“Grim didn’t know that he would make it through another break when he mind-bonded you,” Drake tells me. “He knew you would probably hate him when the truth came out. That you would want nothing to do with him. That he would be fucked and probably die. He knew, and he mind-bonded you anyway.”
“I don’t get it.” I shake my head. “You just told me he isn’t going to die, and now you’re saying he is. Which is it?”
“He’s due for his vaccination right now. He won’t have it, which means he won’t stay feral. It also means he’ll be more in touch with his beast. That will allow him to get through this. It’ll still be a long road. He’s broken. I saw him yesterday and…” He shakes his head. “He didn’t know any of this beforehand, andhe still bonded with you. He didn’t know that a broken bond wouldn’t be as severe, but he still jumped in because that’s what Grim does. That’s who he is. He did it to save you, Wren.”
“And Falkor…andhimself,” I fill in.
“He did it to saveyou. If you don’t see that, you’re a fool.”
“Excuse the hell out of me.” Heat floods my face. “I think you’d better go. Grim might be good and all that, but he isn’t right for me. I can’t be with…someone like him.”
“A liar?” Drake asks.
“Yes.” I lift my chin. “I can’t. He lied more than once. I promised myself never again. I’m sticking to that promise.”
“He lied for a good reason,” Drake says.
“What? Because you forbade him from telling me?” I roll my eyes. It’s bullshit, and he knows it.
“That’s not why he lied. Not even close.” Drake’s eyes are steady on mine. “I think you know why. You know deep down inside. I think you walked away just as quickly for the same reason. You’re both in denial.”
“About what, exactly?” I demand.
“Nope. You have to figure that out for yourself.”
“What’s with the cryptic bullshit?” I ask, putting my hands on my hips.
“You’re just as defensive as he was. You can’t put it all on him; that isn’t fair.” Drake moves toward the door. “It was nice seeing you, Wren. Sign those papers. I’ll tell Grim you don’t want his money.”
He opens the door and leaves before I can say another word.
I’m still standing there with my mouth gaping.
I have no idea what to make of that.
He said I’m in denial. About what?
I’m pretty sure Drake has it all wrong. No, he definitely has it wrong. I’m not in denial about anything.
Grim lied more than once. He told me that I meant nothing to him. He let me walk away. The end. There’s nothing more there.
If Drake thinks I’m going to go and throw myself at Grim’s feet, he’s sorely mistaken. It isn’t going to happen. If he came to my door, I’d slam it in his face.
I’m done.
49
Grim
Drake is an asshole.
My mind is made up. He’s a total prick. He could have sent someone else to do this. He knew I would drag my ass off my sofa. He knew I wouldn’t be able to tell him to fuck off. Not when it comes to helping Falkor. I’d do just about anything for that old male.
I sigh as I pull up at Eldra’s house. Falkor didn’t end up going to a hotel. Eldra invited him to stay until they finishedfixing his house, and that day has come. Unfortunately, his old Camry didn’t survive my dragon. The Mainland is donating a new vehicle to him. It hasn’t arrived yet, so here I am.
Falkor walks out as soon as I get out of my SUV. He waves at me as he walks over.
I try to smile, but it reminds me of before, when I was trying to make friends, so I stop. I’m sure it’s terrible. I don’t want to scare him. Actually, it’ll likely make him laugh at me. The thought makes me think of Sally, and I feel a pang. She was off with me when I went to visit her again. I think that she and Wren must have had a talk. It’s clear that Sally is siding with Wren, and rightly so.
