“A dragon does what it wants,” I tell her. “My dragon wanted to shift back. We got lucky.”
“That’s for sure.” Sally lets out a shaky breath. “You should never have shifted in the first place. It’s against the law for a reason, Grim. You could go to prison for that.”
“I know. I…lost it. I knew the two of you were in danger. Like I said, it won’t happen again.”
I act all calm, even though I’m freaking out all over again. The truth is that I didn’t just randomly shift back because my dragon wanted to.
I did it because Wren told me to.
Wren, who my dragon tried desperately to mind-bond with. My prick of a dragon. What the hell is his problem? Surely we’ve been fucked up enough for one lifetime? We don’t need that bullshit again.
I can still feel it. The moment in the parking lot when Wren’s voice cut through the rage and bloodlust. She reached my beast.
My dragon was clawing at her mind, desperate to bond. Desperate to make her ours.
And she kept him out.
Thank fuck she kept him out. I can’t imagine how painful that must have been for her.
She didn’t know what she was doing. Doesn’t understand what happened out there. She was just trying to calm me down,trying to reach the human part of me buried under all that feral instinct.
At least, I don’t think she knows.
I hope she doesn’t.
But the fact remains: my dragon tried to bond with her. I hate that. I don’t want it. It can never happen again.
I can never shift in her presence ever again.
Next time, I won’t get so lucky. Next time, my dragon won’t take no for an answer. Next time, we’ll bond, and then I’ll be right back where I started. Vulnerable. Broken. At the mercy of someone I can’t trust.
Make no mistake, I can’t trust Wren. She’s a human working for the Mainland. For all I know, she could be another spy like Jordyn. Hell, I can’t even trust most shifters these days.
I start pacing.
“What’s taking so long?” Sally asks. I don’t think it’s a real question. “I don’t like this, Grim.” Her voice hitches.
Neither do I.
If they don’t bring Wren back soon, I’m going to lose it, and then all bets are off. I might just shift again. I feel like I’m losing control of my beast.
I march up and down, forcing myself to breathe slower.
15
Wren
Kaine walks me down the hallway toward the pharmaceutical storage area. One of his males walks behind us. Not that he is needed. It’s not like I’m going to get away. Kaine’s grip on my arm is so tight that it’s hurting a little.
I try to focus on my breathing. I work on staying calm.
How did a perfectly normal day turn into this?
The hallway seems longer than usual. Each step feels like it’s taking forever. The helicopter is still overhead, circling above us.I really hope that Draig Security gives them what they want, so that we can go home.
We round the corner, and the pharmaceutical storage area comes into view.
Just as expected, Ethan’s monitoring station is empty. One of Kaine’s guys searched the center not so long ago. They would have him now if he had been here at his post.
