Parrish stared at Nic for a second before he laughed.“Family?You really think you have a family?These people hate you.They might be using you, but they’ll never actually want you around.”
“Some of us do,” Tamsin murmured.
Parrish cocked his head as he watched Tamsin.Nic was panicking, knowing what was going through his mind without Parrish needing to say it.
Parrish slowly smiled.It exposed his fangs.“Well, I’ll just have to kill thisfamilylike I killed the first one, right, Nic?”
Nic stared.The words didn’t make sense.Nic’s family had died protecting him.It was what Parrish had always told him.
But who had they been protecting him from?
He’d always assumed it had been Krnisks, and Parrish had never said otherwise.Why would he have when he’d been the one to kill them?How could Nic have never suspected that was what had actually happened?
Nic moved forward before he could think better of it.Parrish had killed his parents.He’d made Nic an orphan.He’d raised Nic in fear and hate.He needed to pay for what he’d done.
Someone grabbed him from behind.Initially, Nic thought it was only Tamsin, but he realized that a second person was hanging onto him.He wasn’t sure why Tamsin’s friend felt the need to make sure he didn’t hurt himself, but the man’s expression was grim as he stared at Parrish.He was clinging to one of Nic’s arms, making sure that Nic wouldn’t be going anywhere without dragging him along.
It was a leap of faith.He was betting that Nic wouldn’t pull him to the other side of the shield, and he was right.He didn’t know he would be when he’d grabbed onto Nic, though.
Parrish laughed again.The sound was cruel and cold.“They really do care about you,” he said.“I wish I understood why, but it doesn’t matter, does it?I’m going to kill all of you anyway.”He licked his lips.“And it’s going to be delightful.”He winked at Nic.“Tell Rowan I’ll see him soon, all right?”
Nic tried to move forward again, but Tamsin and the second Vila were still clinging to him.They didn’t let him get anywhere near Parrish, which was a good thing.If Nic had stepped foot out of the shield, Parrish would’ve killed him.That might not be why he was here, but he wouldn’t have wasted that kind of opportunity.
Their group watched Parrish as he turned away and walked in between the trees.The Kudlaks with him followed his lead, not one of them looking back as they left.Nic stayed tense until the last of them disappeared from sight.Then, he slumped forward, and the Vila let go.Tamsin didn’t, though.He moved so he could catch Nic, then lowered him down to his knees.He cupped the back of Nic’s head with one hand and pressed his face against his neck.“I’m sorry you had to find out about this,” he murmured.“He’s a monster.”
“He killed my parents.”
“He did, I’m really sorry.You have us now, though.I realize it’s not the same, but you’re not alone anymore.You’ll never be alone again.”
Nic believed him.Even if no one else wanted him here, Tamsin did.
“We need to warn Clay and Rowan,” one of the women said.
“You can do that without me,” Tamsin told her.“But don’t go on your own.”
The two women looked at each other and left together.Tamsin didn’t move to do the same, though, and neither did the man still standing with them.Nic didn’t know his name, but he should probably find out since the man seemed willing to accept his presence with the clan and as Tamsin’s mate.
“We should head back toward the village,” the man said.
“Give us one second,” Tamsin answered.
Nic shook his head.“I’m fine, and he’s right.We should head back.Clay and Rowan will have questions, and I don’t like staying here when Parrish could find us so easily.”
Tamsin cupped both of Nic’s cheeks and looked at him.“Even if he does, he can’t hurt us through the shield.”
“Not now, but knowing him, he’ll find a way.I just want to be away from him.”
“We’ll go, then.”
Both Tamsin and the other man helped Nic to his feet.Nic nodded at the man, thanking him.“I don’t even know your name.”
The man smiled.He looked like a typical Vila, with long blond hair and blue eyes.“I’m Gary.”
Nic blinked.“That’s a nice name.”
Gary laughed.“I know what you’re thinking, and it’s okay.A lot of people think that it’s not a very Vila name.My name is actually Garretson, but I feel it’s a mouthful, and Gary is much easier.”
“What do you want me to call you?”
