“Oh, so suddenly you don’t trust my judgment?” Conleth snapped. “Which one of us turned this summer camp from a vague aspiration into an actual functioning business, again?”
“I could never have founded Camp Thunderbird without you, and I am eternally grateful for everything you’ve done here,”Zephyr said calmly. “But we’re talking about your mate, Conleth. Not a business startup.”
“It’s exactly the same thing. Whether in business or romance, you can only reach your goals through careful planning and deliberate strategy.” Conleth jabbed a stick of firewood at him. “This is no different to a corporate merger. Only with fewer spreadsheets.”
Zephyr massaged his temples. “You’ve made a spreadsheet, haven’t you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” said Conleth, who would have, if he’d had time. “Now, are you going to help me or not?”
Zephyr blew out his breath. “I want to help you. I’m just not convinced this is the right way.”
Conleth would have retorted, but a flicker of approaching souls distracted him. The pair were easily recognizable—one dark and stormy, the other glowing with warmth.
“Your uncle and his mate are heading this way,” he told Zephyr, frowning. “At speed, too.”
A moment later, the pair of winged wolves landed outside the woodshed. The larger wolf folded his gray wings, sparks cracking from the feathers. His outline blurred, stretching upward into the solid, stocky form of Buck.
Buck took one look at Conleth, standing there in a torn suit plastered with bear fur, his arms full of logs. His weathered features broke into a rare smile.
“I was right,” Buck announced to the world in general. “Conleth is screwing up the whole mate thing even worse than I did.”
The golden wolf whacked Buck with one glowing wing.
“Thank you, Honey,” Conleth said to her. He glared at Buck. “And I beg to disagree, considering that I have yet to crash-land naked on her roof.”
Something occurred to him. He frowned.
“Wait,” he said. “How did you know I met my mate?”
In a shimmer of light, the golden wolf shifted as well. Honey, at least, didn’t look like this was the finest entertainment she’d seen this decade. Her kind, usually cheerful face bore an expression of earnest concern.
“We saw you two talking outside the office,” Honey said. “It was pretty obvious what was going on.”
Buck’s smirk widened. “Especially after you exited stage right, pursued by a bear.”
“I’m so sorry Archie interrupted your first meeting with your mate.” Honey threw Buck a pointed look. “Itried to stop him.”
“It was a romantic moment,” Buck said, not looking the least bit apologetic. “I was overcome with emotion.”
“Thank you so much for your assistance,” Conleth told him sourly. “If my arms weren’t full of logs, I’d give you a hug.”
“It was the least I could do. Literally.” Buck glanced at the piles of firewood, one eyebrow cocking. “I suspect I’m going to regret asking this, but why are you rearranging the woodshed?”
“Conleth’s kicking me out of the office,” Zephyr said. “I work here now.”
“Do youwanta front-row seat to my romantic endeavors?” Conleth asked him.
“I love my new office,” Zephyr said without missing a beat. He gestured at a corner. “I think I’ll put my potted plant over there.”
Honey’s forehead wrinkled. “Conleth, why are you throwing Zephyr out of the office?”
Before Conleth could explain himself, he sensed another person hurrying toward the woodshed. That particular odd, flickering aura was also readily identifiable. He’d known her longer than any of the others; practically all his life, in fact.
And he’d thought he could rely on her.
He muttered a curse, which earned him funny looks from everyone else. He held up a hand to stave off questions, concentrating on his pegasus sense. The dim, wavering aura was meandering now, turning in small circles as though searching for something.
Conleth raised his voice. “Leonie! We’re in here!”
