*All right, all right,*Paige said in amusement. The combination of telepathy and body language seemed second nature now.*Keep your fur on. We’re coming.*
Together, they set off into the forest, heading up-slope. Paige stayed shoulder-to-shoulder with her mom, moving at an easy, rolling gait. Archie charged this way and that with a cub’s gleeful abandon, scaring squirrels and poking his nose under every fallen log.
After a while, Paige picked up the indefinable change of scent that meant they’d reached the border of the camp. With a parting huff, Mom turned back, leaving the two of them to continue alone.
The closer they got to the center of camp, the more scent-trails they encountered; some animal, others not. Picking up a waft of one particular fragrance, Paige hastened her steps, ears pricking in anticipation.
Sure enough, Conleth was waiting for them at the entrance to the camp. Smiling, he stretched his arms around her neck, leaning against her. Paige rested her muzzle on his shoulder, closing her eyes in contentment as her lungs filled with his familiar scent.
Mine.
Buried in her fur, Conleth cleared his throat. “Happy as I am to see you, you’re also somewhat crushing me.”
Paige grumbled, but released her mate. Ducking around the nearest building, she shifted back to human form, quicklyscrambling into her clothes. By the time she got back, Archie was putting on his shoes, while Conleth was brushing fur off his suit jacket.
Taking in his attire, she raised her eyebrows. “Why so formal?”
“I’m meeting some of the investors later. I thought it best to maintain the image they’ve come to expect. Don’t want them thinking we’re going bankrupt because I’m suddenly wearing jeans to work.” He caught her wrist. “Now, where were we?”
“We’ve been apart for less than an hour,” she pointed out as he pulled her into his arms.
“Mmm.” He kissed her, slow and deep. “Far too long.”
At the back of her mind, her bear rumbled assent. Paige found she didn’t disagree.
Behind them, Archie made gagging sounds. “Conleth! Paaaaaige! Gross!”
Paige pulled away to stick her tongue out at her little brother. “Don’t watch, then.”
“Beth and the others arrived a little while ago,” Conleth said to Archie. Hie eyes unfocused for a moment. “They’re in the dining hall, if you want to join them.”
Archie didn’t need telling twice. He dashed away eagerly, untied shoelaces flapping.
“I should get to work,” Paige said, reluctantly disentangling herself from her mate. “Did those posters I ordered for the nature hut arrive yet?”
“Yes, but stop by the office first.” He took her hand. “Zephyr has something for you.”
With nearly a full month until the camp opened, not many staff members were on site yet. Paige had expected to find Zephyr alone—but he wasn’t.
“Ragvald! Moira!” Paige hurried up the porch stairs to exchange hugs with the sea dragon. “I didn’t know you were coming this?—”
“Hush, shield-sister!” Ragvald interrupted in an ear-splitting whisper. He turned a reverent gaze back to the bundle strapped to Zephyr’s chest. “Still your tongue. Thebabyissleeping.”
“And she’ll sleep through a hurricane.” Zephyr adjusted the baby sling, propping his daughter more comfortably against his shoulder. “At least until she gets hungry.”
“And then we’ll all know it.” Conleth came up behind Paige, sliding an arm around her waist. “If you can persuade her to stick to a more regular schedule, Zephyr, we won’t need the camp bell this year.”
Moira studied the sleeping baby. “She looks a lot like her mother. Do you think she’ll take after her in other ways as well?”
“Too early to tell,” Zephyr replied. “Blaise hopes not, given her history. And I don’t know whether I can even pass down my own animal like other types of shifter. We’ll have to wait and see.”
“There is one thing she most certainly is, besides perfect!” Ragvald boomed, evidently forgetting his early demands for silence. He beamed down at the baby as if he’d gestated her himself. “Our youngest camper!”
Paige felt Conleth’s hand slide a little further across her lower belly. Smug anticipation sparkled down the mate bond.
*Don’t you dare,*she sent to him telepathically.*We agreed to tell my mom first.*
He pulled her back against him, fingers spreading over her still-flat abdomen.*We could have done that this morning, if you’d let me come with you.*
