“There’s the final call,” Honey said as Leonie’s whistle split the air. With some difficulty, she peeled Flora off Buck. “Off you go, everyone, before the bus leaves without you.”
In a final babble of tearful goodbyes and last minute hugs, Flora, Claire, and Archie joined the kids heading for the parking lot. Honey kept waving right to the end, until they were out of sight at last.
“And there’s my ride,” Ignatius said, looking up as a dragon swept overhead—not Lord Golden, but a smaller, green-scaled beast. “I’d better go too.”
“Is that your mom?” Honey asked. “I’d like to meet her.”
“No, just one of my uncle’s betas. My mom wanted to pick me up, but my uncle needed her to do something overseas.” Ignatius slung his backpack over his shoulder. He gave them all a stiff, awkward nod. “Well… goodbye, then.”
“See you, kid,” Buck replied. “You sure you going to be all right?”
Ignatius considered this for a moment. Then he dipped his chin in a nod.
“Yes.” His eyes flicked to Rufus. “Yes, I think I am.”
The griffin shifter grinned back at him. He bumped Ignatius with his shoulder.
“Rufus says,” Finley started.
“I know,” Ignatius interrupted. The slightest of smiles cracked his aristocratic reserve. “See you all next summer.”
“Yeah, whatever.” Estelle gave Ig a dismissive wave as he headed off. She lowered her voice. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m gonna miss having him around. It’s been kinda nice not being the only person who can’t shift.”
“Estelle, you two fightall the time,” Beth said. “You didn’t even say goodbye properly!”
“Well, obviously.” Estelle rolled her eyes. “I don’t want Ig to think Ilikehim or anything.”
Finley looked round at the now mostly empty square. “I guess I should go find Moira and Ragvald. We’re taking the Sea Gate back to Atlantis. Estelle, is your mom coming to pick you up?”
“No, she’s busy with some horse thing,” Estelle said, pulling a face. “I’m getting a lift with Beth.”
Honey checked her watch. “What time is your mom due to arrive, Beth?”
“She should have been here already,” Beth said, frowning. “It’s not like her to be late. Hang on, I’ll see if I can sense her. If she’s turned onto the road up to the camp, she should be within my range.”
Beth closed her eyes, her face settling into a look of intense concentration. For a long moment, she just stood there, head cocked as though trying to make out a faint, faraway sound... and then, without warning, she shrieked.
“Beth?” Honey said in alarm, but the girl was already pelting toward the parking lot. Exchanging a puzzled glance with Buck, Honey followed, along with the others.
The reason for Beth’s excitement soon became obvious. A big, boxy vehicle was bumping up the road toward the camp, sending up a cloud of dust.
Honey knew what it had to be, even before the vehicle got close enough for her to read the words painted along the sides. She could tell from the way Buck stiffened; the sudden tension in the mate bond.
“You okay?” she murmured.
He didn’t respond for a moment, his eyes fixed on the approaching vehicle.
“Yeah.” His hand found hers, gripping tight. “Come on. I want you to meet everyone.”
All four firefighter kids had already rushed to meet the crew truck, waving their arms and hollering. It stopped in front of the camp. Through the settling dust, Honey could make out the logo and words on the side: THUNDER MOUNTAIN HOTSHOTS.
“Dad!” Estelle yelled, pelting for the truck as the doors opened. “Dad!”
A handsome man in dirty, soot-stained firefighter gear jumped down from the truck to catch her in his arms. His white-blond hair wasn’t quite as colorless as Estelle’s silvery locks, but the family resemblance was unmistakable. Estelle clung to his neck, babbling at a mile a minute.
“Mom! Dad!” Finley exclaimed, as two more firefighters emerged—a pale, lean woman with braided gray hair, and a towering, grinning black man. “Why didn’t you tell us you were coming?”
“And spoil the surprise?” Finley’s dad swept him up in a bear hug. “What would be the fun in that?”
