“Uncaleth’s,” he pronounced gravely. His small body relaxed, nestling into the curve of her arm.
It had been a long time since she had held a kid this young, too. She’d been barely nineteen when Archie had been born, desperate and terrified, doing her best to hold everything together as the foundation of her world crumbled under her feet. Given the trauma surrounding her brother’s earliest years, she’d never even imagined having a child of her own.
But now, with Otis’s warm, sleepy weight curled trustingly against her, she found her arms tightening around him.Withoutreally meaning to, she rested her head on his head, baby-fine hair tickling her cheek.
“Will you look at that.” Joe’s deep, melodic voice broke her reverie. She looked up to find the sea dragon smiling at her. “He’s asleep at last. You’ve got the magic touch, Paige.”
She swallowed the strange lump in her throat. “I’m getting kind of tired too. And some of us have an early start in the morning. When were you planning to head back to camp, Leonie?”
The head counselor had been lounging next to Rory, occasionally stealing bites of his half-eaten cheesecake. She took her fork out of her mouth, looking a little crestfallen. “We can go if you really want, but I was hoping to stay a bit longer. Rory and I don’t get usually get many chances to see each other over the summer, what with me working at camp and the crew spending most of their time away on wildfires.”
“I don’t want you to cut your visit with your brother short just because of me.” Paige juggled Otis, fishing in her pocket for her phone. “I’ll call a ride.”
“No need.” Callum drained the last of his lemonade, rising. Paige had noticed he’d stuck to soft drinks throughout the evening. He must be the designated driver. “We’re heading home too.”
“The camp is on our way,” Diana said. She reclaimed Otis, propping the comatose toddler against her shoulder with the ease of long practise. “We’d be happy to drop you off.”
Paige’s first instinct was to refuse. True to their promise, no one had raised the topic of her being Conleth’s mate again, but she had still felt it hanging over the table like an ominous black cloud. The last thing she wanted was to be trapped in a car with her co-counselor’s twin brother.
But there was no way to decline without being painfully rude. Making her farewells to the others, she followed Callum and Diana out to their car.
She was braced for them to take advantage of the drive back to camp to press her for details of her feelings about Conleth, or try to persuade her to give him a chance. Instead, Diana kept up a light, inconsequential patter of conversation, mostly about Beth. Callum drove in easy silence, his hands steady on the steering wheel.
“We’re here,” were the first words he spoke. He parked the car outside the camp gate, leaving the headlights switched on. “Do you have the access code?”
Paige realized she didn’t. “No, but it’s okay. I can walk from here.”
Diana exchanged the briefest glance with her mate. “Callum, you go with her. I’ll wait here with Otis. It was nice to meet you, Paige.”
“You, too,” Paige said, meaning it. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, Diana had gone out of her way to try to put her at ease. Paige appreciated her kindness and tact. “And you, Callum, but I really don’t need an escort. I’m perfectly fine to find my way from here.”
Please,pleasedon’t get out,she prayed. But Callum was already opening his door. She was left with no choice but to fall into step with him.
To her surprise, Callum didn’t seem in a rush to take this opportunity to speak either. He accompanied her in total silence, walking with the loose, measured strides of a man who was used to spending all day covering long distances by foot.
Despite her resolve to dissuade any attempt at conversation, Paige couldn’t help sneaking sidelong glances at him. Even the way he moved was different to his brother. She still found it hardto believe that two people who looked so similar could be such utter opposites.
“Well, here we are,” she said as they finally reached the edge of the camp buildings. A single dim lamp illuminated the way to the central square. “Thanks for walking me.”
Callum dipped his head in acknowledgement. “And thank you in return.”
She blinked at him. “For what?”
“Caring so much for the campers.” It was hard to read any expression in those still, calm features, but she had the impression he really meant it. “Beth has spoken highly of you in her letters home. I know this is a difficult situation for you, and I suspect my brother is only making things worse. Yet you are doing everything you can to give the children a good summer. I appreciate it.”
“Oh.” Her face heated at the quiet praise. “It’s no big deal. Conleth’s been surprisingly helpful with the kids, actually.”
“That is not quite what I meant.” Callum’s mouth curved up, just a little. “And I do not find it surprising. Good night, Paige.”
“Good night.”
She’d thought she’d be bolting for the safety of her cabin like a rabbit down a burrow, grateful to escape. Instead, she found herself lingering, watching Callum’s unhurried retreat. Right at the edge of the circle of light, he paused.
“Paige,” he said quietly, not turning. “You are right. My brother always has a plan. But I do not think he had one for you. Ask him why he never believed Joe’s prophecy.”
CHAPTER 20
The route back to her cabin took her through the central square. At this time of night, all the main buildings should have been dark and empty—yet a single light glowed from the office.
