Chapter One #4
Tamsin elbowed Bastien’s mate. So his name was Dermot.
It sounded nice. Dermot looked nice, although from the way his eyes narrowed, Bastien felt like he’d been found lacking.
He wasn’t sure how that was possible since they hadn’t even talked yet, but there was something hard in his mate’s gaze, and Bastien didn’t like that.
He wasn’t surprised, though. Considering what most Vila and Krsnik had gone through, it made sense for Dermot to be wary of someone he didn’t know.
Bastien wasn’t a Kudlak, but he was a stranger.
For now.
“I’d love to see my sister,” he said with a nod.
“And she’ll be happy to see you. She’s been talking about you.”
“Only good things, I hope.” Bastien smiled and turned to Dermot. He might not be here to find himself a mate, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be nice. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, too, Dermot.”
Dermot stared at Bastien. He looked like he was waiting for something to happen, and maybe he was.
Did he really expect Bastien to start telling everyone that they were mates, though?
They hadn’t even talked to each other yet.
Maybe he was just waiting for Bastien’s reaction, but that was all he’d get.
Bastien would be careful. It wasn’t a good thing to expose yourself when you were a Krsnik or Vila.
He was probably safe in the village, but he couldn’t risk it.
He didn’t know Dermot, even though they were mates.
He wanted to hope that meeting him was a good thing, but he only had to look at Celeste to know it might not be.
“Dermot,” Tamsin said through gritted teeth before grinning awkwardly at Bastien.
Dermot cleared his throat. “Right. I guess it’s a pleasure to meet you, too,” he said. He didn’t sound happy, which told Bastien all he needed to know. Dermot probably didn’t want him here.
Too bad. He was here, and as long as Celeste was, too, he wasn’t going anywhere. He didn’t know what any of this meant for his relationship with Dermot, but he’d find out eventually. For now, he’d rather focus on Celeste.
“Well, if you’d like to follow us,” Tamsin said.
Bastien did as he was told. The other Vila who’d been there wasn’t introduced to him, but he could feel the man watching him as he followed Tamsin and Dermot.
He was curious and hoped there would be time to ask questions before he and Celeste left.
At the very least, he was going to have to talk to Dermot.
He didn’t think Dermot would be too happy about that.
He looked around as they walked. The village was well cared for, and there were many people around.
Most of them were watching him, which made sense.
He was a stranger, and these days, especially given the situation these people were in, having a stranger in their home couldn’t feel great.
Bastien wanted to reassure them, but he doubted they’d believe him.
He’d have to show everyone around him that he wasn’t here to hurt them through his actions.
The first one to convince would be Dermot, who kept glancing at him with distrust. Bastien didn’t know if it was because they were mates or because Dermot didn’t know him and therefore didn’t trust him.
He wanted to ask, but Tamsin was talking about the village and Celeste, so Bastien decided to listen.
“But what does all of that mean?”
Tamsin blinked. “Well, we don’t have any examples of Vila bonded to Kudlak.”
Dermot snorted. “Tamsin, you’re a Vila, and you’re bonded to a Kudlak. You fucking turned into a wolf.”
Tamsin’s cheeks flushed. “Yeah, but we don’t know if my bond will change anything else for me. You saw what Parrish was doing to Celeste.”
“It’s a miracle Nico isn’t doing it to you,” Dermot muttered.
Tamsin’s gaze was sharp. “There’s no need for you to be a dickhead. I know what Nico has done, and he’s apologized. You shouldn’t hold it against him.”
“I don’t see how I’m not supposed to.”
Bastien was dying to know what the hell was going on. He might be here for his sister, but damn. He’d always loved gossip, and he didn’t get a lot of that with his own clan. Most of them were boring, but this village seemed to be anything but.
Tamsin looked like he and Dermot would have a conversation later. Unfortunately, Bastien wouldn’t be there for that.
They stopped in front of a house, and the door opened before Tamsin could say anything.
A Krsnik stepped out, and Bastien didn’t have to be told to know who this was.
He was with the Harper clan right now, and their leader was one of the few remaining of the original Harper clan.
His violet eyes took in Bastien, and Bastien told himself that even though he felt like a bug under a microscope, he wasn’t in danger.
He was here for Celeste, and Rowan knew that.
Rowan nodded. “Bastien?”
“That’s me. How’s my sister? Tamsin and Dermot have assured me that she was fine, but after what she went through, it would take more than their words to convince me of that.”
“She’s waiting for you. Come on in.”
Bastien glanced one last time at Dermot.
As much as he wanted to talk to his mate, now wasn’t the right moment to do so.
Thankfully, Dermot didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he seemed to want to run as far away from Bastien as he could, because he was already turning around.
Maybe Bastien should be worried or disappointed, but he wasn’t. Mostly, he was amused.
He could already tell that his mate was going to keep him on his toes, and he couldn’t wait.