That made Nic curious, but as he grabbed Dasha’s arm, he realized he didn’t really care.He leaned down, sinking his fingers into Tamsin’s fur, holding onto him tightly as he waited for them to be shimmered away.It would take just a few seconds.
He looked up right before they left.Parrish had gotten to his feet, and he had an expression Nic had never seen on his face.When Nic realized that Parrish wasn’t looking at him but rather at Celeste, he understood what was happening.
Parrish hadn’t thought anyone would reach Celeste.He probably still didn’t realize that his two goons had put Nic in her room rather than the one on the other side of Parrish’s bedroom.He’d thought she would always be his prisoner and that he’d be able to continue using her until he didn’t need her anymore, but she was gone.Nic, Rowan, and the others were taking her away.
Nic was glad he wouldn’t be around to see Parrish’s no doubt explosive reaction.
* * * *
THE WORLD LURCHED ASDasha shimmered them home.One moment, they were standing in front of Parrish’s hideout, and the next, Tamsin’s feet hit the ground in front of Rowan and Clay’s house.His stomach rolled a little, but Nic’s grip on him never loosened.
“Thanks, Dasha,” Rowan said somewhere behind them.
Tamsin barely heard him.All his focus was on Nic.He needed to check him over for injuries, so he shifted back to his human form before he remembered that meant he’d be naked in front of everyone.He wasn’t a shifter so that wasn’t something he’d ever had to deal with.
“That’s more than I ever wanted to see of you,” Dermot grumbled.
Luckily, they were in front of Rowan and Clay’s house.It took Clay just a few moments to grab a blanket from an armchair on the porch and throw it at Tamsin, who wrapped it around his shoulders, happy to hide his body.He still needed to check in on Nic, though.He was alive and whole, but Tamsin needed to be sure he was okay.
He could have died.
The thought made Tamsin’s hands shake as he reached for his mate.
“We should go inside,” Clay said, already moving again.“It’s late, and we should all go back to bed.Celeste, you can stay with Rowan and me for now.There’s a lock on all the bedroom doors.”
Tamsin felt Nic tense beside him.He wondered if Nic wanted to go along to make sure that Celeste was settled.It was sweet, but Tamsin’s patience had been stretched thin over the past few hours, and it finally snapped.
“No.”His voice came out rougher than he intended.He grabbed Nic’s hand.“You’re coming with me.”He wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Nic blinked at him.“Tamsin, I should—”
“Now.”Tamsin didn’t wait for agreement.He started walking, pulling Nic along with him toward their own home a few houses down the street.“She’ll be fine.You know that Clay and Rowan won’t hurt her and won’t let anything happen to her.She’s within the shield, so Parrish can’t get to her, and we’re all exhausted.It’s time for everyone to go to bed, including you.”
Behind them, he heard someone chuckle, and Rowan say, “Let them go.Nic’s fine, and we can talk tomorrow.”
Fine.Tamsin kept thinking about that word as he dragged Nic home.WasNic fine?Physically, he might be, but there was no way for Tamsin to know what Parrish had said to his mate, and words could be as hurtful as fists.Besides,finedidn’t account for the terror that Tamsin had felt, both his and the fear that had coursed through his bond with Nic.Tamsin would never forget it.He didn’t see how he could.
They finally got home.The door closed behind them with a soft click that sounded loud in the silence of the house.
“Tamsin—” Nic started, but Tamsin turned to face him.He could feel his magic leaking out, and he didn’t want to blow out the windows like he had Clay and Rowan’s, so he took a deep breath to settle himself.
“What were you thinking?”The words burst out of him.“You snuck out.You went to spy on Parrish alone, without telling me, without backup—”
“I had to—”
“You could have been killed!”Tamsin’s voice cracked.He pressed his palms against Nic’s chest, feeling the steady thump of his heartbeat.Nic was alive.He was here.“I could feel your fear through the bond, Nic.I couldfeelit.”
Nic’s expression softened.He covered Tamsin’s hands with his own, trapping them there.“I’m okay.Tamsin.I’m okay.”
“By some miracle.”Tamsin pulled his hands away.“You know how much you risked.You don’t need me to tell you.”
“But I was lucky.Parrish’s goons threw me in the wrong bedroom.I spent most of the time talking to Celeste.”
The way Nic dismissed the danger made anger flare in Tamsin’s chest.“You don’t get it, do you?It doesn’t matter that you weren’t hurt.Youcouldhave been.Parrish could have—” He couldn’t even finish the sentence.
“But he didn’t.”Nic stepped closer, crowding into Tamsin’s space.“I’m right here.”
“This time.”Tamsin met his mate’s gaze, letting Nic see the fear he felt.It wasn’t as strong as it had been when Nic had been with Parrish, but Tamsin would never forget what had happened tonight and how he’d felt.“What about next time?What if I can’t get to you fast enough?What if—”
