Page 26 of Dermot

“It is nice,” Dermot confirmed. “I’m still working on it, especially the yard, but it’s coming along.” And maybe, one day, it would become Bastien’s home, too. That was way too far ahead for Dermot to focus on, but he couldn’t help but wonder and maybe dream. As long as things with Celeste went the right way, Dermot was sure that he and Bastien could build themselves a future here. First, though, Dermot had to be honest.

“I’m really sorry about what happened with Celeste. I realize I played a part in it, and I don’t know how you’ll ever be able to forgive me, but I was wrong not to trust her and you. I was also wrong to trust Rose. None of this would’ve happened if I’d trusted the right people and if I hadn’t let my past impact my present. I’m really sorry about all of this.” Dermot hoped that Bastien would be able to forgive him, but he wasn’t sure he had the right to ask for that.

* * * *

BASTIEN WAS ACTUALLY glad he wouldn’t have to go back to Rowan and Clay’s house tonight. As grateful as he was to the two men, he needed some time to process what had happened, and doing so while they were sleeping in the next room—or doing other things that Bastien didn’t want to think about—wouldn’t be the best idea. He was sure they would be happy to have the house to themselves for at least one evening, maybe more, depending on how tonight would go. Even after what happened with Celeste, Bastien had high hopes for his relationship with Dermot, maybe even more so than he had before.

Dermot had apologized. He’d admitted he’d been wrong, both about Rose and Celeste, although Bastien wasn’t sure he had been entirely wrong about Rose. She did need a home and a place where she could be safe. Maybe the village could be that for her eventually. She probably wouldn’t come without her son, though, which was understandable. Bastien didn’t have children, but he could imagine what it was like. It had been enough for him not to know where his sister was for so long.

So maybe Dermot hadn’t been completely wrong, and since he’d apologized, maybe it was time for Bastien to do the same. He wasn’t sure he wanted to do so in the middle of the street while they were walking, though, so he waited until they reached Dermot’s small house.

He recognized it. He hadn’t looked at it very well when he’d been here right after Celeste had disappeared, and he couldn’t see much since it was dark, but it was cute and very Dermot-like. It was unassuming, but Bastien was ready to bet that inside was a completely different story. Dermot hadn’t been living here that long, but from the yard, it was clear that he’d already made the place his.

“You don’t have to decide now where you want to sleep,” Dermot said as he opened the door. “If you want the bed, I can sleep on the couch.”

“I thought we needed to talk, yet here you are, already trying to get me into your bed,” Bastien teased.

It was worth it to see the pink rise on Dermot’s cheeks. It made Bastien wonder if Dermot also got pink on his chest, and he suspected he might find out tonight.

But first, they did need to talk.

“I’m not trying to get you into my bed,” Dermot argued. “I’m just telling you that if you don’t want to spend the night on the couch, you’re welcome to use my bed. We don’t have to share or anything. I know that you’re still angry at me.”

Bastien sighed. He looked around, wondering if it would be better to do this in the living room or in the kitchen. He didn’t know where the kitchen was, but he could see the couch from the entrance, so he grabbed Dermot’s hand and dragged him that way. He smiled when Dermot squeaked but followed him without arguing.

“Let’s talk,” he said, pushing Dermot down onto the couch. “I appreciate the fact that you’ve apologized and admitted you were wrong about my sister. I’m not sure you were wrong about Rose, but that’s something we might never find out. I don’t know if she’ll be back, and frankly, I don’t care. Even though she did what she did because Parrish had threatened her son, as sorry as I feel for her, it doesn’t mean I’ll forgive her. She took my sister and handed her back to the man who’d tortured her for years and who’s going to do it again and again.”

Bastien paused and licked his lips. He was trying very hard not to think about what was happening to Celeste right now. If he did, it made him want to scream and cry at the same time, and possibly to go out there and try to find her.

He wouldn’t. Parrish was too smart. He also wouldn’t kill Celeste, which was a good thing, but Bastien wondered how much pain Parrish could inflict on her anyway. Probably too much, which meant that Bastien needed to find her as soon as possible.

He was lucky not to be doing this on his own, but he wasn’t sure it would be enough, anyway. He wanted to think so, especially now that he and Dermot were finally clearing things up. If there was truth to the saying that mates met each other when they most needed it, then Bastien hoped it meant that Dermot would be instrumental in getting Celeste back.

“I don’t think she expects you to forgive her, or that she expects Celeste to,” Dermot said. “But I understand why she did it. We can blame her while still feeling for her.”

“I don’t want to talk about Rose right now.”

“What do you want to talk about, then?” Dermot’s voice trembled slightly.

Bastien flopped down on the couch next to him. They were close, their sides pressed together, and Bastien enjoyed it. He’d wanted this type of closeness from the beginning, but Dermot hadn’t. He’d been the one to put space between them.

Not tonight.

It was clear that whatever had been going on in Dermot’s mind, it was gone. He’d broken through the worry and the wariness, which was exactly what Bastien had wanted. He wished it hadn’t come at the cost of his sister, but none of that was Dermot’s fault, even though he clearly blamed himself for it.

Bastien reached over to take Dermot’s hand. Dermot was startled, but he didn’t pull away, and Bastien took advantage of that, linking their fingers together. He squeezed, then tried to find the right words. “I understand what you’ve been through. I understand why you felt the need to trust Rose as much as you did and to advocate for her. In the end, she really did need our help. It’s unfortunate that she didn’t tell us her entire story, but I understand why she didn’t. I don’t blame you for what happened, though.”

“How can you not? It’s my fault she was taken.”

“It’s not. It’s Rose’s fault. I know you insisted on Rowan and Clay letting her in, but I’m pretty sure they would have even if you hadn’t. They’re the kind of people who want to help, and she clearly needs that help. Besides, I find the way you reacted sweet. I’d want someone like you to advocate for my sister if she’d been in Rose’s place. Hell, she has been in Rose’s place.”

“I didn’t want her in the village. I don’t know why you’re trying to paint me as better than I am, but you should stop.”

“I’m not trying to do anything,” Bastien said as he shook his head. “I see you. I saw what you did and how you behaved with my sister. I know that you don’t like her, and I even understand why. Like a lot of people, you lost your clan to Kudlak. She’s bonded to a Kudlak, so of course you’re wary of her. She doesn’t have the advantage of the friendship you and Tamsin share. Even though you don’t trust Tamsin’s mate, you know Tamsin, and you know he won’t ever hurt you. The same can’t be said for Celeste.”

“I know she won’t hurt me. She wouldn’t hurt a fly,” Dermot muttered. “I would have seen that right away if I’d given her a chance, but I didn’t. I let what I thought about Kudlak taint the way I saw her.”

“And you probably weren’t completely wrong. We know that Parrish is using her and her magic. We knew that was what he’d do as soon as he got his hands back on her. But you have to understand that my sister isn’t defined by her mate. He’s mistreated her and has hurt her for years. As much as she wanted to leave, he’s her mate, and I’m sure that even though you and I aren’t bonded yet, you can feel how strong the pull is sometimes.”