Camden wished the tension she could feel radiating from Doc and Mae toward her wasn’t real. But it was. And it was so tangible that it made her soul ache.

They really believed she’d do something so underhanded as to have Marie call in the council. That stung. She rode in silence behind them in Doc’s massive black SUV, studying the scenery around her.

Odd how she’d become so attached to this place in such a short time. She clasped her hands tightly to keep them from shaking. She wondered if the emotions she was feeling would show on her face when she walked in the door. Would Tyler notice? Did he hate her?

Doc Evans pulled his vehicle into a driveway, then drove about a mile. The driveway was surrounded with evergreen trees planted as if to be sentries. With each passing moment, Camden became more nervous. She wished Circe was here to help her relax, to help her get this straight.

Circe!

Did Circe know about this? She had to. Was she disappointed with Camden? Was Camden letting Circe down? What about Eden? Camden felt like she was in the middle of a dream—actually more like a nightmare. And she wanted to wake up.

Then she remembered the little girls. Trista and Tessa, what about them? Were they going to be placed with strangers? What if the people they were placed with weren’t elementals? What if they didn’t understand the little girls’ needs? Then what?

Doc Evans pulled the SUV into a spot between two black sedans with dark tinted windows. They were parked in front of a huge stone home that somehow managed to look like a fortress.

The front door opened and a man as large as Tyler and Doc stepped out. His face was serious. Oh, crap! Here we go. Was this guy with the council? Camden exited the SUV and kept her eyes focused on a spot just to the left of the man’s head so she wouldn’t have to look him in the eye.

“Camden Brazos, this is Grant Waters.” Doc indicated the man before him with a wave.

“Nice to meet you,” Grant Waters said. He stuck his hand out, but his tone was not exactly enthusiastic.

“And you.” Camden shook his hand.

“They’re waiting inside,” Grant said. “The only thing left is for them to hear Camden’s piece.” Grant glanced at Doc. “But I think they’ve made up their minds.”

Mae made a small gasp, before she covered her mouth with her fingertips. “Don’t tell me…”

Grant shook his head. “Without every bit of information…” He looked at Camden, then turned back to Mae. “Without all the facts, they’re not gonna rule in Tyler and Sean’s favor.”

“That means they’re ruling against the little girls,” Mae said.

“Looks that way.” Grant’s face was grim.

“Can’t you do something?” Mae put her hand on Grant’s shoulder. Her elemental was flashing in her eyes.

“I’m in charge of Bear Canyon Valley. I can’t control the Shifter Council. I can’t control laws.”

As if Camden didn’t already feel bad enough, now she felt worse.

“We might as will get inside,” Doc said.

Grant nodded.

Camden followed them in, holding her back straight, battling to keep from showing the defeat she felt.

Grant’s home was decorated with antique wood furniture in earthy tones. It didn’t flaunt his wealth, but it did assert his stature within the community.

They walked into the foyer and down a short hallway until they reached a set of thick, wooden double doors. Grant push them open. The first thing Camden saw was Tyler’s face. The accusation in his eyes burned clear to her soul. No doubt, he blamed her. She couldn’t lock gazes with him, so she looked away, studying the others at the table. Mac was there, and four other women. So were four other men.

All eyes were focused on her, making her want to sink into the gleaming wood floors. They sat around a large table, almost resembling a Board of Directors at a Fortune 500 company.

Somber faces awaited her.

Camden nodded a greeting.

“Camden Brazos,” Grant said.

The individuals at the table all nodded, except Tyler.

“Thank you for coming,” one woman said, rising to her feet.

Camden noticed there were something odd or perhaps a little off about the woman, the way she stood.

The woman smiled slightly, and said, “I’m Laken Araya. I’m part of the Advocacy of Young Shifters Project. We’re here to look after the best interests of our young ones.”

Camden noticed when she spoke that Laken lowered her hand and cupped her abdomen. Her shifter senses picked up the scent of her pregnancy. “I think we’re all here to look after the best interests of Trista and Tessa.”

Camden didn’t mean to throw the gauntlet down, she wasn’t challenging the council, but she didn’t want them to think she was going to carte blanche signoff on whatever they had been talking about. She had no idea what impression Marie had left them with, but judging from the way Tyler, Grant, Mae, and Doc were behaving, it was clear she probably wouldn’t agree with whatever the council was thinking.

“Of course, of course,” said a man who rose to his feet. He’d been sitting next to Laken, a good-looking man, large, with blue eyes and a direct gaze that made Camden want to trust him.

“I’m Ky Romanoff,” he said. “We’re all here for the young ones.”

“Are you with the council, too,” Camden asked.

“I am. I’m one of the newest members, well, Laken and I both are. She’s my mate, and the mother of our baby, as I’m sure you’ve noticed.”

Camden nodded.

“Please sit,” he said, indicating a chair.

One of the other shifters, a man with curly hair and dark eyes, jumped to his feet and pulled a chair out for Camden.

She thanked him and sat with her spine straight, her posture stiff.

“Where’s Eden?” Camden asked. She still avoided looking directly at Tyler. And she could still feel the daggers heading her way.

Grant answered her. “She’s with the little ones. We didn’t think they should be around for this. It would upset them too much.”

Camden could only imagine the chaos the two little girls would create if they knew what was happening. She knew they would wreak havoc as soon as they found out the council was trying to take them away from Tyler and Sean.