“Yes.”
“You aren’t angry that you claimed her.”
“No.”
“You were just frustrated with how it happened.”
“The mating should be special,” I say. “And it should be something that everyone is ready for.”
“What makes you think she wasn’t ready?”
“I don’t know if she was ready because she left before we could talk about it.”
Foxy leans against the doorway and crosses her ankles. She looks at me as though she’s trying to decide whether or not to tell me something. Finally, she makes up her mind.
“Look, there’s a lot you don’t know about Meredith.”
“I know.”
“No, man, you don’t know. After she lost her mom, she was a mess. The whole town was. The way people treat you at the clinic?” She shakes her head. “That’s nothing. After the...incident...everyone changed. People got closed off and mean and just...cold. Claw Valley used to be a wonderful place full of love and happiness and comfort and, I don’t know how to explain it. Everyone just got dark.”
“Including Meredith.”
“Especially Meredith. Robert, her being with you is nothing short of a miracle. I’ve never seen her happy the way she is with you. There’s something about you that just gets her. She’s different when she’s with you. She’s happy.”
“Not anymore.”
“You can salvage this.”
“Can I?”
“I think so. There’s a part of her that wants you, too. Don’t you think?”
“I don’t know what to think.”
“Well, you don’t have much time to decide,” Foxy says. “Because your meeting with the dragon is tomorrow at noon, so I suggest you figure things out before then.”
Chapter 13
Meredith
“What
did he say?” I turn around as soon as Foxy walks into the room. I’ve been fidgeting, worried, since she left. This entire situation is so messed up that it doesn’t seem possible for it to get any messier.
She shrugs, hangs her jacket on the coat rack, and then looks at me.
“Not much,” she says. “But I think the two of you need to talk.”
“No,” I shake my head. That’s the last thing I need.
“Suit yourself. I’m sure he’ll go with you to see the dragon, but you have to decide whether that’s something you really want.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh, come on. Don’t play coy with me. That won’t work and you know it.”
I swallow hard. I know exactly what she’s getting at. Robert is the coolest guy I’ve ever met, maybe ever. There’s more to him than meets the eye. He might be an outsider, but he’s more than that.