“Good.” Zephyr brushed another spider off his shoulder. “And when would that be?”
Conleth started collecting logs again. “As soon as I’m certain she’ll react with complete delight.”
Leonie let out a pained groan. “Conleth.”
“I do not understand,” Ragvald said. “If she is your mate, why would you not declare your heart’s desire straight away? Surely your body and spirit must rage to claim her.”
“You have no idea,” Conleth muttered, feeling the tug of Paige’s distant life-spark. “But at the moment, all Paige knows about me is that I’m idiotic enough to wear a suit to a summercamp, and her little brother doesn’t like me. Hardly conducive to falling in love at first sight.”
“Ahhh.” Ragvald stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Yes, all becomes clear now. So she is from a hostile clan. That is a complication. You must approach cautiously, and with much preparation.”
“See?” Conleth looked around at the others in triumph. “Ragvaldgets it.”
The wyrm clapped him on the shoulder. “So, when will you be abducting her from her lodge?”
There was a small pause.
“And I stand corrected,” Conleth said. “In a twist that will shock no one, Ragvald does not get it.”
“Is that what you do in Ormholm, Ragvald?” Honey’s expression had shifted to morbid fascination. “If your mate rejects you for some reason, you abduct her?”
Ragvald stiffened indignantly. “No wyrm would ever reject their fated mate. But sometimes mates may come from clans who have sworn blood-feud against each other. None can deny the call of destiny, yet it would be a dishonor to abandon such family oaths too readily. So one of the pair demonstrates their courage and commitment by raiding the enemy lodge, sneaking past all guards in order to steal away their mate.”
Moira, who’d been looking rather apprehensive about this latest cultural surprise, let out a breath of relief. “So it’s a kind of ritual, just to satisfy honor? The so-called victim comes willingly?”
Ragvald shrugged, which was not entirely reassuring. “In most cases. Of course, if the intended beloved is insufficiently impressed by their mate’s display of daring, they may choose to fight the would-be suitor instead. One cousin of mine was matched by fate to a rival warrior of particular skill andstubbornness. She sent him back to our lodge trussed and bound to the belly of a donkey. Six times, as I recall.”
“Did he win her heart in the end?” Honey asked.
“One must assume so, since she eventually abducted him herself.” With a broad grin, Ragvald pulled up the hem of his t-shirt to expose a thick stomach crossed with white scars. “See here? I still proudly bear the honor mark she gifted me. Ah, but that was a fine fight!”
Conleth contemplated the man’s abdomen. “Can I ask a favor, Ragvald?”
“But of course, shield-brother.” Ragvald tugged his t-shirt down. “We are comrades for the season, bound by oath to serve the same steading. My ax is yours.”
“Thank you.” Conleth looked the wyrm dead in the eye. “Promise you will not, under any circumstances, attempt to help me. With anything. Ever.”
“Moving on from this fascinating discussion of wyrm dating etiquette, hard as that may be,” Buck said. “Whatisyour motherloving plan here, Conleth? Because from this perspective, it seems to involve lying to your mate, getting mauled by her little brother, and moving a large quantity of firewood ten feet to the left.”
“For the last time, I’m not lying to her,” Conleth said in exasperation. “I’m merely choosing to withhold some particular details for an indefinite period of time.”
“Or as most people would put it, lying,” Leonie said. “And not just to Paige. Even if she has no idea you’re her mate, Archie knows. Or at least suspects.”
“Which is exactly why I had to act fast, and change Paige’s assignment from pack counselor to a support role,” he replied. “So I have a cast-iron excuse to spend time with her. Archie knows I don’t usually have anything to do with the counselors orcampers. If I’d started following her around like a lost puppy, he would have quickly realized I’m her mate.”
“Which youare.” Leonie threw up her hands, nearly lamping Zephyr in the face with her clipboard. “I’ve seen you come up with some ridiculously overcomplicated plans in the past, Conleth, but this one takes the cake. It’s going to blow up in your face horribly. Even more than the apples.”
“Apples?” said Honey.
“We do not speak of the apple story,” Conleth told her. “And no, it isn’t. I know what I’m doing, Leonie. Everything is under control.”
“Say that again,” Buck suggested. “This time, without jittering.”
Conleth realized he was fidgeting with a piece of firewood, twisting it nervously between his hands. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to still.
“Everything is under control,” he repeated with more conviction. “I have a plan. Paige wants Archie to have a good summer. He’s not going to do that if he’s spending every second worrying about whether I’m seducing his sister. As long as I keep things strictly professional for a while, his suspicions will subside. And while Archie enjoys camp, Paige will be working with me in the office. That will give me plenty of opportunities to impress her.”
“You plan to woo the woman with paperwork.” Buck glanced around at the others. “And you all told meIwas bad at romance.”
