Shifters Forever Worlds Epic Collection Volume 3

by Elle Thorne

  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.

  Chapter Fifteen

  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 expr
ession 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.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Tyler took long frustrated strides away from Grant’s home to the cabin where Eden was watching the twins. His heart was heavy with sorrow while at the same time, his mind was rife with fury.

  How the hell did this happen? He and Sean were supposed to have Trista and Tessa, to raise them, to take care of them.

  Damned elementals.

  He loved those two little girls, but he was having a hard time liking their elementals.

  This is bullshit.

  He’d served the shifter nation, done right by them, signed up for duty in the military. And now this? He was home, minding his own business, and he was trying to provide a home for two little girls.

  He inwardly cursed at their elementals again. If it weren’t for them, he’d never have been dealing with this shit in the first place.

  And I’d never have met Camden Brazos.

  Maybe that wouldn’t have been such a bad thing after all, if he’d never met Camden…

  His bear growled at him in disagreement.

  And Tyler knew the bear was right. He didn’t feel that way, anyhow. Since meeting Camden, the sun seemed brighter and warmer. The leaves seemed greener. His entire life—hell, his very being—seemed to come alive in technicolor.

  He knocked on the door softly. Inside Tessa and Trista were silent. As was Eden. He opened the door.

  The twins were asleep, Eden was reading a book. She glanced up at him, greeted him with a smile.

  Tyler looked at Eden and wondered how she and Camden could look so alike and yet seem to be so different. And why was he so devastatingly attracted to Camden?

  “How are they?” He kept his voice low.

  “Worried. Confused.”

  Yeah, I can sure as hell relate to that.

  “What did you tell them?”

  Eden heaved out a sigh. “It’s not easy. They aren’t your average little girls.”

  He nodded. He knew that damned well.

  She continued. “Being shifters is one thing. But being a host to another being, one that is millennia old…” Another sigh. “You can tell a child whatever you want, and hope they buy it, but when they have an elemental within who can see past the sugarcoating…” She shook her head. “The elementals will naturally communicate with their host, some to a greater degree than others.”

  “So, you’re telling me they know what’s happening?”

  “I’m telling you they know something’s up. I didn’t tell them about the…” Eden glanced at the sleeping duo. “I didn’t tell them about the visitors we have.”

  Visitors, my ass. The Shifter Council isn’t here by invitation.

  But he wasn’t about to say that out loud. He wasn’t sure if the elementals were awake and listening. Dammit, he wished he understood this elemental shit better.

  “I—uh…” He tried to think of how to phrase it, took a seat in the worn leather loveseat across from the sofa that the twins and Eden were in.

  The twins were holding each other, their heads in Eden’s lap, their faces angelic—virtual cherubs to a stranger that might be watching them. But Tyler knew better. These two little angelic beings could rain hell down on their surroundings.

  And yet—God help him—Tyler loved them as much as if they were his own. And to be brought in to a meeting with the Shifter Council and told that he—and Sean—might lose custody, might lose them—forever. That stung.

  Hell, it more than stung. It was potentially devastating. He glanced at Eden, then back at the twins. It was potentially devastating to them and to him and Sean.

  He forged on, doing his best to phrase his concerns. “I don’t understand elementals. I feel like I need a class on understanding them. Heck, I’d say what I need is an entire college degree on the subject.”

  Eden’s lips curved into a gentle, patient smile. “Elementals are a mystery. And just as humans and shifters are individuals, so are elementals. Some elementals communicate in depth with their hosts, some don’t. There are power struggles between humans and elementals. Then you add in the complexity of being a shifter, and—” She shook her head. “It’s so very complicated.”

  Tyler’s head was reeling. “So, each of the twins has a different relationship with their elemental?”

  Eden shrugged. “Not sure. That’s why we’re here. To help with figuring out relationships between the twins and their elementals, their shifters and their elementals, and if possible, between their elementals.”

  “I never really thought of all that—” Tyler rubbed the stubble on his chin, the sound of the scrubbing of his newly forming beard was the only sound in the cabin located in the middle of the woods.

  “I didn’t think you were aware of the intricacies. As I understood it, Griz called the Order.”

  “Yeah,” Tyler grinned sheepishly. “I thought he was calling a nanny service.”

  “That didn’t go over too well with Camden.” Eden smiled.

  “She’s feisty,” Tyler added, then bit down on the laugh that had been bubbling up when he remembered that this whole mess was because of Camden.

  Eden studied his face
, and must have noted his expression. “You have something… I mean… you… Camden…”

  Tyler frowned. He wasn’t one to discuss his feelings, not with anyone, except maybe Sean. And even then, he kept his own counsel more often than not. Tyler wasn’t the feeling-sharing type, and that wasn’t about to change, not even with the twin sister of the woman in question.

  Not to mention, I don’t even know how I feel exactly.

  His bear protested this falsehood with a snarl.

  Okay, maybe Tyler did have an idea about how he felt, but he wasn’t going to talk about it. Period.

  Not when it looked like said woman—regardless if she was hot, curvy, smart, and everything he wanted in a woman—

  —Knock it off, he cautioned his bear against pushing those thoughts in his mind—

  Especially when it looked like said woman was the reason for this whole damned Shifter Council thing.

  He held up his hand for Eden to halt the course of her conversation. “The only thing on my mind at this moment is the welfare of these two little girls.” He glanced at the twins, who were beginning to stir. “And nothing else takes priority over that.”

  All right, maybe he wasn’t flat out denying what Eden was talking about, but he wasn’t going to think about that right now.

  “Ty-ty?” Trista raised her head, her eyes heavy-lidded with sleep.

  Tessa nuzzled against Trista, then lifted her own eyes to Tyler’s face, her gaze slightly unfocused.

  He smiled at them. “Hey, sleepyheads.”

  Tessa paused, and it was clear she was thinking hard on something as her brows drew down into a serious vee.

  A slight shaking of the lightbulb in the kitchen, and a hushed rumbling sound coming from the ground outside let Tyler know that Tessa’s thoughts were not exactly pleasant.

  He held his arms out. “C’mere, you.” Before you create an earthquake and maybe validate some of the Shifter Council’s concerns.

  Trista’s bottom lip started to emerge.

  Tyler knew exactly why. “You c’mere, too. I was talking to both of you.”

  Her pout inverted into a smile as she tried to climb over Tessa in her eagerness to get into Tyler’s embrace.