“Are you sure you’re up for this, Paige?” Leonie asked. Her hands twisted on her clipboard. “We’re only doing senior staff introductions and getting-to-know-you exercises in the next few hours. You could skip the first session if you, uh, have personal matters that need to take priority.”
“I left Archie in his cabin, under strict orders to stay there until I get back from counselor training,” Paige said, although she knew that wasn’t what the head counselor had meant. She picked up a notepad and pen from the supplies set out on one of the long dining hall tables. “Don’t worry. He won’t cause any more trouble.”
“That’s not…” Leonie trailed off. “Look, are you sure you’re all right?”
In truth, she was a tangled mess of confused emotion. Every time she remembered the look in Conleth’s eyes when she’d said she couldn’t be his mate, pain stabbed through her chest. Walking away from him had been the hardest thing she’d ever done.
Which was ridiculous. There was no reason why her heart should feel shattered into a thousand tiny splinters. Okay, soConleth was clever, charismatic, and kind—not to mention sex in a suit—but she’d only just met the man. People didn’t really fall in love at first sight.
Well, unless you were a shifter. Apparently.
He’ll be okay,she told herself. Conleth had said shifters didn’t actually die of ‘mating fever.’ Whatever strange attraction he was experiencing, he’d get over it with time.
Now she just had to do the same.
“Really, I’m fine,” she lied. On a more truthful note, she added, “And thanks for letting me go back to my original assignment. I really do prefer working as a counselor to working in the office. When does the training session start?”
“Not for a few minutes.” Leonie brightened. “Tell you what. Why don’t I introduce you to everyone first?”
“Um.” Paige looked around the dining hall, which was rapidly filling with arriving members of staff. “Everyone?”
Leonie laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m not about to drag you into a spotlight so everyone can gape at our token human. But you need to meet the leadership team, at least. Come on.”
As the most junior person on the entire staff, Paige did not really see why she needed to be personally introduced to anyone, but Leonie didn’t give her a chance to argue. Paige found herself herded toward a small group of people—two men, two women—standing at the back of the hall.
Though it was only small in terms of numbers. One of the men was practically a crowd all by himself. Seeing their approach, his bearded face split in a broad, delighted smile.
“Shield-sister Leonie!” he said, in a voice more suited to a battlefield than a dining hall. “Is this who I think it must be?”
“Yep.” Leonie flourished a hand, as though revealing some impressive magic trick. “Everyone, meet Paige. Paige, this is?—”
“Ragvald Ragnarsson of Clan Fyrgard!” the giant boomed before Leonie could complete the introduction. He thumped ameaty fist onto his broad chest. “Born of Eastvald Steading, but pledged by oath to the hearth of the Thunderbird for another season’s span!”
Caught off-guard by this, Paige could only gape at him. His peculiar mode of speech matched his appearance. Though he wore the same black camp t-shirt as everyone else, he also had armored bracers strapped to his brawny forearms, and a twisted golden torque around his thick neck. With his braided beard, he looked more like a Viking than a camp counselor. She half expected him to pull out an ax and start pillaging the place.
“The finestskaldwould not be able to find verse enough to express my joy upon this day!” Ragvald continued, inexplicably. He flung out his arms as though about to embrace her, then seemed to check himself. “Forgive me. I would greet you in the proper manner as befits new comrades, but I have no desire to find myself kicked through a wall.”
The other man in the group let out an amused snort. “You’re learning, Ragvald.”
“Enough unexpected blows will get through even a wyrm’s mighty skull,” Ragvald said to him. He turned back to Paige, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “If you do not mind me saying so, shield-sister, the men of your shores are most odd. But despite my aloof and subdued behavior, be assured that my heart swells with delight to meet you at last!”
“Uh…” If this was what Ragvald considered ‘subdued behavior’, Paige couldn’t even begin to imagine what he’d be like at a party. “Why?”
“Why?” Ragvald threw back his head, belting out an uninhibited roar of laughter. “Because you are our battle-brother Conleth’s fated mate, of course! We all rejoice in his great good fortune!”
Paige looked at Leonie. “Did everyone know about that before I did?”
“Pretty much,” Leonie replied. She patted Paige’s shoulder. “Sorry.”
“We did try to tell him he was being an idiot,” one of the other women said ruefully. She offered Paige a graceful hand, along with a sympathetic smile. “Hello. I’m Moira.”
Ragvald drew in a deep breath, his broad chest swelling.
Moira’s turquoise eyes widened in sudden dismay. “Ragvald, no?—”
Ragvald’s deep, ringing voice drowned her out. “Princess of Atlantis, Treasure of the Ocean, Walker Above Wave, Emissary to the Land from the Pearl Throne, Sworn Initiate of the Coral Library, and Beloved Daughter of the Sea Dragon Empress, Ruler of all the Shifters of the Sea!”
Paige, who had been in the middle of shaking Moira’s hand, froze.
