Much later, though Camden couldn’t have said how long, she was in the boardroom and Ky had come down to join them.

All the council members were assembled.

As were all the guests.

Everyone.

Except a notable few.

Laken and little Mikhail Jacob were resting.

Griz and the twins were not there.

And both Mikhail and Doc still sported a redness of pride in the cheeks and a certain straight-backed carriage at the honor of having the baby named after them.

Tyler had arrived.

The look he’d given Camden made her heart soar and at the same time, broke her heart, because she feared that if the council didn’t see things the way they were, there’d be no consoling Tyler, the twins, Griz, or even herself.

They’d allowed Avala to speak, and Camden had relinquished her body to her elemental, staying in the background.

Avala told them Camden had brought no charges.

The council had agreed to see that fact.

Then one of the members rose—Camden still couldn’t have said which one, she’d still not bothered to learn their names. To Camden, they were the enemy. She hated to think of them this way, but they were the ones doling out misery to two little girls and two men who loved them very much.

It pained Camden not to be able to tell the council that Sean and Tyler were their older brothers. But this was not her secret to reveal. She had no right to redeem this situation. Not in this way, not by disclosing their mysteries.

She took a deep breath and returned to the forefront as Avala stepped back. She studied the face of the standing member for any sign of what she was thinking.

The one standing spoke. “I appreciate that the explanation of how this came to light. But that isn’t the issue. The issue is the anomaly of the situation. It’s scandalous to have two men—bachelors—in charge of two little girls.”

Camden opened her mouth to rant at how ass-backward that thinking was.

She never got a chance to speak.

Mikhail Romanoff raised his hand, palm out. “If I may.”

All turned to him.

It was evident from the looks of their faces that every single one had high regard for Mikhail Romanoff. The man was a recognized leader in the shifter community.

It also occurred to Camden how small a role she played with the shifter community at large. She lived in her own little world where shifters met elementals, and that was all she dealt with. She had no clue about the politics, the power struggles, the wars they’d spoken of.

The standing council member took her seat. “Please do.”

“The council today is not the same council that was in effect when Bear Canyon Valley was under siege from their enemies. When Bear Canyon Valley asked for help, that council had abstained. They’d turned a blind eye to a slaughter. It would stand to reason that is why Larsen del Cruz—we know him as Griz—has no faith that the best interest of these two little girls will be taken into account.”

There were murmurs between several of the council members.

“How can you speak for Larsen del Cruz when he is not here to confirm what you are saying?” This came from one of the male council members, and his voice was weak and tremulous as he clearly realized he was messing with the wrong shifter.

Ky snorted and glared at the shifter. “You question my father’s integrity?”

Camden’s panther picked up the scent of anger and rising testosterone in the room. She hoped things would not resort to a physical altercation.

“He speaks for me,” Griz said from the doorway.

A collective gasp came from the room. Each of his hands clasped the tiny hand of a twin. “I hope that things will remain civil while the girls are with us.” His tone carried a warning. Then he added, “Their elementals could be far more lethal, and much quicker than any shifter could think of being.”

“Acknowledged,” Mikhail said.

Others nodded and murmured their agreement.

“Welcome, Larsen.” Mikhail gave Griz a shoulder hug, then bent down to greet the little ones.

Camden couldn’t hear his hushed voice as he spoke to Tessa and Trista, but it clearly thrilled the twins, as they giggled and hugged Mikhail.

“There is one thing, and one thing only, that matters here. And that is the wellbeing of these two little precious ones.”

“Yes,” Miriam supported her husband. “Completely agreed.”

Tyler cleared his throat. “I’ve decided not to fight the decisions of the council. I’ve spoken to my brother. We both agree on the assignment of the girls to Camden Brazos.”

Camden gasped and looked at Tyler’s face.

Think fast, think fast.

Easier said than done.

How the hell can I think at all when he looks at me with that expression in his eyes?

But think fast she did, thanks to the help of her shifter and Avala.

It was as if the words that came from Camden’s lips were the collective decision of the trio.

“I’ll accept the council’s decision on the grounds that this matter be revisited.”

“Agreed,” Ky said before anyone else could respond.

The council members snapped their head in his direction, then slowly nodded their heads in unison.

“You tell us when you’d like the matter readdressed,” Ky added. “I’m sure we could do this remotely, even. There’s no need for another road trip.”

This time the council members really agreed, heads bobbing in extremes.

Clearly, this isn’t to their liking as much as their homes in New York. Camden bit back the smile of amusement. She’d become rather fond of this place. Not to mention the shifter that lived here.

“Another thing,” Camden said. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to take the girls from the only home they’ve known in some time. I’d like to stay in the area.”

When Tyler’s eyes lit up, she knew they were on the same track. She’d done exactly what he’d been thinking.

Would have been a lot easier if he’d said something to me so I could have known his game plan, for Pete’s sake.

True enough, she could have messed that one up badly.

Thank you, she said to Avala and her panther. I couldn’t have come to this without you.