“That’s right,” Estelle agreed innocently. Conleth, who knew that tone of voice all too well, had an abrupt urge to bundle her to the other side of camp. “Just look at Buck. He didn’t even become a shifter until he was, like, super old. And he’sreallypowerful. As you know.”
Golden gave Conleth a pointed look over Estelle’s head. “If you are acting as a counselor this year, I trust you are maintainingstrictdiscipline in your group. Otherwise, I may have to reconsider my nephew’s future vacation plans.”
Ignatius hastily stepped between his uncle and Estelle. “Uncle, these are my friends.”
Lord Golden swept Rufus, Estelle, Beth, Archie, and Finley with an assessing stare. “Why?”
Ignatius faltered. “Because they…are?”
Golden sniffed, adjusting a diamond cufflink. “A future clan leader does not makefriends, Ignatius. He cultivates useful connections, and endeavors to uncover their weaknesses.”
Estelle looked like she might have something to say about this novel theory of interpersonal relationships, but she didn’t get a chance. Without warning, Archie let out an ear-splitting whoop.
“MOM!” Archie barged past Lord Golden, shoulder-checking the alpha shifter with commendable disregard. “MOM!”
“Ignatius, perhaps you could take your honored uncle to Director Zephyr,” Conleth said hastily. “He should be greeting parents in the dining hall. I’m sure he’ll want topersonallyshow Lord Golden around the camp.”
Ignatius, thankfully, had figured out the danger. He bundled his uncle away, not a moment too soon.
“—and that’s the girls’ cabin where Paige sleeps, at least some of the time, but I’m not allowed in there, which I think is stupid but it’s the rules, and this is my cabin!” Archie returned at a much slower pace, though now talking a mile a minute. “And this is Estelle, and that’s Finley, who’s the really cool dragon shark prince I told you all about, and that’s Rufus—he doesn’t like it when people look him right in the eye, so try not to do that—and over there is Beth andhermom and baby brother, and this is?—”
Archie stopped mid-torrent, as though he’d run into a brick wall. Paige took advantage of the sudden silence, turning to the woman on her right.
“Mom,” Paige said, her cheeks flushing faint pink. “I’d like you to meet my co-counselor.”
Next to Paige, her mom looked like a faded copy; shorter, smaller, hair gone more gray than chestnut. Even Paige hadn’t told him her history, he would have instantly known she wasn’t well. There was a tired gauntness to her features; lines drawn by years of private, grinding struggle.
But she had the same proud, stubborn set to her mouth as her children, and her eyes were intimately familiar, brownish-green flecked with gold. Right now, that cool, assessing gaze was distinctly unimpressed.
Focus, idiot.He did his best to pull himself together, offering Paige’s mom both a winning smile and an outstretched hand. “Conleth Tiernach-West. It’s a pleasure to meet you at last, Ms. Brown. I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed working with both Paige and Archie this summer.”
Paige’s mom looked him up and down, making no move to accept the handshake. “The co-counselor my daughter told me she didn’t like, and who didn’t care about the kids, and that she wished she wasn’t stuck with this summer?”
“Er,” Conleth said. “Yes?”
“That was back before I really knew him, Mom,” Paige said quickly. “I got the wrong first impression, but actually, Conleth’s put his heart and soul into this camp. And he’s amazing with the kids.”
Her mom’s gaze drifted to the children, whose expressions currently ranged from ‘clinically withdrawn’ (Rufus) to ‘terminally anxious’ (Beth). It was clear she did not find this evidence backed up her daughter’s claims.
At the moment, however, Conleth had far bigger worries than how to convince his mate’s sole protective parent that he was not, in fact, a raging egomaniac who rejoiced in children’s misery. “Archie, why don’t you show your mom your cabin? Paige, a quick word?”
Trusting Diana to keep the firefighter kids occupied, he drew Paige aside, lowering his voice. “We have a problem.”
“No kidding.” Paige had been maintaining a brave face in front of the others, but now her expression crumpled into worry. “Conleth, I think my mom hates this whole place.”
“A bigger problem,” he said grimly. “Lord Golden is here.”
“Ignatius’s uncle?” Paige caught her breath. “Oh, crap. Would he be able to tell I’m human?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t immediately spot Honey last year, but heisa powerful alpha, and he has dominance powers. If he got suspicious, he could probably compel you to confess the truth.” Just the thought of Golden sneering at Paige made him want to put a hoof through the asshole’s skull. “I don’t want you anywhere near him.”
“But—the kids. I’m supposed to be meeting their parents, and helping with all the activities?—”
“I’ll take care of all that,” Conleth interrupted. “Listen, there’s no time for debate. I’ve got to find Moira and tell her to keep Ragvald hidden. It’ll be bad enough if Golden discoversyou’re one of Ignatius’s counselors, but all hell will break loose if he finds out we’ve got a wyrm here.”
Paige pressed her lips together, but nodded. “What do you want me to do?”
“Go change your t-shirt and get back to your mom. I’ll warn the campers to treat you as just another guest. With any luck, Golden won’t even realize you work here.”
