“I didn’t mind,” Honey whispered in one round ear. Giving the cub a last hug, she reluctantly let Buck haul him off. “But I think you’d better transform back now. Otherwise, you won’t be able to tell me your name.”
The air around the cub shimmered. An instant later, a small boy dangled from Buck’s hand, hair mussed and clothes askew.
“I’m Archie!” the boy announced, beaming from ear-to-ear. “And I’m a BEAR!”
“So we gathered.” Buck lowered his arm, dropping the boy back to his feet. “At least you aren’t bare. Go find your shoes, kid.”
“I’ll help,” Finley said, coming forward. He scooped up a discarded sock, handing it to Archie. “Hello, I’m Finley. I think I can see one of your shoes over there.”
Pulling up his shorts, Archie trotted after the other boy. Looking round, Honey discovered that a few more children had already joined their group, much less dramatically. A dark-haired girl was carefully printing her name on a sticker under Beth’s direction. Another girl with an illegible name tag haphazardly stuck to her t-shirt was talking a mile a minute with—or more accurately, at—Rufus and Estelle.
Honey got to her feet, brushing off the seat of her shorts. “So far so good,” she murmured to Buck.
“For a certain value of good that includes being flattened by an unexpected bear,” he muttered back. “And you were lucky he didn’t turn out to be something a whole lot bigger. Next time, dodge.”
Leonie’s whistle sounded again, making all heads turn in her direction. “Okay, packs! Hopefully you’ve all found each other by now. Any stragglers, come see me and I’ll get you sorted out. Now, I’m sure you’re all hungry after your journey. Counselors, if you’ve got everyone, lead your packs over to the dining hall. It’s snack time!”
An enthusiastic cheer met this announcement. Counselors started herding their campers across the square, lining up to file into the hall. Honey scanned their own group, performing a quick head count.
“I think that’s everyone,” she said to Buck. “Shall we—”
A muffledboomlike a distant thunderclap interrupted her. Something swept overhead, blocking out the sun. Honey looked up, and her jaw dropped.
It was a dragon.
Its scales were bright gold, glittering like polished coins. From nose to tail tip, it must have been at least the length of two school buses parked end to end. As it swept round in a tight circle, the wind from its wings blew grit into Honey’s eyes. She would have put up a hand to shield them, but she was too busy gawping.
Buck’s hand closed on her elbow, hard enough to make her start.
“Shut your mouth,” he muttered. He raised his voice, directing his words at their campers, who were also staring up at the dragon with avid interest. “You all look like frogs on a log. Put your eyes back in your heads. It’s just a dragon.”
“I’ve never seen a real dragon shifter before,” Archie breathed.
“Lucky you. Wish I could say the same.” Buck herded the kids together like a cranky sheepdog with a particularly stupid flock. “Come on, into a line now or the other kids will grab all the good snacks. Follow Honey and she’ll lead you to your table.”
Honey started to step toward the kids, but Buck’s fingers tightened on her arm. He held her back, stooping a little to put his mouth right by her ear.
“Get ‘em inside as fast as you can,” he said in an undertone. “And whatever you do, stay out of sight until that thing’s gone.”
“What?” Honey pulled back to look into his face, startled. “Why?”
“Because I’ve got a horrible feeling that’s not just any dragon.” His jaw was set in a tight line. All his weariness had vanished, replaced with a hard, dangerous focus. “And if it’s who I think it is, we cannotlet him see you.”
CHAPTER11
Several other dragons swept overhead as Buck waded through the crowds of kids converging on the dining hall. By the time he’d fought his way free of the throng, the dragons were spiraling down, landing in the wide meadow that ran between the camp and the lake shore.
The first dragon—the biggest, and the only one who was that distinctive bright, gleaming gold—settled to the ground. As it folded its wings, it shimmered, shrinking. A man stood where it had been, straightening the cuffs of his dress shirt.
Buck strode toward the new arrival. “What do you—” he started, and then belatedly remembered that he wasn’t in charge here.
The dragon shifter gave him a long, disdainful stare, as though he’d just been addressed by an inexplicably chatty dung heap. His hair was the same metallic gold as his scales had been, touched with silver at the temples.
“I can only assume that you are feeble-minded, and thus unaware of whom you are addressing,” the man said, in tones that could have cut glass. He snapped his fingers, light glinting from half a dozen heavy gold rings. “Fetch your master. I have business with him.”
Fortunately, for both the future of the camp and the asshole’s kneecaps, Zephyr picked that moment to arrive. Taking in the scene at a glance, he smoothly interposed himself between Buck and the dragon shifter.
“Ah, Lord Golden,” Zephyr said, a little out of breath. “I see you’ve met my uncle.”
