Eden opened her eyes and stared into Sean’s, noting his bear in the deep liquid pools, just as her panther lurked nearby, ever at the ready.

He pulled away. “I don’t want to rush you.”

His voice was that sexy kind of hoarse that made her knees weak and a pulse beat in areas south.

You couldn’t rush me if you’d done that yesterday. “You’re not,” her words were a breathy whisper that perfectly captured the way this man made her feel.

“If you’re telling me you’re going to the Carpathian Mountains,” he rubbed the stubble on his jaw, “Europe, right? Eastern? Central?” He looked chagrinned. “Geography’s not my thing.”

“You’re right. Romania is where these guys are.”

“You’re not going alone.” One of Sean’s brows rose in askance.

Something about the way he said it, the way that his voice was unwilling to brook argument, that he wouldn’t let her be alone.

She let out a sigh.

“Agreed,” she said with a nod. “But I’m not leaving. Not just yet.” She smiled. “First, I’m getting a shower. Then I’m spending some time with my sisters and my brother. And with your brother. And Trista and Tessa.”

“Oh?” He tilted his head.

“And you. Mostly you.”

* * *

Everyone was gathered in the backyard at Tyler and Sean’s place. Everyone being, Griz, Mae, Doc, Marco, Circe, Linc, little Dina, Tessa, Trista, Ciara, Camden, Tyler, Sean, Eden, and the wizards—Cedric and Jenner.

There was a ton—it seemed—of barbecue, not to mention all the accoutrements, courtesy of Mae’s friends in Bear Canyon Valley’s local diner.

Griz and his nephews had set up picnic tables.

Trista and Tessa were chasing Dina around, and they seemed just like average little girls. None of the histrionics from before, no tantrums, no nothing. Just girls, playing.

Eden sighed and leaned against Sean.

He squeezed her hand. “It’s nice. Normal, you know?”

Eden nodded, but couldn’t help feeling guilty that she didn’t have the elemental factor anymore. What good would she be to the girls?

As though Camden and Circe were psychic, they approached her.

“It will be fine,” Camden put her hand on Eden’s. “You bring enough practical experience to the table, whether you do or don’t harbor an elemental at this moment.”

Circe nodded. “Agreed.”

“But my circumstances have changed…” Eden still wasn’t sure. “How can I be good for the twins?”

Suddenly, Trista and Tessa’s heads whipped in her direction.

Eden bit her lip. Could they have heard her? They were shifters after all, and shifter hearing… she exhaled in frustration.

Both of the girls ran toward Eden, pigtails flying behind them. They stopped when they reached her and planted tiny fists on tiny hips.

Eden looked at Circe. “Did you teach them that move?”

Circe laughed low, then gave her a shrug. “Somethings just happen naturally, don’t they?”

Nearby, Linc caught the exchange and shook his head, a smile curving the good-looking man’s lips upward as Dina ran toward him and catapulted herself into his arms.

Eden shook her head, then turned back to the little girls that were pouting and demanding her attention.

“Say it isn’t so,” Tessa demanded.

“It can’t be.” Trista frowned.

Eden knelt next to them. Sean stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders.

Where did he come from?

It was as though everyone had a special radar that guided them to this exchange between her and the little ones.

“What’s that?” Eden chucked both of them under their chins.

“You can’t be thinking of leaving us. We need you.” Their words came simultaneously, as though rehearsed from tiny rosebud lips. Old soul eyes started at her, their elemental colors and their bear shifter hues flashing.

Eden laughed. “Did someone set you up to this?”

“Do you think we can be manipulated so easily?” That came from Trista, her mouth was the one moving, but that voice was not Trista’s.

It was her elemental. An ages old being that would be with Trista forever.

Or so Eden hoped.

But if she isn’t, I hope it works out as good for her as it has for Piria and me.

Eden glanced up and caught Circe’s gaze on her face, and behind Circe’s dark eyes, a flare of red flames—Piria. Circe nodded, and inside, Eden was sure the nod came from Piria.

A surge of joy ran through her, getting more validation that Piria and she had made the right move.

“So,” Sean began. “What do you say, Eden? The girls are waiting for your answer.”

Tears brimmed in her eyes.

Damn. More tears. Seems all I do is cry around this family.

Tears of joy.

She nodded, fearing that her voice would crack and she’d begin to bawl from happiness.

“You’re my family. I wouldn’t abandon you.” She held her arms open wide.

The twins threw themselves into the embrace with gusto.

* * *

Eden used her napkin to get barbecue sauce off Sean’s chin. “You liked it,” she said with a laugh.

“Mhm.” His eyes glittered with love, and lust, and all sort of things that made her belly flip and her knees feel like they were made of jelly.

The adults were outside. The children had gone inside to watch a show, attended by their favorite “uncle,” Griz.

Circe rose, and silence fell amongst the merrymaking group. “If I could have a moment.”

All heads turned toward her.

She continued, “We were talking and considering the dangerous element that has been pursuing the girls, and that Amaranth is still alive, though the other two witches have perished…” She glanced at Cedric and Jenner with nod. “Well, several of us feel the girls wouldn’t be safe here. And the safest place I can think of is in Denver, at our place.”

She looked at Sean and Tyler. “And with you two there, as extra security, and all the security we already have in place…” This time she looked at Eden, Sean, Camden, and Tyler. “I think it would be a good idea if you all wanted to consider it.”

Eden looked at Camden and Tyler. They didn’t seem surprised by this. “You knew about this?”

Camden nodded. “We talked about it earlier, when you were with Sean.”

Eden glanced at Sean. “What do you think?”

“I’m all for whatever will keep those two little ones safe.”

Tyler nodded. “Agreed. Completely.”

Eden set her napkin on the disposable plate. “Who am I to argue with the logic of this. It makes sense. And I don’t think Amaranth and her bunch are likely to quit looking for them. And with so many of us together, it seems like we’d have more eyes for looking out.”

“Exactly.” Circe’s shoulders lifted, as though a great burden had been removed. “I’m glad we all agree.”

“I have my own announcement,” Eden said. “It might seem hasty, what with the way things have gone down, but it’s what I feel I need to do.”

Sean put his arm around her, completely in support. Over brisket and corn on the cob, she’d shared the idea she’d come up with while she’d been in the shower.

Now it was time to tell the family.

“I’m going to the Carpathian Mountains, where we first trained,” she added for the benefit of those who didn’t know. “I’ve got to find my role, what the Order wants or needs from me now. I feel rudderless.”

Across the firepit, Circe nodded, clearly understanding.

Camden reached out, and squeezed her fingers.

“I’ll be going with her,” Sean stated, as if there were no other option.

“I’m worried about leaving the girls,” Eden continued.

“We’ll cover,” Tyler said.

“Absolutely,” Camden agreed.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Circe exclaimed.

“I hope I won’t be gone long. I shouldn’t.”

“We shouldn’t,” Sean amended.

“Yes, we,” Eden agreed. “Thank you.” She kissed him. “For everything. For always.”

“Always,” he whispered in her ear.

“So, just fly back to Denver when you’re heading back to the country,” Linc said.

Eden wasn’t sure she’d heard more than a couple dozen words out of the quiet shifter, but she was so very happy that her sister had met him.

“We will.”