Chapter Seven
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WHEN NIC WOKE UP, HE didn’t open his eyes right away. Instead, he held on more tightly to Tamsin, who was curled up against him, and smiled.
He was home.
For a moment after Parrish had found him, he hadn’t thought he would ever come back here.
He’d been convinced that Parrish would kill him, and he would have if Tamsin and the others hadn’t arrived when they had.
They’d saved Nic’s life, and he’d always be grateful for that.
He might still have a lot to prove to the people who lived in the village, but at least now, he’d have the opportunity to do so.
“I don’t want to go to that meeting,” Tamsin said with a groan as he tried to curl up even closer. He couldn’t. There wasn’t an inch of space between them.
“I’m pretty sure that Dermot would come find you and drag you there if you didn’t show up,” Nic said as he kissed the top of his mate’s head.
Tamsin tilted his face up and opened one eye. “I think he’d be too afraid to find us. He wouldn’t want to catch us in this position.”
“We’re mates. He has to at least suspect we have sex.”
Tamsin shrugged. “I think it’s easier for him to ignore that part. He’ll like you eventually. It’s just going to take a little time.”
Nic could deal with that. As long as Dermot and the others gave him a chance, he could wait.
What couldn’t wait was their meeting. Rowan had been clear that he wanted everyone there this morning, and he was the clan leader.
It wouldn’t do anyone any good to go against his orders, but especially Nic, who was still on thin ice with most of the clan.
He’d have to be on his best behavior for a while, starting today.
He ended up not having to drag Tamsin out of bed.
When Nic got up, Tamsin complained and groaned, but he followed suit, and they showered together.
Tamsin seemed to be particularly cuddly, which wasn’t a surprise.
Nic didn’t mind. They’d almost lost each other.
They would have if Tamsin and the others hadn’t reached Nic as quickly as they had.
Nic wasn’t sure what Parrish had been up to, and he didn’t care.
He only cared about the fact that it had given him enough time to escape.
He’d gone there to get information on Parrish and how he was using his bond with a Vila, and he’d come home with said Vila.
Celeste had stayed with Rowan and Clay last night, even though she’d been wary, but Nic hoped she was over it, at least in part.
There were very few people in the world who were as bad as Parrish, yet she’d survived him.
She was strong, and she didn’t have anything to fear as long as she stayed in the village.
Tamsin was still complaining by the time they reached Clay and Rowan’s house.
The front door was open, and they followed the sounds of voices coming from the kitchen.
As far as Nic knew, it was where the two clan leaders had most of their meetings, which made sense.
It wasn’t as official as an office, and it made people feel more comfortable.
It was also big enough to gather a small group, like today.
People were hanging around the kitchen, sipping on coffee and looking only slightly awake. That changed when Nic and Tamsin walked in.
Dermot narrowed his eyes at Nic, but thankfully, he didn’t say anything.
Celeste was sitting at the table, looking small in an oversized hoodie that swallowed her frame.
She was clutching a cup of coffee, and for some reason, she looked relieved when Nic walked in.
He didn’t fully understand why because they hadn’t known each other until yesterday, but they shared something.
They’d both been used and traumatized by Parrish.
“You’re the last to arrive,” Dermot said a little too harshly.
Tamsin rolled his eyes. “Good morning, Dermot. Yes, Nic and I slept well. We had reunion sex last night since I’d thought I’d lost him forever, and it was great.”
Dermot’s cheeks flushed. “I don’t want to know about that.”
“How about every time you’re rude to my mate, I tell you about our sex life? Maybe that’s going to finally stop you.”
Dermot sucked in a breath. Nic expected him to explode, but instead, he turned to Nic. He stared at him for a moment before nodding, and that was it. Nic supposed it could be worse. At least Dermot had acknowledged his existence and hadn’t snapped at him.
“How much did that hurt?” Tamsin teased Dermot.
Dermot grumbled something, but Nic didn’t hear what it was. He didn’t really care. He didn’t have to be Dermot’s friend. He just needed the man to tolerate him since they were both in Tamsin’s life to stay.
“How are you?” he asked Celeste as he slid into the empty chair next to her. He wasn’t sure if it was empty because people were wary of sitting with her or because they were trying to give her space, but she didn’t seem to mind his presence.
“I have no idea how to answer that question,” she told him. “I’m incredibly happy to be free of Parrish, but at the same time, I know it’s not over. He’s going to come after me.”
“And we’ll protect you when he does.”
She bit her lower lip. “I’m grateful for that, but what about my family? What about my clan? Will you protect them, too?”
Nic didn’t know how to answer that question. He glanced at Rowan, whose expression was serious. He wasn’t sure if Rowan had been listening in to the conversation, but he was close enough to have heard what Celeste had said.
“Why don’t you tell us about yourself?” he asked.
Celeste looked around the room. People stopped talking, eager to listen to her. He could see she was uncomfortable, but she probably felt like she should give them an explanation. They’d rescued her from Parrish’s claws, after all.”
“My story isn’t important,” she eventually said.
“Parrish met me in town one day. I didn’t know who he was, and I was happy to have met my mate.
I didn’t stay happy for long. He threatened my family and my clan.
He wanted me to come with him willingly, and after I found out who he was, I knew it was the only way to save them.
I’m afraid he’s going to go after them now that I’m gone.
I couldn’t stay there, though,” she added, shaking her head.
“He was using me. I never wanted to hurt anyone. I don’t understand how I ended up with someone like him, but I don’t want him.
I never did, not after I realized who he really was. ”
“We’ll reach out to your clan,” Rowan said. “We’re trying to defeat Parrish once and for all. I’m afraid that the only way we can do that is to kill him, which means you’ll lose your mate.”
“I’m okay with that. I don’t want a mate like him.”
“We don’t know the consequences that will have for you,” Rowan cautioned.
“They can’t be worse than what he’s already done to me. Besides, what’s the alternative? No, I want Parrish gone. It’s the only way to protect myself and my family.”
“Will you tell us about your bond with Parrish before you go back to your family?”
Celeste looked around the room. Her gaze once again stopped on Nic, and he nodded in what he hoped was an encouraging gesture.
“I’ll tell you everything you want to know, but first, I want to talk to my family. I haven’t heard from them in years. They probably think I’m dead.”
“Of course,” Rowan said quickly as he took out his phone.
Celeste looked like she could cry. Maybe she would. At least she had a family to go back to. Parrish had killed Nic’s family, and he’d never see them again. He was happy for Celeste, but also sad for himself.
He looked around. He’d lost his parents a long time ago, but he wasn’t as alone as he thought he’d always be.
He had his mate, and with Tamsin came many people who would make sure that nothing happened to Nic.
They wouldn’t do it for Nic, not yet, but he was sure that in time, that would change.
He just needed a chance to show them he was on the right side, and far from Parrish, he’d have the chance to do that.