Moira cast an aggrieved look at Ragvald. “I wish you wouldn’t do that.”
“It is your name, Princess,” he replied, a touch reproachfully. “You should be proud of your clan and deeds. Not seek to obscure them.”
Paige was still holding Moira’s hand. She let go in a hurry, wondering if she was supposed to curtsy. “Are you really a princess?”
Moira wrinkled her nose, as though being a princess was an embarrassing personal affliction best not discussed in polite company, like toenail fungus. “I’m afraid so. But here, I’m just the head lifeguard.”
Ragvald’s brow furrowed. “I always forget to include that one.”
Next to Ragvald, the older man rolled his eyes. “Motherloving shifters. Can’t even say hello without making a whole song and dance about it. Can the rest of us introduce ourselves, or are you still sniffing each other’s backsides?”
Leonie grinned. “Oh, I don’t thinkyouneed an introduction, Buck. I’m pretty sure Paige has heard all about you.”
She had. All thoughts of princesses instantly fled, replaced by even greater awe. “You’reBuck?”
“Not sure how to take that tone of surprise, but yes.” Buck stuck out a tanned, weather-beaten hand. “Welcome to the menagerie, Paige. My condolences.”
As his fingers closed around hers, an electric jolt ran up her arm. Goosebumps prickled across her skin. Even if she hadn’t heard all about this man from Archie, she would never have mistaken him for a mere human. Power radiated from his stocky, grizzled form like heat from a stove.
She swallowed, fighting down a strange urge to lower her head in a show of deference. “You made a big impression on Archie. He’s been talking all year about the adventures he had as part of your pack. Thanks for looking after him.”
“He’s a good kid. His heart’s in the right place, even if his pants usually aren’t. Glad to hear he had a good summer, but don’t give me too much credit.” Buck glanced at the woman on his left, his gravelly voice softening. “You want to thank someone, you should be talking to Honey here.”
From the way Archie talked about her, Honey should have been nine feet tall and escorted by choirs of angels. In actual fact, she was a short, plump woman in late middle age, with a round face and kind brown eyes. There was nothing in the least bit intimidating about her, yet when Paige shook her hand, she had the same strange, startling impression of power. It was warmer and gentler than the crackling energy she’d felt from Buck, but no less disconcerting.
Talk about a power couple.It was easy to understand why Archie had been so impressed by them. If the kids were used to counselors like this, what were they going to make of her?
As though sensing that flutter of anxiety, Honey squeezed her hand for a moment. “Don’t worry,” she murmured. “Even if things seem dreadful now, it will all work out in the end. It did for me.”
Buck grunted. “Despite my best efforts. Good thing you repaired that sauna, Ragvald. Which are not words I ever thought I’d say. Make sure Conleth keeps his suit on when you broil him.”
“Sauna?” Paige said.
“Don’t ask,” Honey advised. The look she gave Buck conveyed entire volumes of private subtext. “And don’t start collecting logs just yet. At leastConlethdidn’t take weeks to admit the truth to his mate.”
Buck shrugged. “Conleth does everything faster. Including screw up. Don’t let him sweet-talk you around too easily, Paige. It’ll do the motherlover good to not get his own way for once.”
“But they are fated mates!” Ragvald protested. “You are mated yourself, friend Buck. How can you not want your shield-sibling to know the same bliss?”
Buck folded his arms. “I remind you we’re talking about Conleth.”
“Don’t listen to my grumpy mate here, Paige.” Honey poked Buck in the side, making him grunt again. “He and Conleth do that silly macho thing where they insult each other because they can’t lose face by admitting they’re actually friends.”
“He once compared me to a lukewarm turnip,” Buck noted. “Unfavorably.”
“Exactly my point.” Honey touched Paige’s arm, her expression earnest. “We should talk in private later. My situation was different to yours, but I was blindsided by the whole mate thing too. I know what it’s like.”
Perhaps Honeydidknow what it was like, Paige realized. Archie’s account had been hard to follow, but she’d graspedenough to know that Honey hadn’t been born a shifter. She’d been human once, just like her. Until?—
Her heart lurched sideways. “Wait a second. Buck made you a shifter, right?”
Honey looked a little perplexed by the question, but she nodded. “That’s right.”
“Does that always happen? When a shifter mates a human, I mean.”
“Oh.” Honey’s puzzled expression cleared. “No, not usually. That’s specific to hellhounds. Or, well, stormwolves, in this case.”
“Still not in love with that name,” Buck muttered.
