He nods once. “Be careful, Grim. You barely survived after Jordyn left. If your dragon mind-bonds with this nurse and she fucks off back to the Mainland after this ordeal ends, you probably wouldn’t survive it again.”
“I got over Jordyn quickly enough. I’m doing great.”
“You keep telling yourself that. You cut yourself off from everyone. You would still be holed up in your cabin if I hadn’t—”
“Fine. I was bad at first, but I got over it. I’m all good now.”
He rolls his eyes. “Whatever. Just watch yourself.”
“I will. Can we go back to Wren now?” I ask, and Drake nods.
We walk back together.
“Are you guys okay?” Wren asks, her eyes moving between us. She must sense the underlying tension.
“All good,” I tell her. “Sorry about that. Drake is a good friend. He worries…that’s all.”
“I understand,” Wren says.
“You said you had information for us.” I turn to Drake. “What is it?”
“Oh…yeah.” Drake nods. “I’m sorry…I got waylaid.” He glares at me before carrying on. “Your co-worker Ethan was killed. According to the media, he was fleeing the vaccination storage area when you swooped down and ate him.”
“Ate him?” I’m sure I have a disgusted look on my face. “I would never do such a thing.”
“They’re saying you tore him to pieces, leaving no trace of a body, just a puddle of his blood, which they’re airing together with the footage of you taking that chopper down.”
“They’re a bunch of assholes,” I growl.
“Poor Ethan.” Wren’s eyes fill with tears. “They probably lured him out of hiding and then shot him. I can’t believe it.” A tear tracks down her cheek.
I put an arm around her and give her a hug, but I cut it short when I see how Drake is looking at me…at us.
Fuck!
“Sally is still alive,” he announces next.
Wren staggers back. She makes a noise of disbelief. “What do you mean? I watched her get shot in the chest. It was serious. She was bleeding profusely and struggling to breathe. It was horrific.” She wipes a tear away.
“She must be one tough cookie because she made it.”
Wren laughs through her tears. “She is pretty stubborn and seriously tough.” She sniffs, wiping her face.
“Why would they let her live?” I ask. “It makes no sense that they would shoot her and then keep her alive.”
“The whole island is rallying for her recovery. They’re saying she survived against all odds. It’s their way of pitting the Draigpopulation against you, Grim. They’re using her. Right now, she’s more valuable to them alive. At least, that’s my best guess.”
“They’re saying I hurt her?”
Drake nods. “They’re saying that you used your tail to spike her in the chest and that you left her for dead.”
“All lies,” Wren says, her voice shrill.
“They won’t allow her to live,” I tell Drake. “You know that, right? Even if she starts to recover from her injuries, they’ll find a way to pull the plug so that she can never talk about what really happened.”
“I’m afraid you’re right,” Drake says. “She is in a bad way and may not survive from her injuries. Her prognosis is guarded at this point. I think they’re planning on doing everything possible to keep her alive until you are brought down. Then they’ll say she passed from her injuries. That way, everyone will be fine with your death. They’ll welcome it and say that you deserve it.”
“No.” Wren shakes her head. “They can’t do that.”
