“It’s true.” Ignatius’s scowl deepened. “This camp wouldn’t exist without his money. If my uncle knew there was a non-shifter here, he’d be furious. Someone must have found out Honey’s secret. That’s why she has to leave, before it gets back to him.”
“I guess ifyoucould figure it out, a whole bunch of other people could too,” Estelle said to Ignatius, not entirely graciously.
“This is great!” Beth exclaimed. At everyone else’s looks, she rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on, keep up. If this really is the only reason Honey’s leaving, it’s easy enough to fix. All Ig has to do is call his uncle and tell him that Honey has to stay.”
“Graaaaaw!” the bear agreed enthusiastically.
“It’s not that simple.” Ignatius twisted his ring back and forth on his finger. “You don’t understand how strongly my uncle feels about non-shifters.”
Claire’s forehead creased. “Why does your uncle hate people who can’t shift?”
Ignatius shook his head. “That’s not important right now. But trust me, it’s not going to be easy to change his mind.”
“But you can do it, right?” said Flora. “I mean, you’re always going on about how you’re his heir and everything. He’ll listen to you.”
Ignatius didn’t reply straight away. He stared down at his ring, rubbing his thumb over the dragon engraved on the gold.
“I… may have an idea.” The dragon shifter squared his shoulders, looking around at them all. “But I’m going to need everyone’s help.”
CHAPTER38
“Are yousureyou’re up to supervising the kids today, Buck?” Leonie asked. She cast an unhappy glance across the dining hall, at the empty chair where Honey usually sat. “Your pack could join mine this morning, if you, ah, need to take some personal time.”
He shook his head. “Rather keep busy. What’s on the schedule?”
Leonie kept her clipboard clamped tight against her chest, both arms wrapped around it. “Really, it’s no trouble. And you should talk to Honey before she leaves.”
“Already said everything that needs to be said,” he replied curtly. “Stop interfering, Leonie. Everyone’s done enough of that recently.”
Leonie winced, dropping her gaze. Buck felt a slight flicker of guilt—but it was distant, muffled by the blank silence filling his mind. He seemed to be having trouble feeling anything much this morning.
“Well…” Leonie consulted her clipboard. “I did have your pack down for a hike, but the kids caught me earlier. They seemed to have their heart set on going canoeing instead. I didn’t see any reason not to indulge them. With… everything that’s going on.”
“Sounds good. When does the new counselor get here?”
“Around midday.” Leonie did not look notably enthusiastic about this prospect. “And I’ll need to give her some basic orientation before we can put her to work. Are yousureyou can handle the pack on your own?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Buck swung round, lifting his voice. “Kids! Fall in. We’re going to the lake.”
The campers immediately scooted over, abandoning their barely touched breakfast plates. That was odd, since they usually fell on waffles like wolverines that hadn’t eaten for weeks. It didn’t seem important, though. Nothing seemed important, today.
“We’re going canoeing, right, Buck?” Estelle asked anxiously. “With Moira’s group? Leonie promised we could.”
He grunted in assent, and the kids let out a mass exhale, as though they’d all been holding their breath. They followed him out of the hall, trotting at his heels like attentive, obedient puppies.
That was odd, too. He’d been expecting tears and tantrums, or at least to have to pry them off Honey like barnacles from a rock. Yet there wasn’t so much as a single snarky comment as he led them down to the lake. They didn’t even ask to say a final goodbye.
He was vaguely aware that he should probably be feeling uneasy about this, but holding onto a thought felt like trying to grab a handful of fog. Besides, the silence matched his mood.
This pleasant numbness lasted right up until Ragvald strode out of the boathouse and, without the slightest warning, punched him in the face.
“Ragvald,no!”Moira yelled as Buck staggered back, head abruptly filled with nothing but pain. “What in the Sea are you doing?”
“My apologies, princess, but this is a matter of honor!” The huge man shook off her attempts to restrain him, advancing on Buck like an angry, mobile mountain. “To reject your own mate is the vilest of acts. He is an oath-breaker, a bringer of shame to this steading, unfit to teach our younglings!”
Buck spat out blood, ears still ringing. Ragvald must have pulled the blow, otherwise he would have been searching for his lower jaw right about now. He waited for the snarling surge of fury, for blessed darkness to rise up and swallow his conscious mind… but it didn’t come.
Typical. The one time he could have used its help, the motherloving monster was taking a nap.
