwin

All rights reserved

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious.  Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author.

Contents

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Epilogue

The Wedding Vow Series

Historical Romances by NaNaKo Sai Gwin

About the Author

Dedication

To my husband, who is the reason that I write.

Prologue

Vadim stood in the VIP lounge observing the dance floor below, through the ceiling-to-floor glass window.  He sipped a glass of Scotch on rocks.  It burned on the way down.  He frowned.  Why did Marcel like this so much?

Vadim scanned the patrons.  He was looking for someone.  Who?  He didn’t know.  Man or woman, he didn’t know.  Young or old?  He didn’t know.  He only knew the human by the code name of Scorpion.  Based on the text messages in Ryunosuke’s cell phone, he knew Scorpion had been here before.

Scorpion wanted money from Ryunosuke.  Cash, so it was untraceable.  Vadim pretended to be Ryunosuke and set to meet at the club tonight.

He instructed the bartenders and the longtime patrons, if they saw or heard someone looking for Ryunosuke, they should immediately notify him.

These were great soundproof windows.  Even with vampire hearing, Vadim could only hear muffled music outside the lounge.  He saw the bartender glancing at him, then to someone in the crowd.  Vadim nodded to the bartender.

Vadim made his way to the bar.  The bartender whispered, A woman.  Over there.  She asked what time Ryunosuke will be playing.

Vadim brought the woman’s order to her table.  Good evening, Ma’am.  He placed the drink in front of her.

Do you work here? She asked while glancing at the drink suspiciously.  The man was handsome.  The fiery, wavy red hair was tied into a ponytail and rested easily on his broad shoulders.  His Crooked nose spoke something dangerous about him.

If you were referring to the drink being spiked, we don’t tolerate things like that in Club Selene.

All right, thanks then. She tipped him.

The bartender said you asked about Ryunosuke’s schedule.  He’s taking a break so we don’t have him as a lineup tonight, Vadim said.

I’m not here for the music.  I’m here to meet him for business.

Oh?  Are you from another nightclub trying to poach  Ryunosuke away from us? Vadim looked at the woman’s crimson makeup, black one-shoulder strap dress, and a metallic high-heel stiletto to match.

No.  Some other business.

In that case, I haven’t seen him.  Why don’t you enjoy your drink in the meantime?

As soon as Vadim walked away, Ryunosuke’s cell phone beeped.  Vadim went behind the bar to read.  It was a message from Scorpion.  You’re late!

Vadim put the phone back into his jacket pocket.  He waited another ten minutes to pretend casually walking past by Scorpion.  Ma’am, how’s your drink?  Oh, you hardly touched it.  Is it not to your liking?  I can order another one for you.  On the house.

Are you the manager? Scorpion replied.

Not the manager.  The owner.  Vadim.  He extended his hand.

Vadim!  The vampire that all vampire hunters tried to get.  Technically Karolien was the oldest and should be the next target, but Karolien surrounded herself with lots of rich and famous humans.  The vampire hunters did not want to make news.  So the next in line was Vadim.

Scorpion extended her hand to shake with Vadim.  Red sharp nails scratched him seductively.  Maybe tonight wasn’t such a loss.  Ryunosuke did not show up, but she got Vadim.

Vadim slid his finger down Scorpion’s cheek.  I don’t come around to the club often, but luckily tonight I did.

Wanna dance?  Scorpion asked.

They danced wildly on the dance floor.  Scorpion grinded into Vadim.  His hands glided all over her body.  They twisted and twirled.  The body heat was immense.  The tension was unbearable.  Scorpion pressed into Vadim and whispered, Want to come to my place?

Next thing they knew, they were in a taxi, moaning and kissing.  Next thing they knew, they were in a luxury townhouse complex.  Scorpion hurriedly opened the door to her unit.  As soon as the door was opened and closed, Vadim pressed her into the wall to kiss her hard.  However, the air slowly wafted into his nose.  He coughed.

Oh, I’m so sorry.  Is it the garlic?  I cook too much garlic.  Dudes have told me to tone it down, Scorpion said while judging Vadim’s reaction.

He said, It’s fine.  Maybe I just need to sit down.

Why don’t you?  I’ll change into something more comfortable, Scorpion pointed at the sofa in the living room.

While Scorpion was in the bathroom, Vadim surveyed the place.  It was a very typical townhouse with normal furniture.  The only thing was the allicin smell everywhere.  It was even in the dodecahedron glass potpourri bowl!  It wasn’t very strong, but it had caught him off guard earlier.  He then noticed next to the fireplace sat a large vacuum cleaner with half of a cylinder full of dust.  Vadim was disgusted.

Scorpion came back into the living room with a red lacy babydoll.  The top was one size too small; her breasts were about to fall out.  So this was her vampire hunting technique.  Sex and allicin.  Vadim wondered how many horny vampires fell for it.

Now, where were we? Scorpion smiled sensually.  She pushed Vadim back into the sofa.  She straddled him and kissed him.

Vadim wrapped his hands around her waist.  His hand went under the lacy top and pulled on the panty string.  Scorpion laughed.  Aren’t we in a hurry, she said.

She nibbled his ear and reached to the back of the sofa.  Vadim felt a slash of cold air.  He pushed Scorpion off of him.  She landed on the coffee table and crushed the glass potpourri bowl.  The glass shards buried into her back.  She screamed.

Vadim saw an ice pick in her hand.  This?  You think you can stake me with this?  He snatched the ice pick off of her hand, breaking her wrist in one smooth motion.  Scorpion screamed some more.

You disease-ridden piece of shit!  Die, all of you! Scorpion shouted.

You first, but slowly.  Vadim inserted the ice pick several centimeters away from her heart.  Scorpion howled and cried.

Now, where’s your phone?  I’ve found that phones are very useful these days.  Vadim pulled out a cell phone from his pocket.  See this?  Ryunosuke’s phone.  I’ve been pretending to be Ryunosuke this whole time.  I’ve been looking for you, Scorpion.  You don’t know me, but I know you.  I want you to suffer so that you know my pain of losing my beloved.

Vadim dumped everything out of Scorpion’s purse but didn’t see a phone.  He went into the bathroom and saw it there.  He tapped on the screen.  It was locked, but he could see two messages:

Scorpion.  Don’t!  Vadim is too dangerous! from a phone number.

Scorpion.  Where are you! from a second phone number.

Vadim brought the phone to the bleeding Scorpion.  He aimed the phone at her face.  Her face was too distorted from the pain so the phone would not unlock.  Vadim took her thumb to press on the home button.  My luck.  Burner phones still use old ones that read fingerprints.

Vadim read the phone call history.  In addition to the text messages, Scorpion made one phone call to a third phone number while in the bathroom.  It lasted a few seconds; perhaps the other end didn’t pick up.  It must have been important enough for her to call before killing a vampire.

Vadim called the number.  The other end picked up.  A man’s voice, Hello?  Scorpion, is that you?  Are you all right?

Chapter 1

Marcel

V

adim and Vivian arrived at Club Selene, a nightclub for vampires and humans.  Vadim introduced Vivian to some patrons.  They danced.  One offered his wrist to Vivian.  She shook her head; she was still not used to human offerings out in the open.

The music slowed to a halt; the light dimmed.  Quite a few people whistled.  The DJ announced dramatically, Ladies and Gentlemen, the moment you’ve been waiting for.  The hottest at Club Selene.  Here they are!  Ryunosuke and the Band!

The spotlight shined on a man in his early-twenties on the stage with a bassist, a drummer, and a keyboardist.  Shocking music hit the speakers and reverberated through the club.  The club-goers jumped, shouted, and applauded.

Vivian walked back by herself to the VIP lounge.  On the second floor hallway the music was muffled due to soundproofing.  The music almost disappeared when she entered the lounge.  Nightclub wasn’t her thing.  The other vampires told her the loud music drowned out their infinite sorrow.  Vivian didn’t like to hear everything constantly, either, but she wasn’t sure a nightclub was the solution.

Through the floor-to-ceiling window, Vadim was nowhere to be seen on the first floor.  Ryunosuke was screaming, or so it seemed from his movement and facial expression.  He wore multiple rings on his ears and fingers.  The hair was dyed grayish-blue, mixed with the original black.  So people in both Vofstein and Tah’lia liked boybands.  This Ryunosuke seemed like a popular local band.

Vivian’s stomach growled; time to eat.  As she walked out of the VIP lounge, she heard a heartbeat that she had not heard of in more than three hundred years.  A woman came out of the VIP lounge next to hers.

Karolien!  She stopped short in her steps.  The way she looked at Vivian, Vivian knew Karolien still hated her.

Be a better person, no, a better vampire.  Vivian smiled, Good evening, Karolien.

What are you doing here? Karolien was full of hostility.

Vadim brought me here.

What are you doing here, in Vofstein!

Vadim brought me here.  Vivian could see the hate in Karolien’s eyes.  Time to offer a truce.  Karolien, you know you’re better off without her.  Look at you!

Karolien smoothed her blonde hair back into a high ponytail.  She wore a silver tube top, with a puffy white jacket, a white leather mid-thigh skirt, and a pair of knee-high white boots.

Like a queen, Vivian whispered.

Karolien’s expression softened, but not enough.  I don’t want to see you here at the club, she said.

Vivian was annoyed.  A praise didn’t work.  The hate must be deep.

Well, nothing you can do about it.  Vadim’s the owner.  I can come and go as I please, Vivian said.

Vadim owns one-third of the club.  I own the other two-third.  So I don’t want to see you here while I’m here, Karolien said.

That was about as good as Vivian could get from Karolien.  Agreed.  I’m going to get something to drink at the bar, then head home.  You won’t see me again when you’re here.

Karolien’s phone rang.  She picked it up, Hi, Zyra!  I miss you, too.  Yes, I’ve been to Tah’lia…  She turned to walk back into her VIP lounge.