Page 18 of Dermot

“What happened?” Because even though Bastien barely knew Dermot, he could tell something had. Something had happened to all of them as the Kudlak grew stronger over the years and decades. Kudlak had decimated countless clans, killed endless families. It was a miracle some of them had survived. It was an even bigger miracle that some of them had started organizing clans again. It made them stronger to live together, but at the same time, it also made them more vulnerable.

“Kudlaks killed my entire clan,” Dermot said. He wasn’t looking at Bastien. “That’s a story a lot of us share, so I’m sure I don’t have to go into details. Some of the Krsnik who were supposed to protect us, the Krsniks we considered family, walked away. They were scared and didn’t want to die, so instead of fighting, they left us to die. That betrayal was almost worse than losing my family. They were people I’d always trusted in my life, only to be shown that I should’ve doubted them as soon as I needed them to protect me. I was on my own, and even though it felt like hell, I survived. It’s a miracle they didn’t kill me, too.”

If Bastien ever found out who these Krsniks were, he’d make sure they knew what he thought of their behavior. Their clans worked because Vila and Krsniks offered different things. Running instead of fighting was dishonorable, and it shouldn’t have happened. Bastien understood being afraid, he understood grief and hatred, but abandoning someone you’d promised to protect?

It didn’t make it easier for him to forgive Dermot, but it at least explained what Dermot had gone through. It explained why he didn’t trust Bastien, even though in theory, he should have.

“I know this doesn’t mean that all Krsniks are like that. I trust Rowan enough to be sure that if Parrish attacks the village, he’ll fight to the death to protect us.”

Dermot was saying the right words, but Bastien couldn’t help but wonder if he actually believed that all Krsniks were like that. Bastien couldn’t even blame him if that was the case. It was the example he’d been given. When he’d most needed Krsniks to protect him, those Krsniks had abandoned him. They hadn’t been trustworthy, so why would Dermot trust Bastien?

“I understand,” he said.

“Do you? I know you lost people, too, but were you betrayed by the Vila who lived with your clan? Did you watch them run away?”

“I don’t know what all of that felt like, but it doesn’t mean I don’t have empathy. I can understand that you’ve been betrayed by people you trusted without having lived through that myself. It explains why you kept your distance from me as much as you could.”

“I wasn’t trying to keep distance between us. I was just panicking.”

“Then maybe you should have talked to me.” Bastien sighed. “Look, I get it. I’m not going to blame you for something you can’t help, although I’d suggest you take a good look at yourself and your beliefs. You just said that you know not all Krsniks are alike, yet you behave like we are. I’m glad you told me about this, though. We’re going to have to work together to get my sister back, and it’s going to be easier to do that if we can actually talk to each other.”

“You have to trust Clay and Rowan. They will get Celeste back,” Dermot said, and he sounded convinced. He probably was, too, but Bastien couldn’t help but wonder.

What if it was already too late?

* * * *

DERMOT WASN’T SURE that Bastien had forgiven him, but at least he didn’t look like he wanted to strangle him anymore, which Dermot counted as a win. He knew he would have more groveling to do to get Bastien to accept him in his life, but now wasn’t the moment to think about that. They needed to get Celeste back, and while Dermot still wasn’t a hundred percent sure that she hadn’t left willingly, now that he’d had some time to think, he realized it didn’t matter. Even if she’d left to rejoin Parrish, considering what Parrish had put her through over the years, could she really be called willing? That wasn’t even considering the possibility that Rose was involved. Dermot hoped she wasn’t, but he didn’t think anyone would blame him for having wanted to trust her and help her. She’d been in a terrible state when she reached the village. Anyone would have wanted to do something for her, but maybe Dermot had been too trusting, or rather, maybe he’d trusted the wrong person.

He hadn’t been lying when he’d told Bastien that he knew not all Krsnik were the same. He trusted Rowan to protect him and the rest of the clan, even though Rowan was a Krsnik. At the same time, Dermot couldn’t deny that he was wary of most Krsnik. He couldn’t help but wonder when they would betray him and the clan.

But Bastien wasn’t just a Krsnik. He was Dermot’s mate, and that meant something, although Dermot wasn’t quite sure what yet. What he was sure of was that he wanted an opportunity to make things right, and he knew that would come with Celeste. From the little he knew about her, she would probably be happy to forgive him for what he’d thought about her. If she knew that Dermot was her brother’s mate, she would probably welcome him with open arms the way she had with Rose. It made Dermot feel guilty, but he told himself not to focus on that right now. The only thing he needed to focus on was finding Celeste, and he wasn’t quite sure where to start.

While Dermot and Bastien were talking, Rowan had taken his phone out and placed it on the counter. He’d dialed a number and was now talking to Dominic, the Whitedell pride alpha. It seemed like Clay had won the argument. The council would be involved, but it would be through the pride, not through the council members themselves.

“I agree that sending spies in would be a good idea,” Dominic said, his voice booming over the line. “But if he really has Celeste, she might not have that much time.”

“We don’t think he’ll kill her,” Rowan said.

“There are many ways to kill someone, and not all of them involve actually dying. Even if he doesn’t kill her, he’s going to hurt her, and from what she said, he’s definitely going to use her. Is that something you’re willing to risk?”

Rowan rubbed his forehead. “What do you suggest, then?”

Dermot cleared his throat. “We have the information Celeste gave us, right?” he asked. He hadn’t been part of those conversations because his main focus had been to protect the clan itself. He suspected that if Rowan and Clay hadn’t noticed that something was going on between him and Bastien, they would’ve asked why he was there. He might have wanted to know how Celeste had left the clan, but it really wouldn’t be that hard to figure out. The shield protected the clan from outside threats, but it didn’t stop clan members from leaving.

“We do,” Rowan confirmed.

“And I know Parrish, too,” Bastien offered. “I haven’t seen him in years, but I can probably help when it comes to knowing how he thinks.”

“I’m going to start getting my people together,” Dominic said. “I’m glad you contacted me, Rowan. Emory is part of my family, and I want him to be safe. Parrish is a danger to him and to you, and I don’t like the thought of him being allowed to hurt people the way he has been. I know that historically, the council has stayed out of Krsniks and Kudlaks business, but maybe that needs to change. There aren’t enough of you left to defend yourselves from all the Kudlaks out there, especially Kudlaks like Parrish. We should look into making you or another Krsnik a council member.”

Rowan looked horrified at the thought, which wasn’t a surprise. He’d always wanted a peaceful life. From the few conversations he and Dermot had had, Dermot knew that Rowan had never wanted to become a clan leader. The only reason he was one was that they’d needed someone to step up, and he had. He and Clay were good people, and they were dealing with this mess the best way they could, but neither of them had been trained to lead. Still, they were doing a good job, and Dermot didn’t want either of them to step down, especially not to become council members.

“We’ll talk about that another time,” Rowan said, clearly trying to change the subject.

Dominic laughed. “We will. It was just a suggestion, so if you have someone better in mind, you can let me know. I do think that you and your people need representation on the council, though. It would make it easier for you to deal with this kind of situation.”

“I’m not saying you’re wrong.”