Chapter 29
Wren
We pull up next to Drake’s truck. My stomach is doing flips as I climb out of the vehicle.
I take a breath and look at the man standing beside the black truck.
So this is Councilor Drake.
He’s bigger than I expected. Especially considering he’s a desk jockey.
The male is tall with broad shoulders and a whole lot of muscle, even for a shifter.
He’s also very good-looking, with long, silky hair most women would kill for.
He could earn extra money from doing hair product commercials.
It falls past his shoulders and is dark with copper highlights.
He looks a little too straight and narrow for my liking, though. Too put together. Too polished.
I glance at Grim, who is scowling hard. His whole body is bristling with tension. His eyes are darker than ever, fixed on Drake with an intensity that would make me nervous if I didn’t know him. His hair is loose, wild about his shoulders. It’s messy, like the man.
Since when were bad boys my type?
Drake steps forward, and from the look in his eyes, it’s clear that he’s sizing up the situation.
“You must be Wren,” he says, his voice warm despite the circumstances.
“I am.” I manage a small smile, even though my nerves are shot. “It’s nice to meet you, Councilor Drake.”
“Drake is fine.” He glances at Grim. “How are you holding up?”
Grim grunts. “I’ve been better.”
Drake’s eyes shift back to me. “Tell me exactly what happened after the security forces raided,” Drake says, his expression turning serious. “The picture being painted is not very pretty, and I need to know the truth.”
Grim’s jaw clenches. “They came through the windows. All at once. Human males in combat gear carrying automatic weapons.” His voice is clipped. “They started shooting immediately. Didn’t ask questions. Didn’t announce themselves. Just started killing everyone.”
Drake’s expression darkens. “Humans? You’re certain?”
“Yes.” Grim nods once. “They didn’t move like shifters. Didn’t have our build or strength. They were human. I’m sure of it and armed to the teeth.”
Drake rubs the back of his neck. “That doesn’t make sense. There’s been no mention of humans in any of the reports. No mention of guns being used either.” He shakes his head. “Troops only recently arrived from the Mainland to help with the manhunt.”
Manhunt.
Crap!
Of course there’s a manhunt. They think Grim is a murderer. A rogue dragon who went into kill mode.
“What lies are they telling about me?” Grim demands, his voice low and dangerous. “What bullshit are they spouting?” he snorts. “Although I can guess well enough.”
Drake’s expression grows grim. “Your worst guess would be correct. They’re saying you shifted and went on a killing spree, first in the parking lot and then in the Vaccination Center. They’re saying that you lost control of your dragon and that you went after everyone in the clinic.”
“That’s not true!” The words explode out of me before I can stop them. Heat floods my face, anger replacing the fear. “They were all shot. Not killed by a dragon. All anyone would have to do is look at the bodies, and it would be clear to see what really happened.”
Drake holds up a hand. “I believe you, Wren. But the key evidence is being buried. Including any mention of anti-vaxxers. Their bodies, as well. Any evidence supporting their fabricated story is being spread far and wide.”
“What evidence?” Grim growls.
“The parking lot was ravaged by your dragon,” Drake says, his voice matter-of-fact.
“There is video footage of you. A male was incinerated. The roof was taken right off the Vaccination Center. A helicopter was taken down, killing one person and injuring three others.” He pauses.
“There’s footage of all of this, which is being shown on repeat by the media. ”
“They were going to kill us,” I say, my voice shaking with fury. “Grim didn’t have a choice. He shifted to protect me. To get me out of there.”
Drake’s eyes shift to me, then to Grim. “Your dragon was protecting Wren? Is that right?” When Grim doesn’t answer, Drake sighs. “I believe you both. I do. But the media are going to town with this. They’re saying that you were taken against your will. You’re believed to be dead, Wren.”
“I’m not dead.” I gesture at myself.
“Very clever,” Grim says, his eyes narrowed in anger. “That way, they can kill both of us and tell everyone that I killed you, Wren. Then come out like sweet-smelling roses for bringing me down in cold blood.”
“They’re bastards,” I say through gritted teeth. “Grim has done nothing wrong,” I tell Drake.
“I wouldn’t say nothing,” Drake says carefully. “You shouldn’t have shifted in the first place, Grim. They wouldn’t have anything on you if you hadn’t.”
“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?”
“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 here you are giving me a 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?”