14. The Celebrations

"Act your part well Riley, one wrong move and dad will screw both of us up," Nicholas advised Riley who nodded, both of them tensed as they got ready.

"Are you sure this dress is not too much for meeting a Lord ?" Riley asked, looking down at herself while smoothing out the little creases. Nicholas glanced at her, tearing away his eyes from the mirror where he was combing his hair. His eyes travelled from her face, to down to her red champagne dress, hugging her body in the right places and a slit from her mid-thighs ending at her ankles.

"Not every day do I take a girl to my dad and say I want to fake a courtship with her Riley, I do not know what's appropriate. You can come in your pyjamas too if you want," Nicholas answered taking his eyes off her, swiftly going back to finish setting his hair before keeping the comb down and taking a step back to admire himself in the tuxedo.

"What's with this rudeness?" Riley asked, she thought he would compliment her in the dress but he seemed to not care at all.

"Riley hear me out. You are very attractive and beautiful you don't need my validation. Now can we leave ?" Nicholas answered getting a little annoyed, and forwarded his hand to her, not letting her dwell much upon his actions. Nicholas was not completely oblivious to Riley's subtle hints. Riley placed her hand on his, giving him a grin.

"I get it that you don't wanna do this Nick, but if you go to your father with this rotten egg face he will clearly understand that something is fishy," Riley said with a taunting face to which Nicholas gave her a tight-lipped fake smile making Riley slap his arm.

They walked across Nicholas's chamber passing across a handful of bowing attendees as they crossed the large garden in between to reach the main palace. Nicholas always liked having his separate space away from his father, the nagging counsellors and shoe-licking wannabes.

"The Lord is waiting for you both in the dining," one of the lord's personal attendee bowed and led them inside, opening the large door that led into the dining room.

Nicholas and Riley looked at each other for a split second as they entered, sending each other a look of assurance. 

"I have been waiting for you son and Riley, come take a seat, "Lord Damien spoke, picking up the glass of blood in front of him.

Nicholas lead Riley towards the chairs and pulled out the one beside his, before seating himself down.

"Take some blood dear son," Damien suggested, signalling the server to pour down it to both Nicholas and Riley. While Riley swiftly took it and took a sip, the smell and the sight of it made Nicholas flinch a little, as his palms hardened into fists.

It was human blood.

"No. Take it away," Nicholas spoke eyeing the server dangerously who immediately took it away, his voice hardening and deepening, confusing Riley while Damien smirked.

"Still not over it?" Damien questioned, while Nicholas looked down closing his eyes to calm himself down. He wouldn't ever show his vulnerable side to Damien Wonderhood, not after the last time.

"I am here with the answer to your letter," Nicholas started, ignoring his previous remark. He took Riley's hand from the table, sending a smile to her which warmed Riley's heart up. Not always does a Vampire's heart race--it does only when there is love or death.

"I am going to marry Riley," He finished, taking her palm to his mouth and pressing his lips against her skin, while Damien nodded in agreement.

"I knew inviting Riley to the city will bring some good news for me. You seem to be over that silly mate drama," Damien spoke with a prideful smile, sending Riley a look to which she uncomfortably shifted in her seat unknown to Nicholas's eyes.  

"I am. It was a little distraction for a while, I had forgotten that I am the Prince and have my duties," Nicholas said keeping a straight face, his mind wandering back to Immery.

"Very well, I am glad. I will send a formal invitation to Riley's parents. The wedding will take place after the blood moon," Damien said, not entirely convinced that Nicholas was willing to wed so fast just because of a letter. He was known to defy Damien.

"Uh no. I want to spend more time with Riley. It's my wedding father so I want it the traditional Wonderhood way," Nicholas told, his eyes had a little glitter of future in them.

Damien got up from his seat, a smile on his face as he walked over to Nicholas, who stood up.

"Well consider it done then. I hope and rather warn you to not try to ruin this," Damien spoke, in a hushed voice in Nicholas's ear, so silent that even Riley couldn't hear. 

"Congratulation young people, I will see you both around again," Damien wished the both of them before leaving, the trail of servers and attendees following him.

"Hey, that went quite well didn't it ?" Riley asked, the grin on her face fading when she saw Nicholas's tensed face.

"What's wrong Nick? Let's celebrate, come on," Riley got up from her seat and tried to pull Nicholas towards her who stopped her immediately.

"Later Riley. I am going to Immery," he told her, looking directly into her eyes before dashing away.   

_______________________

Immery roamed around the room, her heartbeat increasing with every second. She repeatedly went towards the window and looked out to see if Christian was coming. It had been hours since he had left her in the room and left somewhere. 

"Breathe! Immery Breath," Immery started assuring herself, trying to control the situation. She is used to having one of these very often, since childhood she would be locked up in small dark rooms for a long period of time with no food or water installing into her the fear of being alone.

She knew she was safe here, Christian had assured her that but her mind seemed to not make peace with it. It took her mind repeatedly back to those moments, terrified.

*"You will be safe here and I promise that. And if you need me, just say my name and I will be there beside you. Instantly,"*

Nicholas's words replayed in her mind, she was debating whether she should take his name or not. What if she disturbs him?

Immery closed her eyes tight, breathing out to relax herself when she heard the main door creak open, her eyes snapped open as she pounced on the person coming in without even seeing who it was. 

“You couldn’t have come at a better time!” Immery exclaimed loudly, throwing herself onto Nicholas, and locking her arms tightly around his back taking him by surprise. He was confused to see Immery all sweaty and her heartbeat erratic. He looked around the room and tried picking up any other person's heartbeat in the room to find any potential threat. But there was none.

“Why? Were you starting to miss me-” Nicholas started speaking, oddly surprised with their current position? Nicholas let his hands hang around Immery's back, just barely touching, to assure her that she was safe.

“No, I was starting to panic and I needed a way out," Immery answered, her voice lower as she understood their position. She thought it was Christian but as soon as their bodies touched she knew it was Nicholas. While Christian's skin was warm like a blanket, Nicholas's was icy cold.

She unlocked her hand from around Nicholas, drawing them to herself as she looked down-embarrassed. While she did speak a little and warmed up around Christian, Nicholas was practically a stranger to her who had promised to protect her.

"Chris knew that ?" Nicholas questioned, seeing Immery regain herself as the shaking and sweating stopped. Immery nodded her head sideways, she knew she should have told Christian but did not want to come out as a little weakling to him.

"Do you like need some fresh air? We can go out," Nicholas suggested, figuring out that leaving the pack-house for a while might make her open up to him more.

"Okay," she agreed as they walked outside.

"Wait. How did you open the..door? It was locked," Immery asked looking back at the door and the big black box thing beside it 

"Well, that has my fingerprint in to unlock the door. There is a similar scanner inside. Chris must have forgotten to put your one or he might be waiting for your neckpiece to arrive," Nicholas explained to her as they walked and sat on a bench in the garden, Immery carefully listened until she heard about the 'neckpiece.'

"Wait. What neckpiece ?" She questioned hurriedly, Nicholas bit his tongue inside his mouth, annoyed to have given away Christian's little plan.

"Ah well. I am not supposed to say about it so forget that I told you about it and move on ?" Nicholas spoke while Immery grew curious. She decided to drop the topic and just ask Christian when she sees him.

"Okay so. I know I have been running around a little since you came here. We haven't spoken much and the blame is definitely on me. While my brother's entire life practically revolved around finding you, I believed it living it. Wildly and casually. But now, after a century of just brooding and sulking, I finally want to give in to my brother's way of living life-- with my mate, so I need a chance from you," Nicholas spoke, his feelings and the little troubles that were going on in his mind to Immery who looked at him intensely.

What these two brothers wanted and were doing for her was something she never thought she could have. That too from not one but two of them.

"I...I still do not know what this is, how is it all going to play out in the future but yes, I do want to give this a chance," Immery answered, her first complete sentence to Nicholas. Oddly enough for her, she felt at peace around Nicholas and Christian even after knowing that they can kill her in mere seconds. Nicholas placed his hand over Immery's which was resting on the bench as he smiled at her, the first genuine one from the morning.

"Okay so, now that we are giving each other chances. I wanted to tell you that-"

"We are getting married."