“Are we talking about the steak, or Shan?” Paige said under her breath.
Leonie glared across the table at her friend. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” Paige took an innocent sip of her tonic water. “Just that normally, he’s the one who seems to be starving. Particularly when you’re around.”
“Yes.” Leonie sawed at her steak. “He’s good atseeming.”
“Ouch,” said Honey. “Sounds like the rumors flying around camp aren’t particularly accurate. Do you want to tell us what happened?”
“No,” Leonie snapped, and immediately felt guilty. She sighed, setting down her cutlery. “Sorry, everyone. I’m in a foul mood this evening. I made a fool of myself earlier, and I’m still smarting over it.”
“Ragvald told me a little about what happened at games night,” Moira said. “He, ah, thought it had gone well.”
Leonie bit back a groan. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one who’d mistaken fiction for fact. In retrospect, it was obvious that Ragvald had been colluding with the kids. He’d probably thought he was being helpful.
“Moira, can you have a talk with Ragvald?” She went back to poking at her now shredded steak. “He seems to be a bit confused. You need to make it clear to him that Shan and I aren’t really mates.”
Her friends exchanged glances.
“Leonie,” Moira said, very carefully. “Have you ever seen Shan’s eyes?”
“No, of course not. He wears those sunglasses all the time.” She looked round at all the carefully neutral expressions. “Wait. Don’t tell meyouall think we’re mates?”
“I know it’s easy to convince yourself you must be misreading all the signs,” Honey said gently. “I’ve made that mistake myself in the past. But the man is obsessed with you.”
“You know that’s just a show for the kids.” They couldn’tseriously believe this nonsense, could they? “He’s only pretending.”
Moira cleared her throat. “Leonie, I don’t think he’s that good an actor.”
“Oh, he is.” She scowled at her plate. “Believe me, he’s made his real feelingsveryclear.”
“Did he?” Honey asked. “Or was he desperately pushing you away? Because it seems to me that if the two of youaremates, he’s absolutely terrified of you finding out.”
The whole theory was utter nonsense, yet a faint twinge of unease twisted her stomach. She’d never told anyone else how Shan felt about himself, or his struggle with his animal. It had been something he’d shared in private, just with her.
Shan had spent his life repressing his qiongqi. Hewouldfight tooth and claw to resist his own instincts. No matter the cost.
She shook off the momentary uncertainty. “But…if I’m his mate, surely I should have some idea. Even without seeing his eyes, I should have sensed some connection between us.”
“Maybe you do, and just haven’t realized,” Paige said. “What does your animal think?”
Her lioness had never exactly been talkative. To humor her friends, she mentally prodded her animal.
Well?she asked in the privacy of her own head.Is Shan my mate?
Her animal flicked an ear in a feline shrug.Why are you asking me?
That was less than helpful.You’re my animal. You’re supposed to know these things.
Not like this.Her lioness yawned, chin settling back onto its front paws.You’re the one that’s all here. What doyouthink?
“What does your lioness say?” Honey prompted.
“Nothing much. As usual.” She folded her arms. “It doesn’tmatter, anyway. I know Shan. He doesn’t lie. And he told me right to my face that?—”
I cannot pretend to be your mate.
Shandidn’tlie. He always chose his words carefully, with utter precision. Everything he said, he meant.
