“My pivot tables are very persuasive,” Conleth retorted. “Believe me, I’m more than capable of charming a woman when I’m not trying to do so while simultaneously fending off an angry bear. Once she’s fallen in love with me,thenI’ll tell her we’re mates.”
Moira blew out her breath. “Conleth, I appreciate why you don’t want to reveal the truth straight away, but this is a risky plan. If you drag it out too long, she might feel more betrayed than overjoyed when you finally confess.”
“And don’t forget Archie,” Honey added. “He won’t appreciate being tricked.”
Conleth made a big show of looking around. “My goodness. It appears that we are not, in fact, still in the medieval era. I therefore see no need to beg my mate’s nearest male relative for permission to court her. Especially not when he’s ten years old.”
“I’m not saying you need to ask his permission,” Honey said with a touch of exasperation. “I just think you should be honest with him, and try to make a genuine connection. If this plays out the way you hope, you’re going to be family, after all.”
“Yes, you must bond with the boy!” Ragvald declared. He reached behind his back, no doubt to produce something horrifying from the magical ‘hoard space’ he carried around like an invisible pocket. “Over a fine manly challenge! Such as?—”
“Ragvald,” everyone chorused in unison. “No.”
Ragvald let his hand drop back to his side, looking disgruntled. “You did not even hear my suggestion.”
“Let me take a wild guess,” Conleth said. “Did it involve an ax?”
“Ragvald’s got a point,” Buck said. “I know Archie. Spent a whole summer with him, thanks to you hilarious jokers. The kid may be physically incapable of staying the same species for more than fifteen minutes, and the only way to keep his shoes on his feet is with motherloving superglue, but he’s also smart. No matter how subtle you try to be, he’s going to smell a rat before too long.”
“I’ve cut deals with literal dragons. I think I can handle one suspicious child.” Conleth tossed the log outside, then brushed off his hands. “Besides, Archie won’t have time to interfere. He’llbe far too busy having the best summer of his life. I intend to make sure his counselors keep him fully occupied.”
Buck looked over at Zephyr. “Just out of curiosity, did you hire any extra counselors this year?”
“We have a couple of spares,” Zephyr replied. “Why?”
“You’re going to need them.” Buck folded his arms. “I give it forty-eight hours before whoever’s lumbered with Archie this year hands in their notice.”
“I’m so glad you mentioned that.” Conleth aimed his most winning smile in Honey’s direction. “Honey, given the circumstances, I thought perhaps you and Buck could?—?”
“Oh no,” Honey interrupted, holding up her hands. “I’ll do everything I can to help you, Conleth, but I’m running the art program this year, and Buck will have his hands full leading the camping expeditions. We’re not even living on site this summer. We can’t be Archie’s pack counselors.”
“Thank dog,” Buck muttered. “The only way anyone’s keeping that kid away from the office is with a choke chain and a cattle prod.”
“Conleth, I’ve already assigned all the campers to their packs!” Leonie clutched her clipboard as though she feared he might try to snatch it away again. “It’s bad enough that you swapped Paige with one of the support counselors. You can’t upend my entire schedule right before the start of camp!”
The familiar squeeze of the post-speed migraine tightened around his brain. There was too much to keep straight. Dozens of thoughts clamored for attention like starving baby birds. He wanted to pace, to relieve some of the pressure in his head through movement, but there wasn’t space with everyone crowded around him. The best he could do was tap his fingers, faster and faster, in a futile attempt to channel some of the restless energy jangling through his nerves.
“Shield-brother?” Ragvald gave him a quizzical look. “If I did not know you, I would fear you were on the verge of losing your wits to battle-rage. Is all well?”
“Fine.” Conleth attempted to cover his agitation by glaring at them all. “I’m fine. Or at least I would be, if everyone would stop trying to interfere.”
“You don’t look fine,” Buck said. “Frankly, you look like hammered dog turds.”
That was better than he felt. There were too many people and too many distractions and too much time left until he could take his medication. Everything was going wrong and his head hurt and he couldn’tfocus?—
“Conleth?” Moira touched his arm, nearly making him jump out of his skin. “You really don’t look well. Perhaps you should sit down.”
“No!” His simmering frustration boiled over, breaking the fraying threads of his composure. “I can’t sit down! I wasn’t prepared for this, and it’s all going wrong, andI’m not in control!”
The last few words rang into shocked silence. Too late, he realized he’d spoken far too loudly, practically yelling into their faces. Everyone stared at him with varying levels of surprise and dismay.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “I didn’t mean to shout. I’m not myself right now.”
“It’s all right, Conleth,” Honey said gently. “We understand. You’ve spent years anticipating this day, and it didn’t go as you planned. Of course you’re stressed.”
It was all he could do to hold back a bark of laughter. Hehadn’thad a plan. That was the whole problem. But he could hardly reveal that he’d been behind Joe’s so-called prophecy in the first place.
And that was going to be another problem, he realized with a lurch. Everyone thought he was only at Camp Thunderbird to meet his mate. Now that he actually had, they would expect him to leave. True, the business was more financially stable than it had been in the early days, but there was always the threat of some unforeseen disaster. How could he trust anyone else to run the camp?
