My heart seemed as if it was pounding through my throat, and that was a hard thing to accomplish for a pureblood vampire. I opened the door to the warehouse, not knowing what to expect.
Was she already dead?
I felt he would sense that already if she were because I still had a strong connection to her since drinking her blood, and I figured that bond would have been severed if she were dead. As I inched my way into the extensive area of the warehouse, I tried to stay in the shadows, hoping that would conceal me until I was ready to strike. But it did no good. Accius came out of the shadows and held a gun to my Kiku’s head. Two other men appeared, and I recognized them from them grabbing Kiku and Teagan at the club. They flanked each side of Accius. One had Teagan at gunpoint as well.
“Let’s be smart about this, Accius. Let them go, and you can have me instead.”
Accius made a clucking sound with his teeth.
“Kenshi, you know that is not how this works. The Common Trifecta Law and the Fourteenth Century Peace Treaty are clear—any abomination must be dealt with and destroyed.”
“You aren’t judge, jury, and executioner—Keme and the high council are. Besides, neither possesses the powers of a witch, vampire, and werewolf combined. So, therefore—”
“Enough! They are Kersh, and for that alone, they should die! My precious Calypso would still be alive if Kate were never created.”
“Neither Teagan nor Kiku have anything to do with Kate’s creation. That’s all on Alec and Armand Christianson!”
“Need I remind you it was a Kersh spell that made Kate’s creation possible?”
My life and memories of being with Kiku flashed before my eyes as I took a step closer to Accius. That made Accius more angry as he tightened his grip around my Kiku’s neck.
“Don’t hurt her—please!”
I was rushing to her now without even thinking, and at the same time, Kiku broke free from Accius’s grip. Accius stumbled backward, and the gun went off. But before it could hit Kiku, the bullet’s intended target, a bright blue light surrounded her. The shot tried to penetrate the blue light but stopped short and fell to the concrete ground, making a distinct pinging sound that a shell casing does. I turned to see Skye putting a protective barrier spell over both Kiku and Teagan.
Relieved, I ran to Accius to subdue him. As soon as he was within my grasp, Accius smashed a potion at his feet. A thick grey fog surrounded him, and once it dissipated, he was gone along with the other two men he came with.
I rushed to Kiku’s side just as her knees buckled and her feet gave way beneath her. Her body fell into my arms, and I happily pulled her close to my chest. She was safe, finally safe. At least for now.
She sucked in a shaky breath.
“Kenshi, I thought I was going to lose you.”
“And I, you.”
“Listen, before,” her voice trailed as she swallowed. “I overreacted to what you said. I know you’d never hurt me, Kenshi. It’s just I freaked out, and I’m sorry.”
“Does this mean you’ll come home with me? And to stay?”
“What about Blaze?”
“Blaze is more than welcome to live with us. Mi casa es su casa. But we can talk about all of that tomorrow. Right now, I want to get you home to rest.”
He drew his lips to hers and shared a brief but passion-filled kiss before sweeping her into his arms bridal style and whisking her back to the car.
“I’ll meet all of you at my place.”
“Sounds like a decent plan.” Said Raine as he kissed Skye on the cheek.
“I don’t know about any of you, but I would love to take a bath and have a glass of wine,” Teagan said as she rose to her feet.
“Well, I can definitely arrange both at the penthouse.”
“If it’s not too much trouble, would you mind dropping me off at Brooks’s place? After tonight, I really need to see him.”
“We can drop you off after we perform the cloaking spell on you. Skye and I should get back to Connecticut ourselves this evening. Zhang said he’d be visiting in a week, so I need to clear my work schedule for this visit. It’s never for pleasure when he comes, so I’m a little worried about his latest vision that he’ll undoubtedly spring upon us.”
“Alright then. I guess we will see you when we see you after the cloaking spell, of course. But please, will you all make it back here to the club sometime soon?” Said Kenshi.
“How about Christmas Eve?” Asked Raine with a wink.
“Sounds perfect! By then, we can all celebrate.”
Skye looked at Kenshi with knitted brows.
“What do you mean? With winning today? You know that’ll be short-lived.”
“No. That’s not what I’m talking about. Kiku, are you able to stand?”
It was now Kiku’s turn to look at Kenshi with knitted brows.
“Yes. I can. But what is this about, Kenshi? Is everything alright?”
He lowered her to her feet and then got down on one knee while pulling a small jewelry box out of the pocket of his suit jacket.
“Kiku, you came back into my life and taught me that tomorrow is never promised. I can’t go one more day without telling you I love you, and living without you by my side is no longer an option for me. I don’t care where we live because, to me, home is with you. Kiku, will you marry me?”
Tears were streaming down Kiku’s face, but her voice was strong and clear.
“Yes, Kenshi. I will marry you. You are my home, too.”
“Then it’s settled. We will have our wedding at Eclipse on Christmas Eve, and you are all invited!”
“How come I can’t help but think you were involved with this, Raine?” Asked Skye.
Raine shrugged his shoulders.
“The man had to ask permission from one of the remaining family members, and he knew I could keep a secret.” Raine chuckled.
* * *
Today was the day, and I couldn’t believe it. I was going to marry my Kiku. We had heard nothing from the Nuri clan, and I wasn’t sure if that meant the cloaking spell was working or if they were regrouping to plan a different attack. Nothing was certain, so I asked Raine to call in some reinforcements for the wedding to go off without a hitch.
I was happy to see Alec Christianson among the guests. Kiku and Teagan will be elated to meet him and Dracula and Lilith, who were also sitting on the groom’s side. Ciro and his pack from upstate were in attendance, and so were Keme, Dante, Draven, and Cheveyo. A sense of relief washed over me as more magicals poured into the club. This would be the safest wedding in all of New England. Nothing was too good for my Kiku, who was still reeling from her mother’s death. I hoped her seeing all of her extended family would make her feel less alone as she walked down the aisle.
Before the music began, Zhang walked up the aisle to greet me. He was presiding over the ceremony as an ordained minister and sorcerer. He shook my hand, and then the music played. Kiku was a vision in white, simply beautiful, and it brought tears to my eyes as her iridescent lace and beaded sequins danced in the light. When she was finally next to me, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, and Zhang began.
“Thank you, please be seated. Today we gather to lift Kenshi and Kiku up in celebration of ever-lasting love. In the presence of their beloved family and friends, Kenshi and Kiku will pronounce their love through this ceremony and begin a lifelong journey together. On this day, we offer gratitude for the blessings that have been bestowed upon Kenshi and Kiku. In this fast-spinning, always-changing world, they have at last found peace and comfort in one another. Their love is a testament to their faith: both Kenshi and Kiku always maintained faith that they would find their other half. This ceremony is a tribute to their most unique love story and a promise of a beautiful future ahead. There are no limits that love cannot surpass, and we see that here today. Before we begin, the couple has asked me to give this special reading from Edward Monkton.
In that still and settled place
There’s nobody but you
You’re where I breathe my oxygen
You’re where I see my view
And when the world feels full of noise
My heart knows what to do
It finds that still and settled place
And dances there with you.
As we begin, we ask that every witness here today close their eyes for just a moment. Imagine your best memory of Kenshi and Kiku. To surround this couple with love and support, we ask that you offer that memory to the heavens with sentiments for a beautiful beginning to this special chapter of theirs. Please take just a moment.
Do these two have your blessings?”
Everyone in Eclipse followed the question with a yes.
Zhang faces Kiku and me.
“Kenshi and Kiku, are you ready to exchange vows?”
“Yes.”
Zhang’s gaze looks out towards our guests.
“There is nothing more romantic and sacred than standing before all those dear to your hearts to declare your love to one another. This time-honored tradition is carried on only by those committed to a true lifelong love story. I can feel that desire burning bright tonight. Let’s begin. Kenshi, please repeat after me to offer your commitment to Kiku.”
“I, Kenshi, take thee, Kiku, to be my lawfully wedded wife. I take you just as you are and in every form, you may ever be. You are the light in my life and the beat in my heart. I promise to tend to your weakness just as I applaud your strengths. I promise to reach for your hand when I am lost. I promise to show you, day in and day out, that you are my everything. On this day, I give you my heart.”
Zhang turned his gaze to Kiku.
“Ok, Kiku, please repeat after me to offer your commitment to Kenshi.”
“I, Kiku, take thee, Kenshi, to be my lawfully wedded husband. I take you just as you are and in every form, you may ever be. You are the light in my life and the beat in my heart. I promise to tend to your weakness just as I applaud your strengths. I promise to reach for your hand when I am lost. I promise to show you, day in and day out, that you are my everything. On this day, I give you my heart.”
Kiku and I smiled at each other after our pledges. There was a slight pause, and then Zhang spoke again.
“Then let us proceed with the exchanging of rings. Kenshi and Kiku: as you exchange your rings today, you are also reinforcing your faithful commitment to trust, love, and romance. Each ring serves as a constant reminder that you are loved. Your beloved is giving you the most precious gift on earth through love.” Said Zhang.
My best man, Brooks, hands me the rings, and I place Kiku’s on her ring finger before saying, “With this ring, I thee wed.”
Kiku placed the ring on my finger before saying, “With this ring, I thee wed.”
Zhang smiles.
“By the power vested in me by the high council, before your families and your friends, I now pronounce you lawfully and spiritually united. Please seal your marriage with your first wedded kiss.”
I wrapped my arms around Kiku’s waist and pulled her close before my lips came crashing down on hers. After all this time, she was finally my true home, and I was hers.
The End