“That’s not how it happened.”
“It is, according to Wren.” Drake crosses his arms over his chest. “Why was her head about to split in half? What was that? I have an idea of what it was, but I’d like to hear from you.”
I shrug, looking away. “I don’t know. It isn’t what you think. Can we drop it, please?”
“Your dragon saved her and protected her. Did I hear that correctly? That’s not how a feral dragon behaves. That’s not normal. Be honest with me, Grim.”
“Fine!” I practically yell, my frustration boiling over. “My dragon tried to mind-bond with her twice, but thank fuck she wouldn’t let him,” I tell Drake under my breath.
His expression shifts. “So he did listen to her when she asked him to shift back?”
“Yes, he did.”
“She doesn’t know about any of this?”
“No.” I shake my head. “She doesn’t need to know because we never actually bonded. I don’t plan on shifting again. She need never know. I would prefer it that way.”
“You shouldn’t have shifted like that in the first damned place.” Drake starts to pace.
“You’re one to talk.” I narrow my eyes at him. “You shifted illegally to save Harlow. You accidentally bonded with her, and yet hereyouare givingmea lecture.”
“That was different.”
“You’re right; it was different.” My jaw clenches. “Wren and I didn’t actually mind-bond. You and Harlow did. Spare me the lecture.”
He stops pacing and looks at me hard. “You’re sure about that? You two seem quite tight to me.”
“Very fucking sure, and we’re not tight.”
“You’re not just saying that to appease me?”
“No…fuck! Can we drop this already and move on to more important things? We did not bond. We happen to be in this together.”
“Do you have feelings for her?”
“No,” I tell him. “I like her well enough, but not like that.”
He smirks at me. “So you’re just friends then?”
I nod, unable to say the word out loud. I can’t really classify us as friends anymore. I have no clue what we are, but after having my dick so deep inside her, friendship isn’t it.
“Can we move on to more important things now that you’ve run me through the wringer?”
“I’m trying to help you, Grim. I need all the facts in order to do that.” His expression turns serious. “If you end up in bed with her, you absolutely can never shift around her again, or youwillmind-bond with her. You know how that goes.”
I nod.
“Keep your dick dry and stay in your human form.”
I sigh and groan, getting frustrated even though he’s making a valid point.
“What is the plan?” he asks me.
“I would rather include Wren in this part of the conversation.”
His eyes narrow. “Why?”
“It’s not because I’m fucking her…or bonded to her in any way.” I meet his gaze. “It’s because she’s up to her eyeballs in this and deserves to be a part of this discussion.”
