“Aren’t you listening? I didn’t have a choice,” Grim snarls, taking a step toward Drake.
“We’d be dead if he hadn’t shifted,” I insist. “Grim saved my life. If not for him…” My throat tightens…my chest, too, when I think about what happened to Sally. “It was awful,” I choke out.
“I get it.” Drake’s voice softens. He sighs, looking between us. “Once you got to safety, how did you keep your beast from killing Wren?” His eyes narrow on Grim. “How did you shift back? This isn’t making all that much sense.” He narrows his eyes on Grim, who doesn’t say so much as a word.
“I asked him to shift back, and he did,” I say. “It happened both times.”
I’m probably just imagining it, but Grim winces as I say it. The expression is gone so quickly that I’m not sure it was even there. He schools his features into that familiar scowl.
“My dragon didn’t shift back because you asked him to,” Grim says, his voice flat. “He shifted back because he wanted to. It’s as simple as that,” he adds, eyes on Drake.
I can’t get a read on the Councilor; his expression is schooled.
“Oh…um…of course.” I nod quickly, feeling like an idiot. Grim’s dragon didn’t listen to me…obey me. That’s absurd. “And boy, am I glad you shifted back when you did. My head was about to split in half.”
Drake’s eyes sharpen. “What was wrong with your head?”
“Nothing,” Grim cuts in before I can answer. “Can we get this conversation back on track, please? Are they still at the Vaccination Center? There might be crucial evi—”
“I need to speak with you, Grim,” Drake interrupts, his voice taking on a tone of authority. “In private.” He glances at me. “No offense, Wren.”
“I don’t mind,” I say, even though part of me wants to know what they’re going to discuss. “It’s fine.” I nod a few times, then force myself to stop.
“Do we really have to do this now?” Grim asks, looking agitated. His jaw is tight, and there’s something in his expression I can’t quite read.
“Yes,” Drake insists.
Grim growls something under his breath that sounds very much like a curse. Then he turns to me, his expression softening just a fraction. “We won’t be long.”
“It’s fine,” I tell him, watching as they walk away toward the tree line.
Once they’re far enough that I won’t overhear them, they start talking.
It’s clear from their body language that neither of them is happy. Drake’s arms are crossed over his chest. Grim’s hands are clenched into fists at his sides. They’re standing close, their conversation intense.
I watch them for a few more seconds and then turn away, giving them privacy, even though curiosity is eating me alive.
Whatever they’re discussing, it’s serious. And from the way Grim keeps glancing back at me, I have a feeling it has something to do with me.
Maybe Drake knows we had sex. He probably thinks that it will end up clouding our judgment or—
I need to stop this.
Whatever it is has nothing to do with me, or they would have included me in the conversation.
It’s going to be okay. We’re going to get my cellphone back and expose the truth. I refuse to believe anything else.
I turn around so that I don’t intrude…or drive myself mad with what they could be discussing.
Grim
I know exactly why Drake is so pissed, and he can go to hell. He’s the last person who is in any position to shit on me.
Once we’re far enough away, Drake turns to me. “This had better not be what I think it is.”
“It’s not,” I tell him, keeping my voice low.
“Bullshit, Grim.” His eyes bore into mine. “This female asked you to shift back, and you did…twice. Did I hear that right?”
