Archie hunched his shoulders, scuffing a foot against the ground. “Not really.”
“Yes, really.” Since the other kids were distracted, she gave him a quick but heartfelt hug. “It takes a lot of strength to let go of a grudge like that. I’m proud of you.”
He huffed, but looked a little happier. “I gotta go. Buck promised that if we got the tents up before it gets dark, he’d take us out in our shift forms tonight.”
“You have fun with your friends.” Paige hesitated. “Archie, are you sure you’re okay with this? Me and Conleth, I mean.”
From the way he screwed up his nose, he still had distinctly mixed feelings. Still, he nodded.
“You like him,” he said grudgingly. “That’s all that matters. Are you gonna mate him?”
She felt the blood rush back into her face. “Uh…”
“Archie!” Buck roared, making them both jump. “This motherloving train is about to leave the station. You jumping on board, or being a third wheel all night? Either’s fine by me.”
“Coming!” Archie yelled. He hesitated a moment. “Paige? I know things are gonna be different now. Just…don’t forget about Mom, okay?”
“I won’t.” She gave him a gentle push. “Have a good night.”
“You too.” Archie hurried off, yelling back over his shoulder, “AND USE PROTECTION!”
“Do you even know what thatmeans?” Ignatius muttered to Archie as Buck led the group away.
“Of course I do!” Archie replied indignantly. “I watched a video about it. If you don’t want babies, you have to put a thing called a condom on a banana.”
“Then what do you do with the banana?” Nancy asked with interest.
“I dunno,” Archie said after a thoughtful pause. “The video didn’t explain that part.”
Paige found herself alone with Conleth. Well, technically they were still surrounded by dozens of kids and counselors, since most of the other packs hadn’t yet finished their hot chocolate and headed off to their cabins. But without their own campers, itfeltlike they were alone.
“So, uh.” She busied herself collecting mugs, stacking them ready to be taken back to the kitchen by whichever pack was on tidying-up duty this evening. “We need to talk. In private.”
“Agreed.” Conleth seemed a little self-conscious too. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking around the square. “We could go down to the lake again, but I believe some of the counselors are planning an illicit party at the dock tonight. And the nearby woods will have too many people heading out to shift, not to mention our own campers. My office?”
Paige gathered her nerve. “I was thinking more like…your place.”
“Oh,” Conleth said, sounding somewhat taken aback. And then, in a rather different tone that sent an electric tingle down her spine, “Oh.”
“We won’t be needed back at camp until tomorrow morning.” Could his shifter senses detect the way her pulse was racing? “And you mentioned you had a house near here.”
“I do.” His eyes had gone deep and dark in the dusk. “There’s a slight complication, though.”
She swallowed, pinned by that intent, primal look. “What?”
He held out a hand. “I don’t drive to work.”
With a tingle of anticipation, she took his hand, lacing her fingers through his. Conleth led her away from the camp buildings, stopping midway between the cabins and the forest. She’d expected him to release him and step back, but instead he drew her closer. He raised her hand to his lips, brushing a soft kiss against her fingers.
“I won’t let you fall,” he murmured, breath warm against her skin. “Not ever. Trust me. And trust yourself.”
She nodded wordlessly, mouth dry. With a final caress of his thumb, Conleth let go of her hand. Holding her gaze, he backed away, opening up some space between them. His shape shimmered.
She’d only seen Conleth shift once, during the toga honk competition with Ragvald. But it had only been briefly, and she’d been too furious and frustrated to really take in his other form.
Now, all the breath left her lungs.
Even standing completely still, he had a sense of arrested motion. He was built for sky and speed; a stallion in his prime, powerful and proud.
