And suddenly, Archie’s warnings about ‘mating fever’ seemed a lot more plausible.
CHAPTER 3
In that moment of ringing clarity, when time stopped and the entire universe reorientated around a new center, Conleth knew two things.
First, this woman was his mate.
And second, he was going to absolutelymurderJoe.
For the past five years, he’d worn the damn suit. At the start of every summer, he made a point of loitering outside the office, pretending to scrutinize the new arrivals. He’d perfected an initial look of hope, followed by increasing feigned disappointment.
In short, he had acted in every way like he fully expected to one day meet his mate at Camp Thunderbird.
He had never once, in all that time, entertained the possibility of it actually happening.
Shit, shit, shit.
His heart beat against his ribcage as though trying to break free and fly straight into her hands. Inside his head, his pegasus was going mad with joy. She was his mate, and he was…
Standing in the middle of a crowded summer camp, dressed in a suit, gaping at her in slack-jawed, brain-dead astonishment like an utteridiot.
If he’d known that prophecy was true, he would have been prepared for this. Heshouldhave been prepared for this. Should have made a plan, thought of every possible scenario, prepared a hundred different opening lines. Made certain that he would make the right first impression.
For a moment, he dared to hope that it might be all right. Paige had frozen too, her hazel eyes locked on his. Perhaps she too had secretly yearned for this day, without any real hope that it would ever come…
Then she jerked her gaze away from him. Her expression was not that of a woman finally meeting her fated soulmate, and discovering he was everything she’d ever dreamed. More like she’d suddenly remembered a pressing engagement on the other side of the planet.
“I have to report for work!” Paige yelped, her voice rather higher pitched than previously. She spun on her heel, so fast her chestnut ponytail whipped behind her. “Thanks again!”
Panic spiked through his veins. “Wait!”
In his haste to stop her, he moved too fast. Paige squeaked as her nose practically bounced off his chest. She leaped back, opening up more space between them.
Get a grip, you bloody fool.Conleth made himself take a deep, deliberate breath, forcing himself to slow down. This was the most important moment of his entire life, and he wasnotgoing to ruin it.
“Wait,” he said again, more calmly. “Don’t leave. We need to talk.”
His fated mate clearly did not agree. Her gaze darted over the surroundings as though in search of escape.
This was a disaster. The other half of his soul had taken one look at him and decided that if this was fate, she wanted no part of it. He hadn’t prepared for this, hadn’tplanned?—
In his soul, his pegasus stamped an impatient hoof.Who needs plans? She is our mate! Tell her!
Behind his fixed smile, Conleth gritted his teeth. What was he supposed to tell her? Much as he’d love to convince Paige that he had at least some desirable qualities, this was hardly the time to whip out a presentation on his investment portfolio.
His pegasus flicked its tail in exasperation.Tell her she is our mate.
What good would that do?Conleth mentally snapped at his idiotic beast.She already knows I’m her mate.
No,his animal replied, simply.She doesn’t.
But that was ridiculous. Paige had stared straight into his eyes. They’d shared that long, frozen moment of mutual recognition. Shehadto know they were mates…
Unless she wasn’t a shifter.
In previous years, it would have been impossible. But non-shifters were allowed at the camp now, thanks to the dramatic events last summer. And Zephyrhadmentioned that he’d hired a human counselor this year. The director had been somewhat evasive about the details, which probably meant he’d done something creative with the hiring budget and was hoping Conleth wouldn’t notice.
If she wasn’t a shifter… if shehadn’trecognized him…
