Chapter 21: 21. The Prophecy

"My Penthouse isn't a guest house that everyone keeps dropping by," Christian muttered under his breath while gritting his teeth as he heard Nicholas suggesting that Liam should stay there.

"He is supposed to be near Immery, we can't take her to the palace and you cannot even enter the boundary so your city and penthouse is the most secure place," Nicholas explained calmly, he was always the composed and right headed person when it came down to matters like these.

"Fine but you get the farthest room possible from mine and Immery's," Christian answered

"Why so that you both can make out in peace ?" The words slipped

"I am not doing this conversation with you Nick, she's my mate and I have all the right in the world to kiss her. It wasn't like I forced her to kiss me," Christian answered, his voice raising I little but he was able to maintain the calmness.

Liam, who was walking in front of them could feel the tension between the brothers. One wrong move and they would pounce on each other.

"I hope that you both have decided to provide me with protection. Lord Damien doesn't really wants the mating to be completed which I have no idea why but he has been regularly sending letters to the witch coven to inquire if the mating is initiated in any way," Liam explained the situation back in the covens. Witches didn't really see eye to eye with vampires and werewolves but Liam's coven were the chosen ones.

"You will be completely safe in my pack Liam. Do not worry," Christian answered as they reached the ground, and started crossing the bridge to reach the penthouse.

"I am counting on you Alpha," Liam gave him a little dramatical bow which Christian shrugged off with a dry chuckle as he lead them inside.

Immery slowly peeked out of the library room as she heard the hustle.

"Has Christian arrived ?" She asked Allison, one of the omegas who nodded at her before stepping aside to let Immery walk off.

"Hey you," Christian swiftly gritted as he saw Immery walking towards him and giving a curious look towards Liam.

"I am Liam, my lady" Liam gritted playing out the role of a perfect representative of his coven as he took her hand in his and kissed the top of her palm.

"You seem to have an admirer," Christian whispered into her ear with a little smirk on his face.

"Well, I already have two suitors another wouldn't hurt would it ?" Immery replied playfully as she winked at Christian who returned the gesture with a grin of his own.

"We're your mates not suitors," Nicholas's voice toneless and stern earning a pout from Immery.

"She's just joking Nick, loosen up," Christian butted in, his voice monotonous. Joking wasn't Nicholas's forte either, he would rather brood than joke.

"Ha ha ha, very funny now Liam can we please skip to the part where we discuss the needful ?" Nicholas asked in his usual authoritative melancholic voice making Christian sigh and Immery groan.

Liam nodded as he sat down on the couch, taking out a palm sized crystal from his bag while the trio gathered around him with Immery in middle.

"Okay so here goes the prophecy, its always the same for your family, you three touch it and it shows glimpses of the future and your mating process," Liam stated before gently letting the crystal float in the air while softly whispering "Casso tor," a spell to suspend an object mid-air.

Liam gestured them to touch the crystal to which they nodded before forwarding a hand and looking at each other. The crystal started to sparkle as soon as they touched it. Before any glimpse could flood into there minds a loud gush of wind emerged from the crystal throwing Nicholas across the room with force.

Christian and Immery quickly drew their hands back while Liam gaped at the crystal with wide eyes.

"What the fuck was that !" Nicholas exclaimed with a groan, Christian helping him to get back on his foot.

"Have you all...like you three not formed the mate bond yet ?" Liam questioned his voice a little low with fear.

"When were you going to mention that it was necessary?" Nicholas questioned back, his angry eyes boring into him.

"Its only a little over two months to the mating so I thought you three have already reached this space, I mean two of you have.." Liam stopped speaking as he heard Nicholas taking in a sharp breath of air at this new information.

Immery's eyes quickly flickered to Christian at this, their eyes glistening with a new spark. Immery had read in Elizabeth's journal how special and intimate the mate bond is and she definately wanted to experience it with Christian.

"You three need to work on this Asap, without that the mating process wouldn't initiate. It's the most important part," Liam explained as he gently took the crystal and kept it back in his bag carefully.

" I can start preparing the other things that would be required meanwhile you three can work on that. Where am I supposed to stay ?" Liam slowly spoke, getting up from the couch and wanting to immediately leave this space of tension.

"Allison, my omega will show you your room. Meanwhile cast a protection spell around the Penthouse so that only people having my permission can enter," Christian spoke to which Liam nodded before leaving the living room and turning to the corridor to find Allison.

"I need to leave," Nicholas quickly spoke as he strided away from Immery and Christian. Immery passed Christian a look before following Nicholas.

"Don't leave...stay," Immery whispered just loud enough for Nicholas to hear it. He wasn't certain if he heard her right, why would she even want him ?

Immery had decided to give this a try. Communication, as Elizabeth had mentioned in her journal. She had used it to build her story with the brothers. They were supposed to be naturally attracted to each other if the emotions and communication was steady between them. She felt that ease with Christian, and she did feel a glimpse of it with Nicholas the night they had saved her.

He turned to face her, yes he wanted to leave, immediately so but something in her voice stopped him. There she stood, looking at him expectantly, she wanted him to express something, anything.

"What do you want me to do ?" Nicholas questioned, a subtle hint of grief in his voice. Yes, he should be happy for this brother that their mate bond was developing yet he felt sad,and lonely.

"To not run away, stop running away from me if you want this to work. I want you to talk to me, directly, neither through Chris nor Riley. This can only work if we both put in effort. But if you do want me to die for not completely the mating process go ahead, go ahead and don't built this with me..." Immery abruptly stopped, her voice feeling heavy as tears fell from her eyes and she felt a lump in her throat.

"..now leave, and only come back when you have an answer. An answer without any silences or secrets. A fresh start," Immery completed while Nicholas stood there hearing every syllable with a poker face, no emotion showing on his face. He gave her a curt nod before turning to leave again.

" I hope its a positive one.." Immery softly whispered as she rubbed the tears off her face, she knew he had heard her.

"Do you think I said too much ?" Immery suddenly questioned as she watched Nicholas leave, his back a little relaxed now. Christian quickly emerged from the other room, he had heard them and Immery knew it too.

"You're being you, it's a beautiful thing Immery whatever you were in that house of yours wasn't the real you. I mean it was but a very shunned version, you are still discovering yourself Immery," Christian spoke warmly, rubbing circles on Immery's shoulder, the man had his way with words, they always managed to warm her up.

Immery quickly gave him a big smile before standing on her tiptoe to press a quick kiss on Christian's lips, who smiled in between the kiss before reciprocating.

"I know you told we should take this slow but you just look too...good and your lips...they are really warm...like really," Immery spoke, her voice coming out hoarse and heavy, as they broke the kiss.

"Perks of being a werewolf I suppose," Christian gave out a grin as he slid his hand on her back, guiding her inside.

"Speaking of that I haven't seen Alec for days, care to take me for a spin ?" Immery suggested as she slipped her hand around his elbow.

"Ah, I missed getting the attention too much," Alec quickly answered in the back of Christian's mind making him chuckle. While Alec liked being dormant in Christian's mind and observing their mate's actions he was eagerly counting days until he could communicate with her wolf.

"Not scared at all are we ? Well, sure. Alec would definitely love a good run, let's go after lunch," Christian answered as Immery clapped her palms together in excitement. After the first shock had passed, she did like the idea of Christian being a wolf. To her he felt like a big, fluffy dog. And he did promise that he would let her ride him.

He knew Nicholas would take a while to return, they could as well enjoy the time together. Nicholas had other things to manage now as well as think about his and Immery's situation, one of them being the most important event before a royal vampire marriage.

The Masquerade.