Tamsin nodded.“I think so.We wouldn’t be mates if there wasn’t a way for us to make it work.”
“That’s why I want you to stay away.I’ll never forgive myself if I hurt you.”
Tamsin smiled.“And that’s why you’re nothing like Parrish.He’s not worried that he’s hurting his mate.From the sound of it, he’s hurting her on purpose.You’d never do something like that, not even to use my magic.”And if Parrish could do that, it could explain what he was attempting to do.
Usually, Vila magic was gentle and nice.They didn’t make things explode.They didn’t hurt people.They were protectors, healers.Tamsin could only imagine how bad Parrish’s mate felt about what Parrish was trying to do with her magic.It had to be hell for her.
Maybe the clan could do something about that.They needed to get Parrish’s mate away from him, anyway, in case he’d found a way to wield their bond and use her magic.They’d rescue Parrish’s mate and ensure that Parrish could never hurt her again.
But to do that, they needed more information.Tamsin had never heard of a Kudlak being able to use Vila magic that way, but that wasn’t surprising.Until recently, he’d never even realized that Vila could bond with Kudlaks.He’d never really thought about it, but he supposed that it made sense.Even though they were enemies, Kudlaks and Krsniks were very similar.They both turned into animals.They both drank blood.
Tamsin didn’t know for sure, but it was possible that Krsniks could use their Vila mates’ magic the same way Parrish was using his mate’s magic.Since Krsniks and Kudlaks were so similar, it was something to consider, even though Tamsin didn’t like it.
He was sure that Nic wouldn’t hurt him.He wouldn’t try to use him.It wasn’t the kind of person he was, and Tamsin was sure of that, even though he barely knew his mate.
“I’ve never heard about a Vila being a Kudlak’s mate until now,” he said.
“I’ve known it was possible for years, but it doesn’t mean it’s a good thing.It doesn’t mean it should happen.”
“But it’s already happened.There’s no changing what you and I are to each other, Nic.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t.You’re not Parrish.You’re not even similar to him.”
“He raised me.”
“I doubt that what he did could be described as raising you.He ensured that you didn’t die before you became an adult, but that’s it.He’s not your father.Even if he was, you’re your own person.You’ve already made your decision.You wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t.”
“You think you might be able to help her?”
The hope in Nic’s words broke Tamsin’s heart.Even though Nic was a prisoner, stuck in a room that he didn’t know he’d ever leave, he was still thinking about someone else.He was worried about Parrish’s mate.He wanted Tamsin to help her, but he’d never asked Tamsin to help him.He still thought that Clay and Rowan would hurt him.Hell, he thought they would kill him because that was what Parrish would do.It made him want to cry, but he couldn’t allow himself to.Nic would get even more worried.He seemed ready to sacrifice himself so that Tamsin would be okay, but Tamsin would never be okay if something happened to his mate.
The circumstances might be less than ideal, but it didn’t mean that Tamsin was giving up on his mate.He never would.Nic was it for him, no matter what happened around them.Tamsin wasn’t about to give up their bond, no matter what Nic thought.He was even willing to leave the village with Nic if that was what was required of him.
He hoped it wouldn’t be.He thought that he and Nic could have a future here, but not until Parrish was gone.He didn’t think anyone here would have a future until that happened.Parrish needed to die, and the sooner it happened, the better.
Chapter Three
––––––––
NIC WASN’T SURPRISEDwhen Rowan finally came to visit him, or that he wasn’t alone.With him came a man that Nic didn’t have to recognize to know.Parrish had mentioned several times that Rowan had found his mate.In fact, he’d been giddy about killing the man in front of Rowan.
“I’m Clay,” the man said.He smiled at Nic as he offered him his hand.Nic stared, wondering if Clay was serious.He couldn’t actually want Nic to shake his hand, could he?
But Clay waited until Nic cautiously took his hand and gave it a shake.After he had, Clay grinned and leaned against the wall, gesturing at Rowan.Rowan rolled his eyes, and Nic wondered what the fuck was happening.
They made a stunning couple.Rowan was quiet, with dark hair and violet eyes.Clay, on the other hand, never seemed to stop fidgeting.His hazel eyes were bright, and the freckles on his nose made him look innocent.If he was Rowan’s mate, there was no way that he was.Nic was sure of that.
Tamsin was there, too.He’d given Nic an encouraging smile as soon as he walked in, but the fourth man, who’d been next to him, had elbowed him in the ribs, wiping the smile off his lips.Tamsin had glared at him, and Nic wished he could ask who the guy was and why he was bothering Tamsin.He didn’t feel he had the right to, though.He might be Tamsin’s mate, but Tamsin could handle himself, especially when it came to his people.
“You already know my mate, Rowan,” Clay continued.“And of course, you know Tamsin.The sour puss here is Dermot.Please ignore him.”
Nic blinked.Clay didn’t sound like he was talking to an enemy.He didn’t sound like he was talking to a prisoner, either.It was as if he found all of this perfectly normal when it was anything but.
“I’m not a sour puss,” Dermot argued.“You have to see that this is worrying.”
“What’s worrying is that Parrish is coming for us.I don’t know about you, but I want to defeat him, and I’m willing to do anything in my power to ensure that happens.”
