“Of course not.” Conleth tweaked his immaculate cuffs. “I have twenty-eight suits. I rotate.”
Honey blinked at him. “That’swhy you work at the camp? Because of a vision?”
“Why else would I waste my summers here?” Conleth let out a put-upon sigh. “Though I’m beginning to suspect thatsomeoneis playing an extended practical joke on me.”
“Hey, sea dragon’s honor.” Joe put a hand on his heart. “Would I lie to you?”
Conleth flung him a look. “Yes.”
“I am insulted.” Joe waved an imperious hand at the pegasus shifter, adopting a haughty expression. “Seren, this man insults me. Defend my honor.”
“Defend it yourself, o treasure of my heart,” Finley’s mom said, her arm around her son. “I’m off duty.”
Joe looked wounded. “No one respects my royal authority.”
“Is hereallythe heir to a vast underwater empire?” Honey murmured to Buck.
“Yes, dog help us all,” Buck said. “And speaking of dogs, apparently you slept through all my safety briefings, Blaise. Lost one of your crew already?”
“He’s in the truck.” Blaise hesitated. “He… wasn’t sure you’d want to see him.”
“Hmph.” Buck raised his voice. “Fenrir! Get your furry ass out here.”
A pause.
Then a man ducked out of the back of the crew transport. He was almost as big as Ragvald, with unruly black hair and a heavy beard. His arms and shoulders were so thick with muscle, he probably could have picked up the whole truck and tossed it across the parking lot, if he’d been so inclined.
Yet there was something uncertain in the way he stood; head lowered, not meeting anyone’s eyes. His body language reminded Honey of a worried dog; wanting to approach, but fearing rebuke.
She’d never seen him before, yet she knew instantly who he was. It wasn’t from Buck’s stories, though he’d certainly told her a lot about his past. Even if she hadn’t known a single thing about the Thunder Mountain Hotshots, she still would have recognized this man.
It was a deep, primal sense of kinship, like being reunited with a long-lost sibling. The wolf in her knew him—by scent, by sight, by some inexplicable sixth sense. He was a hellhound, and more. He was the one who had bitten Buck.
Buck didn’t hesitate, striding toward the hellhound. The big man flinched, throat working nervously—and then froze as Buck clasped his arm.
“Thanks, Fenrir,” Buck said quietly. He pulled the hellhound into a quick, hard embrace. “For everything. I owe you more than I can ever repay.”
Fenrir let out a long breath, shoulders sagging in relief. “No debts, Man-Alpha. Pack is pack.”
“Had a feeling you’d say that.” Releasing Fenrir, Buck turned back to Honey. “Fenrir, meet Honey. Honey, Fenrir, not that I expect you need the introduction. If he calls you a bitch, he means it as a compliment.”
“Oh!” Edith’s hands fluttered in an odd, excited movement. “Fenrir, you have to tell us Honey’s pack name!”
Fenrir shook his shaggy head, glancing at Honey shyly. His eyes were a deep, warm brown, with coppery flecks. “Think she has to do that. She knows who she is. Doesn’t need anyone to tell her.”
On impulse, Honey hugged the hellhound. Stretching up on tiptoe, she whispered in his ear, “Thank you for saving him.”
“Was not me who did that.” Fenrir’s big, gentle arms briefly tightened around her. “Should be thankingyou.”
“Indeed,” Estelle’s dad said, smiling. “We’re all profoundly grateful to you, Honey. Though I’m afraid proper expressions of gratitude will have to wait until later. After two weeks away on a job, I’m eager to see my own mate again.”
“Me too.” Blaise tossed a set of car keys to Rory. “You guys get your kids home. I’m going to go to find Zeph.”
“And a shower too, I hope!” Conleth called as she headed for the center of the camp. He hurried after her. “Preferablybeforeyou walk into my office!”
Rory chuckled. “Come on, squad. Time for us to stop standing around stinking the place up. You ready to go, kids?”
“We’ll see you again soon, won’t we, Honey?” Estelle asked anxiously. “I mean, before next summer.”
