Question after question was thrown at Camden. Two hours later, she was exhausted. The mood had never improved, at least, not the one emanating from Tyler.

The council was clearly objective, but it was obvious they had a job, a duty, and would not be swayed by friendships.

Camden could tell that Ky and Mae were friends but there was no doubt that the council would be impartial.

“We will be discussing this amongst us, if you will give us some time,” one of the other council members said, and Camden couldn’t have said what her name was.

The only names she’d actually managed to retain were Laken’s and Ky’s.

Camden, Tyler, Mae, and Grant all moved out of the room, single file.

Camden led the way so that she wouldn’t have to look at Tyler.

Once they’d stepped into the hallway, Grant closed the door behind them.

“How about something to drink?” Grant asked.

More like tequila, Camden thought. A whole bottle of it would be great. “A cup of coffee sounds good,” she said softly.

“Yes, it does,” Mae agreed, putting her hand on Camden’s shoulder.

The act of kindness made tears burn the bridge of Camden’s nose. But she wasn’t going to cry. No, she couldn’t cry. She followed them toward the kitchen, or at least, she presumed it was toward the kitchen.

In the kitchen, a beautiful curvy woman greeted Grant with a smile and a kiss.

“Coffee’s ready,” she announced.

Grant sucked in an exaggerated breath. “I smelled it!” He turned to Camden. “Chelsea, this is Camden Brazos. Camden, my mate and mother of the most precocious little boy you ever saw, Chelsea.”

“Lucky you, said precocious one is asleep. You’ve been saved by naptime.” She smiled at Camden.

“Thank you for the coffee,” Camden said reaching for a cup. She pulled the cup along the tabletop without picking it up because she knew her hands were still shaking.

Every question they had asked her, she’d wondered if she’d answered correctly, and if it was going to be the question that made them decide the girls couldn’t stay with Tyler and Sean. Every answer felt like it was at the apex of the mountainside ready to fall off a cliff that would destroy lives.

Camden took a deep breath, then turned to Tyler. “I’m sorry.”

Tyler didn’t say a word.

That broke her heart more than it would’ve if he’d yelled at her, if he’d called her the worst names.

Tyler looked at Mae, and said, “I’m going to check on the girls.”

Camden turned away from the group so they wouldn’t see the tears that now had broken through the barrier she’d set up and had filled her eyes.

She heard the back door close then turned to face the remaining foursome. “Please know, I didn’t do this. I didn’t mean for anything to happen. I didn’t tell Marie to call the council or the Advocates of Young Shifters. I didn’t even know there was such a thing. We—the Order of Elementals—work independently of other shifter institutions and organizations. We’re not—it’s—”

Camden got no further.

The back door flew open, crashed against the wall, then in stepped the one man who really could scare the hell out of her, elemental be damned.

Griz.

He crossed his arms over a wide chest, tendons straining, muscles flexed, then his gaze traveled from Doc, to Mae, to Grant, then Chelsea, briefly, then rested on Camden.

Camden swallowed hard, though the logical part of her mind told her there was nothing to be concerned about. Even if Griz tried to threaten her physically, Avala would handle the matter.

Griz frowned and addressed Grant. “Why is the council here? What’s this about? Sean called, said they are questioning the legitimacy of placing the twins with Sean and Tyler.”

She swallowed hard again. And by hard, that meant a cinderblock felt like it was stuck in her throat.

Grant did a half-shrug.

Chelsea stepped in and reached out with a cup of coffee.

Griz studied the mug and its steamy contents as if it were unfamiliar to him, then looked up at Chelsea as though finally registering what she’d given him. “Thank you.” He wrapped his fingers around the mug.

Camden worried the white knuckled grip he had on the ceramic—or porcelain—would make it shatter beneath his touch.

Griz shook his head. “Sean didn’t tell me much. Can you update me as to what is going on exactly?”

Camden cleared her throat and his laser-focused gaze turned her way.

“I think I’m to blame for—”

“What in the world—” Griz started.

Mae put a hand on his shoulder. “At least hear her out.”

Griz nodded curtly. “I apologize.”

Camden noted his apology sounded more like a bark than an expression of regret.

“I didn’t mean to—it wasn’t deliberate.” She paused to regain control over her emotions.

Maybe her pause was too long because again, Griz spoke. “Where are the girls now? Where’s Tyler?” The scar that practically halved his face was white as though with strain.

Probably was strain, Camden noted. And it’s all my fault.

“Eden’s watching the girls. During the proceedings, I mean. And now the council is taking a few moments,” Mae interjected.

“Moments to decide what happens with the twins,” Grant explained, blowing on the cup Chelsea handed him, kissing her on the tip of her nose and mouthing a thank you.

Griz’s eyes narrowed, the flare of amber from his bear shifter spreading within, clearly agitated. “Decide?”

Mae’s expression was somber as she nodded. “What to do with them.”

“The hell you say.” And with that, Griz firmly placed the mug on the counter and stormed through the kitchen door to the hallway that led to the room the council was in.

Oh, shit, Camden thought.

Griz’s footsteps were not light on the solid wood floors. Mae, Doc, and Grant followed him. Chelsea headed toward the staircase.

Camden wished she could follow Chelsea, but knew she had to head straight toward the drama that she’d been instrumental—albeit inadvertently—in putting into effect. She steeled herself and trailed the others, following Griz.

Griz didn’t knock.

Shocker, she thought. As though she expected the big, burly, take-charge kind of man that he was to knock.

Griz stepped into the room.

Grant, Doc, and Mae followed.

Taking one deep breath, Camden walked in, standing behind the four.

The first thing she saw was the look on Ky’s face. He jumped to his feet and stood at attention.

Was he former military?

The next thing she noticed was that Laken’s face paled.

Two more of the male shifters on the council snapped to their feet, stood at attention. One of their hands twitched and flew up toward a salute, then dropped down instantly, as though realizing he wasn’t in the military anymore.

Griz stood, ramrod straight—or stiff—she never knew which way to think of that phrase. He said nothing, his gaze traveling from one of the council members to the next until he’d given each of them the once-over.

Camden knew only too well what that felt like.

Finally, Griz spoke, and Camden didn’t need to see his face to note he was gritting his teeth and clenching his jaw as he spoke. “Can someone explain to me what the hell is going on here?”

Laken pushed her hair back, her color returning. “We’ve just made a decision.” She took a deep breath. “Unanimously.”

The way she said that made Camden think that maybe this wasn’t as unanimous as they thought.