Chapter 37
“B ut you can’t leave,” Estelle said yet again, as though repeating it enough times would make it true. “We don’t want you to go.”
“I don’t want to leave either.” Honey was trying hard to smile, but they could all see through it. “I wish I could stay, but I can’t.”
“But you’ll come back, right?” Claire said anxiously. “We’ll see you again. If not this summer, then next year.”
“No, Claire.” Honey looked round at them all with red-rimmed eyes. “I’m afraid this is goodbye.”
Beth looked on the verge of tears too. “But why do you have to go? Is it something we did?”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Honey pulled her into a hug. “Of course not. It’s nothing to do with any of you. Just me. I’m sorry, I can’t tell you more than that.”
“But—but—” Archie struggled for words, and, finding none, took the usual option of turning into a bear instead.
Honey made a choked sound, like she wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. She hugged the bear cub too, burying her face in his fur. And then they were all piling in, wrapping their arms around her, like they could stop her from leaving through sheer weight.
Or nearly all. Ignatius hung back, not joining in.
“This is not acceptable,” he announced abruptly. His tone was haughty, but he was fidgeting with his signet ring; a sure sign he was nervous. “I will not allow it. Take me to the director at once. I will inform him you must stay.”
“It’s not Zephyr’s decision. In fact, he’s done everything he can to stop me.” Honey broke away from the pack, reaching out to the dragon shifter. “But thank you. For wanting to try.”
Stiff-backed, Ignatius allowed Honey to enfold him in her arms, though he made no move to return the hug. “Is Buck going with you?”
“No.” Honey released Ignatius, blinking rapidly. “Don’t worry, he’s not going anywhere. I… I have to go pack. Excuse me.”
She rushed out, not looking back. Left alone in the empty dining hall, the pack exchanged worried looks.
“Was Honey crying? ” Claire asked in hushed tones.
“Of course she was crying,” Estelle said impatiently. “You heard her, she’s not leaving because she wants to.”
Finley bit his lip, glancing at the door. “Has anyone seen Buck this afternoon?”
Everyone shook their heads.
“You think he could have done something to upset her, Finley?” Flora asked.
“Don’t be stupid, they’re mated. True mates don’t make each other cry,” Estelle said with utter certainty. “It must be something else. Think, everyone. We have to figure out what’s wrong, so we can stop Honey from leaving.”
Rufus, who’d been rocking back and forth in silent distress, went still.
“What?” Beth said, noticing. “Rufus, do you know something?”
Rufus hesitated. His gaze flicked to Ignatius.
The dragon shifter stiffened. “What’s he saying?”
“Nothing, at the moment,” Estelle replied. “Come on, Rufus. If you’ve got any idea what might have happened, you have to tell us.”
For a moment, Rufus didn’t respond. His hands twisted together in indecision. Then his mouth firmed.
“Rufus says,” Finley started, and then whipped round to stare at his friend. “ What?! ”
“What is it?” Flora said, looking round at Beth and Estelle, whose mouths had also dropped open. “What did Rufus say?”
Beth swallowed, looking like the griffin shifter had whacked her over the head with a flamingo. “He says… Honey isn’t a shifter.”
“I knew it!” Ignatius burst out. “I knew that was what they were hiding!”
“Graaaaw?” said the bear cub.
“You did?” Claire said, wide-eyed. “Why didn’t you tell any of us?”
“Why didn’t you tell any of us?” Estelle said to Rufus, far more accusingly.
“Don’t be an idiot,” Ignatius snapped. “He knew I suspected something was up with Honey. He couldn’t risk telling anyone in case it got back to me. Isn’t that right, Rufus?”
Rufus nodded, shooting the others an apologetic glance.
“But… why does it matter?” Flora said. “I mean, I know this is meant to be a camp for shifters, but Honey’s a great counselor. Zephyr wouldn’t kick her out just because she’s human, right?”
“Remember what Honey said? Zephyr doesn’t have a choice.” Finley gestured at Ignatius. “Because of your uncle. Right, Ig?”
“It’s true.” Ignatius’s scowl deepened. “This camp wouldn’t exist without his money. If my uncle knew there was a non-shifter here, he’d be furious. Someone must have found out Honey’s secret. That’s why she has to leave, before it gets back to him.”
“I guess if you could figure it out, a whole bunch of other people could too,” Estelle said to Ignatius, not entirely graciously.
“This is great!” Beth exclaimed. At everyone else’s looks, she rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on, keep up. If this really is the only reason Honey’s leaving, it’s easy enough to fix. All Ig has to do is call his uncle and tell him that Honey has to stay.”
“Graaaaaw!” the bear agreed enthusiastically.
“It’s not that simple.” Ignatius twisted his ring back and forth on his finger. “You don’t understand how strongly my uncle feels about non-shifters.”
Claire’s forehead creased. “Why does your uncle hate people who can’t shift?”
Ignatius shook his head. “That’s not important right now. But trust me, it’s not going to be easy to change his mind.”
“But you can do it, right?” said Flora. “I mean, you’re always going on about how you’re his heir and everything. He’ll listen to you.”
Ignatius didn’t reply straight away. He stared down at his ring, rubbing his thumb over the dragon engraved on the gold.
“I… may have an idea.” The dragon shifter squared his shoulders, looking around at them all. “But I’m going to need everyone’s help.”