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Chapter 42

CHAPTER 42

“ B ye Paige! Bye Conleth!” Hetta called over her shoulder as she got on the bus. “See you next summer!”

“Thanks for everything.” Nancy released Paige, turning to hug Conleth as well. “Especially mountain climbing! I can’t wait to tell my parents all about our expedition!”

Conleth ruffled her hair. “You’ve improved your skills immensely. I’m sure your mother will let you join the family trips from now on.”

“Yeah!” Nancy hitched up her backpack, beaming. “I’ll keep practicing hard at home. Maybe next summer, we can go all the way to the summit!”

Conleth’s smile turned rather fixed around the edges.

“We’ll see,” Paige said to Nancy. She gave the girl a gentle nudge toward the bus. “Go on, now. The driver’s waiting for you.”

Nancy skipped onto the bus, the doors hissing closed behind her. Paige kept waving until the vehicle had rumbled out of sight. Then she sagged against Conleth with a long, relieved sigh.

“That’s the last one,” she said. “Much as I love those kids, I’m looking forward to a little more privacy. And a nap.”

“So am I,” he replied. His gaze drifted past her shoulder. “Even so, I wish the campers weren’t all heading off.”

“Byeeeeeeeeee!” Archie hollered, still waving after the bus. He dropped his arms at last, shooting a disgruntled look at their mom. “I don’t see why we have to go, too. Paige and Conleth have loads of room at their house. And a pool.”

“I think Paige and Conleth would like some time to themselves,” Mom replied. “Go get your bag, and check your cabin to make sure you haven’t left anything behind.”

“You really don’t have to leave,” Paige murmured to her mom as Archie trotted off. “I don’t like the thought of you being so far away, even if it’s not for too long. You sure you won’t reconsider?”

Mom smiled, but shook her head. “Archie and I need to be getting back. School will be starting soon.”

“We’ll come see you in a few weeks, after we’ve finished closing the camp.” Paige hesitated. “What about looking for Archie’s dad?”

Her mom’s smile slipped. “Paige…”

She knew that tone of voice, but tried anyway. “I know you don’t want to talk about it, but I still think he’s your true mate. And if he is, the two of you are meant to be together. Your bear’s never going to be truly content until you find him again.”

“I have a top-notch private investigator standing by ready to take the case,” Conleth put in. “Just say the word.”

“No,” her mom said firmly. “I appreciate the offer, truly. But there’s no point digging up the past. Whether we’re true mates or not, he’s not a shifter. He’s no doubt long since forgotten me.”

Paige doubted that, but she knew there was no point arguing with her mom about it now. “All right. But let us know if you change your mind, okay?”

“Don’t hold your breath waiting for that.” Her mom gave her a quick hug before stepping away. “I’ll double-check Archie’s packed all his things. Then we’d better be off.”

Conleth watched her mom head after Archie. “Do you think that with enough time, we’ll be able to persuade her?”

“I don’t know.” She leaned against him again, taking comfort from the steady warmth of the mate bond. “Probably not. You know how stubborn my family can be.”

“All too well,” he said wryly. “Did you get a chance to sound her out about moving here?”

“Not yet. I’m pretty sure I can convince her that Thunder Mountain would be a better place for both her and Archie. But I’m still trying to figure out how to get her to accept financial help from us. She’s too proud to take charity, even from family.”

He made a thoughtful noise. “What if she unexpectedly came into possession of a large amount of money? Hypothetically speaking.”

“That won’t work. I’d have to tell her it was from us.”

“Not if you didn’t know it was from us.”

“Conleth, there is no way you could arrange for my mother to come into a small fortune without me knowing you were behind it.”

“Excellent. A challenge.”

“ Conleth. ”

He held up his hands in surrender. “Just exploring potential options.”

Zephyr wandered over to join them. “And what options would those be?”

“Ones that are not on the table, apparently,” Conleth replied, turning to the director. “If you’ve finished waving off the last few campers, we need to go over the final payroll before counselors start heading home. We should make a start on the off-season maintenance schedule as well.”

Zephyr’s eyebrows rose a little. “That sounds like the sort of thing I should be doing with my camp manager.”

Paige felt Conleth’s momentary consternation ripple down the mate bond. “Well, yes. But seeing as I’m still here, I can continue to fill the role for now.”

Zephyr shook his head. “I appreciate the offer, but I couldn’t possibly take up any more of your time. Especially not when you’re newly mated. The maintenance and future camp plans can wait until my permanent camp manager is available. Speaking of which, when do you think that will be? You did say you had a suitable candidate in mind.”

Conleth hesitated, glancing at Paige. She sent a silent push of encouragement down their mental connection.

“About that,” Conleth said slowly. “There are some…complications. And since Paige has accepted a permanent role here, so I’ll be in the area anyway, I thought I might as well?—”

“No, no,” Zephyr interrupted. With utmost gravity, he put a hand on Conleth’s shoulder, looking him square in the eye. “I really must insist. Just because Paige will be working as my new nature specialist doesn’t mean you need to be stuck here as well. After all, everyone knows you only stayed at camp in the first place due to Joe’s prophecy.”

Conleth took in Zephyr’s perfect poker face. He looked at Paige, who was trying—and failing—to fight back a smirk.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I am not nearly as clever as I think I am, am I?”

She patted his arm. “A lot of the time you are. But not always.”

Conleth sighed, dropping his hand. “Zephyr, how long have you known I was behind that damned prophecy?”

“From the moment the words left Joe’s mouth,” Zephyr replied calmly. “Though if it’s any consolation, it took me a while to realize he wasn’t faking.”

“At least that makes two of us.” Conleth shook his head. “Who else knows?”

“No one, I believe.” Slight consternation crossed Zephyr’s features. “ You get to tell Leonie.”

Conleth went a bit pale. “You know how you’ve always said that you couldn’t have started this camp without my help, and that if there was ever any way you could repay me, I only had to ask?”

“Yes. And in anticipation of your next question, no.”

“But—”

“ No . There are limits, Conleth.”

“I can tell Leonie,” Paige said, amused. “If you’re both too scared to admit you’ve been keeping a secret from her.”

“No, I’ll do it.” Conleth grimaced. “After I’ve hidden all the shovels.”

Smiling, Zephyr held out a hand. “In that case, let me be the first to welcome you back, camp manager. Officially, this time.”

Conleth grasped the director’s hand, opening his mouth to say something—and then paused, brow furrowing. He turned his head, staring down the road.

“What is it?” Paige asked as his alarm thrummed down the mate bond. She looked in the same direction, but couldn’t see anything. “What can you sense?”

“Trouble,” Conleth said, releasing Zephyr’s hand. “Zephyr, you’d better warn everyone. We’re about to have company.”

There wasn’t time to sound the alarm. As the patrol car pulled up in front of the camp, Conleth could only hope that Zephyr would keep everyone out of sight.

At his side, Paige brushed her hand against his; a brief, reassuring touch. “You sure we shouldn’t let Zephyr handle this one?”

“I’d rather see what this is about first,” he muttered back. “Besides, the two of us have dealt with the sheriff before. At least I don’t smell of skunk this time.”

The sheriff got out of the car, hitching up his belt. Grateful that all the kids were safely away from camp, Conleth strode out to meet him, Paige at his heels.

“Officer,” he greeted the sheriff. “I hope you haven’t received another prank call.”

“Not this time.” The sheriff squinted at him a moment, as though trying to place his face. His gaze drifted to Conleth’s hair, and recognition dawned. “Right. Mr. Jerk-Butts, isn’t it?”

Paige made a brief, hastily stifled noise, clamping her lips together.

Conleth repressed a sigh. “It’s Tiernach-West, actually. Conleth Tiernach-West. I trust you remember my colleague, Paige Brown?”

The sheriff gave Paige a brief nod before turning back to Conleth. “Been some odd things going on in this area recently. Wanted to ask you a few questions. This a good time to talk?”

“Of course,” Conleth said smoothly, praying the upcoming conversation was not going to involve the words Tyrannosaurus Rex. “Though I can’t say we’ve noticed anything unusual around here. What sort of odd things?”

Whatever had brought the sheriff to camp, apparently it was going to remain a mystery for a while longer. The man’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. He stared past them, blood draining from his face.

Conleth automatically reached out with his pegasus to see what had attracted the man’s attention, and bit back a curse. He wheeled around, ready to dash across the square and whisk Archie away?—

Except there was no need. Archie stood there, alarmed and confused and very much human.

“Mom?” Archie tugged at his mother’s hand. “Mom, what is it?”

She didn’t reply. Like the sheriff, she seemed to have frozen solid on the spot. For a long, drawn-out moment, the pair simply stared at each other.

The sheriff broke the silence first. “Denise?”

“Patrick,” she breathed, still motionless.

“Wait.” Paige looked between her mom and the sheriff. “It’s him? ”

The sheriff paid her no attention, taking a few steps toward her mom. He took his hat off, holding it nervously in both hands. “I—I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

“Mom, what’s going on?” Archie asked.

The sheriff appeared to notice Archie for the first time. He sucked in his breath as though he’d just been punched in the ribs. “This your boy?”

Her hand tightened on Archie’s. She nodded jerkily.

“Right. Right. Of course you’d have…” The sheriff cut himself off, broad face flushing. “Don’t know why I—well, just want to say, whoever his daddy is, he’s a lucky man. Hope he appreciates that. You.”

Paige’s mom still didn’t say anything. Conleth wasn’t sure she could speak. She was trembling all over, eyes locked on the sheriff’s.

After an awkward pause, the sheriff put his hat back on. He touched the brim, dipping his head. “Well. It was nice to see you again, Denise. Take care.”

Conleth felt Paige stir, as though to intervene. He put out an arm to stop her, mouthing wait .

The sheriff turned away. He got all of two steps before he swore under his breath and spun on his heel.

“Look,” he said roughly, striding back to Paige’s mom. “This is going to sound crazy, but if I don’t say anything I’m going to regret it for the rest of my life. Maybe you really are a, a damn were-bear. Maybe I just lost my mind that last night. Either way, I don’t care. You may have moved on, but I never will. I’ve thought of you every day for the past ten years. If you’re happy, then just say so, and I’ll leave you in peace. But, if you’re not…if, if you’d be willing to give me another chance…”

He trailed off helplessly, gazing at her as though his life hung on her next few words. Archie stared between the two adults, eyes going huge.

“Mom?” he whispered. “Is this…?”

“Yes.” His mom took a deep breath. “Patrick, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“It’s been nearly two hours.” Leonie paced around the edge of the dining hall like a caged lion. Conleth had called all the leadership team together for an impromptu senior staff meeting, to explain what was going on. “They’ve probably run out of coffee by now. I’ll take them a fresh pot.”

Conleth blocked her way as she tried to head for the kitchen. “You just want to eavesdrop. Stop fretting. Paige and her family don’t need anyone barging in with well-meaning attempts to help. Give them space to figure this out on their own.”

“I wish I could share your calm, friend Conleth.” Ragvald fidgeted with a heavy gold goblet from his personal hoard, rolling it between his huge hands. “The outlander man is a mere human, with no guiding animal to whisper wisdom in his ear. Though he seems to still have feelings for our shield-sister’s mother, this unexpected meeting must be a great shock to him.”

“I’m sure they’ll work it out,” Honey said. She gave Buck a sidelong glance, the corner of her mouth lifting in a small, fond smile. “They’re fated mates, after all.”

“Even so.” With a flick of his wrist, Ragvald made the goblet disappear back into his hoardspace. “It is a terrible thing to keep a father unaware of his own child for so long. Such a grievous wrong would test even the bond between mates.”

“There’s no need to worry.” Conleth smiled, feeling Paige’s joy like the sun rising in his heart. “Everything’s fine.”

As if in proof, the door opened. Paige entered, followed by Archie. Her mom and the sheriff came last, hand-in-hand. The man still looked somewhat shell-shocked, but there was a newfound softness in his weathered face; a kind of amazed, wondering glow.

“Everyone,” Archie said proudly, “this is my dad.”

As a chorus of relieved exclamations and congratulations broke out, Paige took Conleth’s hand. She pulled him over to the sheriff.

“It’s about time you two met properly,” she said. “Patrick, this is my mate.”

The sheriff turned from shaking hands with the other senior staff. His rather dazed expression abruptly sharpened.

“Him?” The sheriff looked from side-to-side, clearly hoping Paige might have meant someone else. “ This guy?”

Conleth’s stomach sank.

“It’s all right, Dad,” Archie said, overhearing. He grinned up at Conleth. “He’s not that bad.”

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