Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

A n hour later, Zephyr—the Thunderbird’s Chosen, bringer of storms, destroyer of demons, and summer camp director—was standing in a woodshed.

“I see,” Zephyr said, in the tones of a man who did not see at all. “And how long do I have to stay here?”

“All summer,” Conleth replied, busy picking up logs. “Consider it an upgrade. As the director, it’s about time you had a private office.”

“There’s no Wi-Fi. Or power.” Zephyr surveyed his surroundings. “Or walls.”

“It’s open-plan.”

“Conleth, if it was any more open plan, it would be a field.”

“I don’t see why you’re complaining.” Conleth carried the logs to what was nominally outside, adding them to the growing pile next to the crude structure. “You’re a summer camp director. You’re meant to enjoy getting back to nature.”

“I do enjoy getting back to nature.” Zephyr removed a curious spider from his dark hair, returning it to the web-strewn rafters. “I’m not sure my paperwork will, though.”

“You don’t do paperwork. You ignore paperwork. Paperwork piles up in your general vicinity until I lose patience and forge your signature. This is simply optimizing our workflow to remove redundant steps.”

“And also, I note, my desk.”

“For a man who spent a substantial portion of his life as an incorporeal spirit, you are remarkably picky about interior decor.”

Zephyr stepped aside to allow him to collect more logs. “And why, exactly, do I now have to run the camp from the woodshed?”

“Because I met my mate. Keep up, Zephyr.”

“I’m trying. It’s just something of a jump from ‘I met my mate’ to ‘So now I need you to move into the woodshed.’”

“I don’t understand why you’re having so much trouble with this. Paige is going to help with the camp admin. That means she needs a desk. I can’t fit an extra one into the office, and anyway, it might tip her off we weren’t expecting her to be working in there. Therefore, you need to move out. And since we’re already utilizing all our current buildings to full capacity…” He waved a hand at the woodshed. “This is the best of our limited options. See? All perfectly logical.”

“You and I have very different definitions of that word.” Zephyr let out a resigned sigh. “Can I at least have a chair?”

“Stop looking so martyred. I’m not going to make you perch on a log all summer. I’ll get our contractors in tomorrow to convert this space into something more weatherproof. And I’ve already ordered you a new desk and chair.” He picked up another piece of firewood. “Trust me. I have a plan.”

“That’s what worries me.”

“Oh, so suddenly you don’t trust my judgment?” Conleth snapped. “Which one of us turned this summer camp from a vague aspiration into an actual functioning business, again?”

“I could never have founded Camp Thunderbird without you, and I am eternally grateful for everything you’ve done here,” Zephyr said calmly. “But we’re talking about your mate, Conleth. Not a business startup.”

“It’s exactly the same thing. Whether in business or romance, you can only reach your goals through careful planning and deliberate strategy.” Conleth jabbed a stick of firewood at him. “This is no different to a corporate merger. Only with fewer spreadsheets.”

Zephyr massaged his temples. “You’ve made a spreadsheet, haven’t you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” said Conleth, who would have, if he’d had time. “Now, are you going to help me or not?”

Zephyr blew out his breath. “I want to help you. I’m just not convinced this is the right way.”

Conleth would have retorted, but a flicker of approaching souls distracted him. The pair were easily recognizable—one dark and stormy, the other glowing with warmth.

“Your uncle and his mate are heading this way,” he told Zephyr, frowning. “At speed, too.”

A moment later, the pair of winged wolves landed outside the woodshed. The larger wolf folded his gray wings, sparks cracking from the feathers. His outline blurred, stretching upward into the solid, stocky form of Buck.

Buck took one look at Conleth, standing there in a torn suit plastered with bear fur, his arms full of logs. His weathered features broke into a rare smile.

“I was right,” Buck announced to the world in general. “Conleth is screwing up the whole mate thing even worse than I did.”

The golden wolf whacked Buck with one glowing wing.

“Thank you, Honey,” Conleth said to her. He glared at Buck. “And I beg to disagree, considering that I have yet to crash-land naked on her roof.”

Something occurred to him. He frowned.

“Wait,” he said. “How did you know I met my mate?”

In a shimmer of light, the golden wolf shifted as well. Honey, at least, didn’t look like this was the finest entertainment she’d seen this decade. Her kind, usually cheerful face bore an expression of earnest concern.

“We saw you two talking outside the office,” Honey said. “It was pretty obvious what was going on.”

Buck’s smirk widened. “Especially after you exited stage right, pursued by a bear.”

“I’m so sorry Archie interrupted your first meeting with your mate.” Honey threw Buck a pointed look. “ I tried to stop him.”

“It was a romantic moment,” Buck said, not looking the least bit apologetic. “I was overcome with emotion.”

“Thank you so much for your assistance,” Conleth told him sourly. “If my arms weren’t full of logs, I’d give you a hug.”

“It was the least I could do. Literally.” Buck glanced at the piles of firewood, one eyebrow cocking. “I suspect I’m going to regret asking this, but why are you rearranging the woodshed?”

“Conleth’s kicking me out of the office,” Zephyr said. “I work here now.”

“Do you want a front-row seat to my romantic endeavors?” Conleth asked him.

“I love my new office,” Zephyr said without missing a beat. He gestured at a corner. “I think I’ll put my potted plant over there.”

Honey’s forehead wrinkled. “Conleth, why are you throwing Zephyr out of the office?”

Before Conleth could explain himself, he sensed another person hurrying toward the woodshed. That particular odd, flickering aura was also readily identifiable. He’d known her longer than any of the others; practically all his life, in fact.

And he’d thought he could rely on her.

He muttered a curse, which earned him funny looks from everyone else. He held up a hand to stave off questions, concentrating on his pegasus sense. The dim, wavering aura was meandering now, turning in small circles as though searching for something.

Conleth raised his voice. “Leonie! We’re in here!”

He sensed her turn at his call. A moment later, Leonie appeared to his normal vision as well, looking harassed. Frizzy wisps of blonde hair were escaping from her braid, curling around her face. She brushed them back behind her ears, clipboard tucked under her other arm.

“Conleth!” she exclaimed. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Why are you hiding in the woodshed?”

“Welcome to my new office,” Zephyr said. “Pull up a log.”

“Would someone please explain the whole office thing?” Honey said plaintively.

Conleth ignored the request, more concerned with Leonie. “What are you doing here? I told you to keep an eye on Paige.”

“I left her to get settled into her cabin.” Leonie jabbed him in the chest with her finger. “You promised me we’d discuss this later. Well, it’s later. I want some answers, and I want them right now. How dare you reassign one of my counselors to staff liaison without consulting me?”

“What’s a staff liaison?” Honey asked.

“I’m so glad you asked that, Honey,” Leonie said sweetly. Conleth could practically see a tufted tail lashing behind her. “Well, Conleth? What is a staff liaison? More to the point, why do we now have one?”

“It’s complicated. But I’m sure Paige will genuinely be useful in the role. We should have expanded the admin staff long before now, really. I can’t keep doing everything now that—” Conleth broke off as yet another interruption tugged at his attention. “Oh, for the love of little red apples, what now?”

“Let me guess,” Zephyr murmured. “More company?”

Conleth didn’t have to answer that one. Moira ducked into the woodshed, followed by her ever-present bodyguard, Ragvald. Everyone abruptly had much less space.

Moira blinked at the assembled gathering. “What in the Sea is everyone doing in the woodshed?”

“Having a senior staff meeting,” Zephyr replied. “Apparently.”

With a sigh, Conleth dropped his logs. “Dare I hope that you needed to speak with us on an urgent matter concerning the lifeguards or waterfront, Moira?”

“I’m afraid not,” the sea dragon princess replied. “Conleth, is it true that you met your mate?”

Conleth raked a hand through his hair. “Yes. But?—”

“This is the best of news, shield-brother!” Ragvald boomed before he could finish the sentence. The wyrm shifter flung his beefy arms wide, making Zephyr duck. “My breast swells at your good fortune! Come, let us embrace in shared joy!”

Conleth instinctively reached for his power, but with his pegasus still exhausted, he couldn’t evade the assault. Ragvald’s arms closed on him like an industrial car crusher.

“Ragvald,” Moira said wearily. “Ragvald, no. What have I said about hugging people without their explicit consent?”

“But this is a special occasion!” Ragvald protested, still attempting to lovingly break Conleth’s spine. “Such an event cannot be celebrated with mere words!”

“I would have been more than happy with a congratulatory email,” Conleth wheezed, with what was possibly his last breath. “Or a fruit basket.”

“Put him down, Ragvald,” Moira said. “That’s an order.”

Ragvald rumbled in disgruntlement, but released him. “Outlanders. I do not understand how people who live in such a sweltering climate can be so cold and formal.”

Conleth tugged his shirt straight, trying to recover some dignity. “Before anyone else feels the need to literally press me for details, yes, I met my mate. Yes, she’s Archie’s sister. Her name is Paige, and she’s not a shifter. For those who need things spelled out for them in very simple words, Buck, that means she doesn’t know I’m her mate.”

“But she must know,” Honey said. “Archie shouted it in front of half the camp.”

“Oh, no.” Moira’s expression said that she’d just connected the dots and didn’t like the resulting picture. “Conleth, please tell me you didn’t.”

“If you’re accusing me of lying to her, then no, I did not,” Conleth said sharply. “At no point did I ever tell Paige she wasn’t my mate.”

Honey cast Buck a sidelong glance. “I remember someone else saying that, too.”

Buck grunted. “And I was also being a motherloving idiot.”

“Excuse me,” Conleth snapped. “You, for reasons that still escape me, were hell bent on rejecting the delightful and frankly long-suffering woman currently standing next to you. I, on the other hand, fully intend to tell Paige she’s my mate at the earliest possible opportunity.”

“Good.” Zephyr brushed another spider off his shoulder. “And when would that be?”

Conleth started collecting logs again. “As soon as I’m certain she’ll react with complete delight.”

Leonie let out a pained groan. “ Conleth. ”

“I do not understand,” Ragvald said. “If she is your mate, why would you not declare your heart’s desire straight away? Surely your body and spirit must rage to claim her.”

“You have no idea,” Conleth muttered, feeling the tug of Paige’s distant life-spark. “But at the moment, all Paige knows about me is that I’m idiotic enough to wear a suit to a summer camp, and her little brother doesn’t like me. Hardly conducive to falling in love at first sight.”

“Ahhh.” Ragvald stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Yes, all becomes clear now. So she is from a hostile clan. That is a complication. You must approach cautiously, and with much preparation.”

“See?” Conleth looked around at the others in triumph. “ Ragvald gets it.”

The wyrm clapped him on the shoulder. “So, when will you be abducting her from her lodge?”

There was a small pause.

“And I stand corrected,” Conleth said. “In a twist that will shock no one, Ragvald does not get it.”

“Is that what you do in Ormholm, Ragvald?” Honey’s expression had shifted to morbid fascination. “If your mate rejects you for some reason, you abduct her?”

Ragvald stiffened indignantly. “No wyrm would ever reject their fated mate. But sometimes mates may come from clans who have sworn blood-feud against each other. None can deny the call of destiny, yet it would be a dishonor to abandon such family oaths too readily. So one of the pair demonstrates their courage and commitment by raiding the enemy lodge, sneaking past all guards in order to steal away their mate.”

Moira, who’d been looking rather apprehensive about this latest cultural surprise, let out a breath of relief. “So it’s a kind of ritual, just to satisfy honor? The so-called victim comes willingly?”

Ragvald shrugged, which was not entirely reassuring. “In most cases. Of course, if the intended beloved is insufficiently impressed by their mate’s display of daring, they may choose to fight the would-be suitor instead. One cousin of mine was matched by fate to a rival warrior of particular skill and stubbornness. She sent him back to our lodge trussed and bound to the belly of a donkey. Six times, as I recall.”

“Did he win her heart in the end?” Honey asked.

“One must assume so, since she eventually abducted him herself.” With a broad grin, Ragvald pulled up the hem of his t-shirt to expose a thick stomach crossed with white scars. “See here? I still proudly bear the honor mark she gifted me. Ah, but that was a fine fight!”

Conleth contemplated the man’s abdomen. “Can I ask a favor, Ragvald?”

“But of course, shield-brother.” Ragvald tugged his t-shirt down. “We are comrades for the season, bound by oath to serve the same steading. My ax is yours.”

“Thank you.” Conleth looked the wyrm dead in the eye. “Promise you will not, under any circumstances, attempt to help me. With anything. Ever.”

“Moving on from this fascinating discussion of wyrm dating etiquette, hard as that may be,” Buck said. “What is your motherloving plan here, Conleth? Because from this perspective, it seems to involve lying to your mate, getting mauled by her little brother, and moving a large quantity of firewood ten feet to the left.”

“For the last time, I’m not lying to her,” Conleth said in exasperation. “I’m merely choosing to withhold some particular details for an indefinite period of time.”

“Or as most people would put it, lying,” Leonie said. “And not just to Paige. Even if she has no idea you’re her mate, Archie knows. Or at least suspects.”

“Which is exactly why I had to act fast, and change Paige’s assignment from pack counselor to a support role,” he replied. “So I have a cast-iron excuse to spend time with her. Archie knows I don’t usually have anything to do with the counselors or campers. If I’d started following her around like a lost puppy, he would have quickly realized I’m her mate.”

“Which you are. ” Leonie threw up her hands, nearly lamping Zephyr in the face with her clipboard. “I’ve seen you come up with some ridiculously overcomplicated plans in the past, Conleth, but this one takes the cake. It’s going to blow up in your face horribly. Even more than the apples.”

“Apples?” said Honey.

“We do not speak of the apple story,” Conleth told her. “And no, it isn’t. I know what I’m doing, Leonie. Everything is under control.”

“Say that again,” Buck suggested. “This time, without jittering.”

Conleth realized he was fidgeting with a piece of firewood, twisting it nervously between his hands. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to still.

“Everything is under control,” he repeated with more conviction. “I have a plan. Paige wants Archie to have a good summer. He’s not going to do that if he’s spending every second worrying about whether I’m seducing his sister. As long as I keep things strictly professional for a while, his suspicions will subside. And while Archie enjoys camp, Paige will be working with me in the office. That will give me plenty of opportunities to impress her.”

“You plan to woo the woman with paperwork.” Buck glanced around at the others. “And you all told me I was bad at romance.”

“My pivot tables are very persuasive,” Conleth retorted. “Believe me, I’m more than capable of charming a woman when I’m not trying to do so while simultaneously fending off an angry bear. Once she’s fallen in love with me, then I’ll tell her we’re mates.”

Moira blew out her breath. “Conleth, I appreciate why you don’t want to reveal the truth straight away, but this is a risky plan. If you drag it out too long, she might feel more betrayed than overjoyed when you finally confess.”

“And don’t forget Archie,” Honey added. “He won’t appreciate being tricked.”

Conleth made a big show of looking around. “My goodness. It appears that we are not, in fact, still in the medieval era. I therefore see no need to beg my mate’s nearest male relative for permission to court her. Especially not when he’s ten years old.”

“I’m not saying you need to ask his permission,” Honey said with a touch of exasperation. “I just think you should be honest with him, and try to make a genuine connection. If this plays out the way you hope, you’re going to be family, after all.”

“Yes, you must bond with the boy!” Ragvald declared. He reached behind his back, no doubt to produce something horrifying from the magical ‘hoard space’ he carried around like an invisible pocket. “Over a fine manly challenge! Such as?—”

“Ragvald,” everyone chorused in unison. “No.”

Ragvald let his hand drop back to his side, looking disgruntled. “You did not even hear my suggestion.”

“Let me take a wild guess,” Conleth said. “Did it involve an ax?”

“Ragvald’s got a point,” Buck said. “I know Archie. Spent a whole summer with him, thanks to you hilarious jokers. The kid may be physically incapable of staying the same species for more than fifteen minutes, and the only way to keep his shoes on his feet is with motherloving superglue, but he’s also smart. No matter how subtle you try to be, he’s going to smell a rat before too long.”

“I’ve cut deals with literal dragons. I think I can handle one suspicious child.” Conleth tossed the log outside, then brushed off his hands. “Besides, Archie won’t have time to interfere. He’ll be far too busy having the best summer of his life. I intend to make sure his counselors keep him fully occupied.”

Buck looked over at Zephyr. “Just out of curiosity, did you hire any extra counselors this year?”

“We have a couple of spares,” Zephyr replied. “Why?”

“You’re going to need them.” Buck folded his arms. “I give it forty-eight hours before whoever’s lumbered with Archie this year hands in their notice.”

“I’m so glad you mentioned that.” Conleth aimed his most winning smile in Honey’s direction. “Honey, given the circumstances, I thought perhaps you and Buck could?—?”

“Oh no,” Honey interrupted, holding up her hands. “I’ll do everything I can to help you, Conleth, but I’m running the art program this year, and Buck will have his hands full leading the camping expeditions. We’re not even living on site this summer. We can’t be Archie’s pack counselors.”

“Thank dog,” Buck muttered. “The only way anyone’s keeping that kid away from the office is with a choke chain and a cattle prod.”

“Conleth, I’ve already assigned all the campers to their packs!” Leonie clutched her clipboard as though she feared he might try to snatch it away again. “It’s bad enough that you swapped Paige with one of the support counselors. You can’t upend my entire schedule right before the start of camp!”

The familiar squeeze of the post-speed migraine tightened around his brain. There was too much to keep straight. Dozens of thoughts clamored for attention like starving baby birds. He wanted to pace, to relieve some of the pressure in his head through movement, but there wasn’t space with everyone crowded around him. The best he could do was tap his fingers, faster and faster, in a futile attempt to channel some of the restless energy jangling through his nerves.

“Shield-brother?” Ragvald gave him a quizzical look. “If I did not know you, I would fear you were on the verge of losing your wits to battle-rage. Is all well?”

“Fine.” Conleth attempted to cover his agitation by glaring at them all. “I’m fine. Or at least I would be, if everyone would stop trying to interfere.”

“You don’t look fine,” Buck said. “Frankly, you look like hammered dog turds.”

That was better than he felt. There were too many people and too many distractions and too much time left until he could take his medication. Everything was going wrong and his head hurt and he couldn’t focus ? —

“Conleth?” Moira touched his arm, nearly making him jump out of his skin. “You really don’t look well. Perhaps you should sit down.”

“No!” His simmering frustration boiled over, breaking the fraying threads of his composure. “I can’t sit down! I wasn’t prepared for this, and it’s all going wrong, and I’m not in control! ”

The last few words rang into shocked silence. Too late, he realized he’d spoken far too loudly, practically yelling into their faces. Everyone stared at him with varying levels of surprise and dismay.

“Sorry,” he muttered. “I didn’t mean to shout. I’m not myself right now.”

“It’s all right, Conleth,” Honey said gently. “We understand. You’ve spent years anticipating this day, and it didn’t go as you planned. Of course you’re stressed.”

It was all he could do to hold back a bark of laughter. He hadn’t had a plan. That was the whole problem. But he could hardly reveal that he’d been behind Joe’s so-called prophecy in the first place.

And that was going to be another problem, he realized with a lurch. Everyone thought he was only at Camp Thunderbird to meet his mate. Now that he actually had, they would expect him to leave. True, the business was more financially stable than it had been in the early days, but there was always the threat of some unforeseen disaster. How could he trust anyone else to run the camp?

“I just need some time to make a plan,” he said, as much to convince himself as anyone else. “This is too important to risk making irreversible decisions on impulse. In the meantime, I need you all to promise you won’t say anything to Paige about us being mates. Let me do this my way.”

Leonie sighed, but nodded. “Okay, Conleth. Just let us know if there’s anything we can do to help, okay? We’re all here for you.”

“Behind you one hundred percent,” Buck said. “Eating popcorn.”

Honey kicked the side of her mate’s foot. “We’ll be careful what we say around Paige. But Conleth, what about the kids?”

“What about him? I told you, I can handle Archie.”

“Not Archie,” Honey said patiently. “I mean the others. Finley, Rufus, Estelle, and especially Beth. They’re Archie’s friends. You can’t ask them to keep secrets from him.”

Conleth frowned, not seeing Honey’s point. “I’m not going to ask them to do anything. I’m not even going to tell them that Paige is my mate. Unlike a certain anonymous individual whose name rhymes with a common expletive, I don’t require the assistance of a bunch of children when it comes to matters of the heart.”

Honey and Buck looked at each other.

“Oh, please,” Buck said. “ Please let me be the one to tell him.”

Honey kicked him again.

“Tell me what?” Conleth asked.

“I’m so sorry, I thought you already knew. Otherwise, I would have told you straight away.” Honey hesitated, her hands twisting together. “Conleth, you may have to rethink your plan. Archie wasn’t the only camper who saw you meet your mate.”