“I’d be on your side even if we weren’t bonded.You have to know that.”
“I do.I understand why you’re worried.I can’t say that I’m not.I know Parrish well enough to be aware of what I’m getting myself into, but I really think this is the easiest way to solve this mess.I know how Parrish does things.I know where to find him.I can destroy him.”
Tamsin leaned back to look his mate in the eyes.“Not on your own, though.”
“I don’t think I could even if I tried, but I can find enough information to use against him.Besides, as much as I hate Parrish, I think Rowan should kill him.Parrish took way too much from him.”
“Parrish took way too much from you, too.He killed your parents.”
“Exactly.I lost two people.Rowan lost his entire clan.”
“This isn’t a competition as to who lost more people.Parrish ruined the lives of many of us.I don’t think he was there when my clan was destroyed, but he could’ve been.”
“You’d know if he had been.You wouldn’t be here to talk about it.A lot of Kudlaks are cruel and bloodthirsty, but he’s the worst of all of us.”
Tamsin cupped Nic’s cheek.“I wish you didn’t talk about yourself in the same terms as you talk about all the Kudlaks.”
“But I’m a Kudlak, too.There’s no denying that.”
“You’re nothing like Parrish or the Kudlaks who destroyed my clan.You might be a Kudlak, but you’re a good person.”Tamsin was convinced of that.Hell, he was convinced of it more than ever now that he could feel what Nic felt.He knew how achingly lonely his mate had been before.He still was sometimes, usually when he was watching Tamsin talk to other people.He longed for more connections, for a place that he truly could feel was his home, and since this was Tamsin’s home, Nic wanted it to be his, too.Tamsin understood why, but he still hated that Nic felt he had to do this on his own to obtain that.
He sighed and kissed Nic’s cheek.“Well, I guess it’s useless to fight about any of this right now since Clay and Rowan haven’t approved your stupid plan.”
There was a glint in Nic’s eyes, and for a moment, Tamsin thought he was going to continue arguing.Instead, he leaned forward and pressed their lips together.
It sent Tamsin’s heart racing.He leaned against Nic, wanting more, even though he wasn’t sure what he was ready for.
Everything, but part of him was also cautious.It felt like he could lose Nic at any second, and guarding part of his heart made him feel better about that.Losing Nic would destroy him, anyway, but having known how Nic’s hands felt on his body and not getting that again would be torture.As desperate as Tamsin was to link them together in any way he could, part of him was also terrified of doing so.He already knew that Nic wouldn’t be careful when they finally faced Parrish.He’d throw himself into the fight because he felt he had something to prove.Maybe he did, but not to Tamsin.Never to him.
“Why don’t we spend the evening on the couch watching that TV show you like so much?”
Tamsin saw this for what it was—a distraction.He wouldn’t change his mind about this being too dangerous, just like Nic wouldn’t change his mind about it being necessary for the clan to accept him and to protect Tamsin.
He huffed.“Fine.Which TV show, though?”
“The one you were talking about the other day.”
Tamsin squinted.“We arenotwatching the spinoff.It’s a bad copy of the original.”
“We’ll watch whatever you want.”
“As long as you know that this conversation isn’t over.I won’t let you sacrifice yourself.”
Nic didn’t say anything.He kissed Tamsin’s forehead and guided him toward the living room.Tamsin went, even though he had an uneasy feeling.
How could he not when Parrish was involved?
* * * *
NIC KNEW THAT WHAThe was doing was wrong, or at least, that some people would consider it wrong.He hadn’t been ordered to stay inside the village or not to cross the shield, though, which was why he only felt slightly guilty about doing just that.He wasn’t technically going against Rowan’s orders.Rowan had said that he’d think about Nic’s proposal, and Nic was sure that he would.There was no time to waste, though, so Nic wasn’t going to wait for his decision.At worst, Rowan would get angry and kick Nic out of the village.At best, Nic would find a way to defeat Parrish, and he’d be welcomed back with open arms.
Or maybe not.He doubted that Tamsin would want to be anywhere near him once he discovered what Nic was up to, but Nic was doing it for him, too.He would keep his mate safe, whether Tamsin liked it or not, and the only way Nic could do that was to sneak out and spy on Parrish.
So, here he was, out of the house he shared with Tamsin and walking toward the edge of the village.He knew where the shield stood.It was designed to keep people out, not in, so he shouldn’t have trouble getting out of the village.He wasn’t sure he’d be allowed back in, but that was a problem he’d deal with once it arose.For now, his focus was on finding Parrish and discovering what he was up to if he could.It was better if he didn’t think too hard about what would happen next.Nothing might, depending on whether or not Parrish found him while he was spying on him.
Nic moved quickly, afraid to be found out.He didn’t think anyone would believe him if they caught him and he tried telling them that he was sneaking out to spy on Parrish.They’d probably think he was escaping and returning to his master or something.It was what Tamsin’s friends believed, but Nic didn’t blame them.He was trying to prove himself to them by doing this, and he hoped it would be enough.He wasn’t sure what else he could do to show everyone here that he wasn’t on Parrish’s side.
He’d never truly been.He’d worked for Parrish because it was all he’d known.Parrish had raised him since he was a child, and he’d never had a safe place away from him or someone who would protect him.Nic hadn’t had anywhere to hide from him until now.
