“If they’re Vila shields, yes.”
“My mate lives in a village close to here.His clan leader is Rowan Harper.Parrish destroyed Rowan’s clan in the past, and Rowan was the only one who survived.Parrish wants to change that.He’s obsessed with Rowan and the thought of killing him.”
“Parrish is obsessed with killing everyone.”
Nic supposed that was true.“He’s going to kill Rowan if he can, and destroy the village and everyone who lives there.”
“Including your mate.”
Nic took a step forward.He knew that this wasn’t what Parrish had meant when he’d told his idiot minions to put him in the bedroom next to his.If Nic was lucky, Parrish wouldn’t realize what had happened until he had enough information from Celeste that he could use it.Hell, Parrish might go to bed without ever realizing where Nic was.Nic couldn’t afford to waste time, though.
“Including my mate,” he confirmed.“But with your help, I could save Tamsin.I could save the entire clan.”
“And I could die.”
She was right.If Parrish ever found out she’d betrayed him, hewouldkill her.Nic wasn’t sure what that would mean for Parrish and the bond he shared with Celeste, but he didn’t think that Parrish cared.He certainly didn’t care about his mate.He only wanted her for her magic so he could hurt people.
“I know you’re bonded to him, but once he’s dead, you can have a new life,” Nic said.“I’m not saying it wouldn’t be difficult.You’d have support, though.My people will come for me, and when they do, they can take you away, too.”
“Why would they?I’m their enemy’s mate.”
“You’re as much a victim of Parrish as I was until I left or as Rowan was.Hell, your situation is even worse.I don’t know how long you’ve been with Parrish, but I know him.He would’ve used every single second of that time to hurt you.I’m not saying that we’ll help you out of the goodness of our hearts.We’ll want answers to questions and as much help as you can give us.We might be your only chance to ever escape Parrish, though.Rowan is planning on killing him, and I believe he can, but not without you.”
“Those are nice words, but how am I supposed to trust them?How am I supposed to believe that you’ll truly help me?”
“I know better than anyone how cruel Parrish can be, but like I said, I wouldn’t be doing this for you.I’d be doing it for my mate.He’s nothing like Parrish.He’s a loving man that I don’t want to lose so soon after meeting him.He brightens my every day and makes me feel happy in a way I’ve never felt before, or at least I haven’t felt since I was six and I still had my parents.Tamsin is my home and my future.I would do anything for him.”
“Including sacrificing yourself?”
“Including that.”Nic would die for Tamsin.He hoped he wouldn’t have to, but he wouldn’t hesitate.
“Would you sacrifice me, too?”Celeste asked.
Nic hesitated, but in the end, he decided to be honest.“I’m sorry to say it, but yes.He’s my mate.I would kill for him as easily as I would die for him.”
Celeste watched him for a moment.Nic had no idea what she was thinking, but he hoped he hadn’t just fucked everything up.
* * * *
TAMSIN WANTED TO SCREAM.They weren’t moving fast enough.There was no way to know what Parrish was doing to Nic right now, but whatever it was, it couldn’t be good, and Tamsin needed to get to his mate as soon as possible.Instead, they were hanging around doing nothing, and he was losing his patience.
He eyed the Nix who’d just arrived.He knew the man wasn’t a council enforcer, so he was confused.
“You just need to be shimmered there and back, right?”Nysys asked.
Rowan stared at him for a moment before nodding.“That’s correct.”
“I can do that.”
“I’m sure you can, but I was hoping that whoever the council sent would be able to help us fight if the need arises.”
“You think I can’t?I’ve been learning how to fight.”
“I’m sure you have, but this isn’t an easy situation.”
“Right now, all of the council’s teams are busy.”
“Then maybe we should wait.”
