“Hurting as many people as he can,” Nic answered right away.“I also don’t think he knows we’re aware of his mate bond.He might not even realize that I know about his mate.She’s not a secret exactly, but most people don’t know who she is to Parrish.I do because he raised me, and he wasn’t always careful about what he said around me, especially when I was younger.”
“He never thought of hiding her from you?”
“He probably never thought I’d wonder who she is.Even if I did, I doubt he’d think I’d find her interesting.”
“Let’s go over what happened today again,” Rowan said.“I want to hear Nic’s point of view.”
Tamsin did, too.As much as he hated that Nic had to go through this, he really was the person here who knew Parrish best.He might be able to give them some insight into Parrish’s behavior.
Or maybe they didn’t need that insight.Did it really matter why Parrish was doing this?As far as Tamsin was concerned, the only thing that mattered was that he was doing it.Like Nic had said, Parrish wanted to hurt as many people as possible.Initially, he’d been coming for Rowan because he wanted to kill the entire Harper clan, and Rowan had survived.But now, Rowan had a new clan.Parrish wanted them gone.It was like a game to him.
A deadly game.
Tamsin moved closer to Nic as he spoke.Their hands brushed together, and when Tamsin linked their fingers together, Nic gave him a grateful smile.He didn’t stop talking, but it was clear that the handholding made him feel better, and that was all Tamsin wanted.He couldn’t do anything about Parrish, but hecouldcomfort Nic to the best of his ability.
“How different was it?”Rowan asked, suddenly talking to Tamsin.
Tamsin blinked.“I’m sorry.I was distracted.”
Rowan arched a brow.“That’s understandable.Gary said that he and Este could only feel a Vila’s magical signature, but you said it wasn’t clear, and since Parrish was there, I tend to agree.”
“I could definitely tell it wasn’t a Vila, even though the magical signature was that of one.There was something more to it.”
“Maybe the bond with Parrish?I wonder if your magical signature would still feel like yours if Gary, Este, and Anita were to analyze it.”
Tamsin wasn’t sure why he’d never thought about that before.“Probably.We should try, though.”
Rowan nodded.“But not today.You should take Nic home.”
“I know this needs to be handled with care,” Nic argued.“But I lived with Parrish for almost twenty years.I know exactly what kind of monster he is, and I’m used to it.We can do it now.”
“We can, but we won’t.No matter what Parrish is, I’m not like him.You just found out that he killed your parents and lied to you for twenty years.I think you deserve the afternoon off.Besides, Gary confirmed the shield is holding.Even if Parrish tries to get in again, he won’t be able to.For now, there’s nothing any of us can do.”
Nic looked like he wanted to argue.Tamsin understood why.He was desperate to stop Parrish and to avoid losing a second family, but Rowan was right.There was nothing any of them could do right now.
Tamsin squeezed Nic’s hand.Nic glanced at him, and when Tamsin cocked his head, Nic seemed to give in.His shoulders slumped, and he nodded.“All right.”
Rowan nodded, clearly satisfied.“Go home.We’ll talk again soon.”
Because, unfortunately, they wouldhaveto talk about it.It was the only way to defeat Parrish.
Chapter Five
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NOW THAT THEY KNEWfor sure that Parrish was hanging around the area, trying to get into the village, Nic felt the need to do more.It wasn’t his fault that Parrish was here or that he’d targeted the village, but he still felt responsible.At the same time, he hoped that doing something about Parrish would get the other clan members to accept him.It was probably a stupid idea, but he didn’t know what else to do, and Parrish needed to be taken down, anyway.Nic could do it, right?
He wasn’t sure he could.He wanted nothing more than to redeem himself in the eyes of everyone in the village, but he also wanted to protect Tamsin and Devon.Parrish was a danger to both of them, which meant he needed to go.Nic had no idea how to make that happen, but he’d been thinking about it.He’d been thinking about little else since Parrish’s visit to the shield.Parrish’s words still ran through Nic’s mind, and he’d be lying if he said that he didn’t want revenge for his parents and himself.
“I can’t confirm that Tamsin’s magical signature is different,” Gary was saying.
A bunch of people were sitting in Rowan and Clay’s living room.Gary was there, and every time he looked at Nic, he smiled.It was a nice change from the way Dermot glared at Nic every time he glanced his way.Dermot looked like he wanted to kill Nic, but unfortunately for him, Nic was in his life to stay.Nic and Tamsin were bonded.He wasn’t going anywhere.
He still felt guilty about that.At the same time, he was glad he was bonded to Tamsin.He hadn’t felt like he belonged anywhere the way he did now in years.
Unfortunately for him, being bonded also meant that Tamsin could feel what he was feeling.
Tamsin leaned closer, a frown on his face.“Why are you so anxious?”
