“Sometimes, I wish I was better at hiding my feelings.”
“Stop stalling. Tell me what’s on your mind, my little human.”
After a deep inhalation and exhalation, Mel blurted out, “I have an idea, but it involves Nikki, baby Murray, Charlie’s mate, and…”
He raised an eyebrow. “Who?”
“Arabella.”
Her mate raised his other eyebrow and she spilled her plan. When she was finished, he sighed. “It might work, but even if Bram gives the okay, you’ll have to convince Ara to help you. And honestly, I’m not sure if she will.”
“I know, but I have to try, Tristan. I don’t know what else to do.”
“Right, the twins will wake up soon to be fed. Once that’s done, we’ll ask Ella and her mate to watch the babies and then we’ll talk to Bram.”
She gently touched her daughter’s head. “Do you think Bram will agree?”
“I don’t know, but even if he does, Ara will take some work.”
“Then I’ll just have to try my best. If we don’t garner more support, then the dragon-shifters might be worse off than ever before.”
Tristan kissed the top of her head. “Even if it does, we’re survivors. Now, take Annabel and I’ll take Jack.”
Mel picked up Annabel, who didn’t so much as bat an eyelash. The second Tristan moved Jack, however, the boy started wailing. He didn’t like missing his sleep.
As they moved and took care of their children, a sense of guilt about what she was about to ask her friends made her stomach churn. If there were any other way to sway public opinion, she would do it.
There wasn’t, so she hoped Arabella MacLeod was strong enough to possibly get them out of the current mess. The Dragon Knights needed to be dealt with swiftly. She refused to think about what would happen if her sister-in-law said no.
Chapter Six
Two hours later, Melanie sat in Bram’s cottage with Tristan at her side. One of the teachers who worked with Tristan agreed to watch the twins for a few hours, allowing Mel and Tristan to pitch their idea to Bram.
It hadn’t taken long to convince Stonefire’s leader of the merit of her idea and they’d been interviewing the necessary players ever since.
Mel looked over at the black-haired, brown-eyed young Protector talking with Evie near the door. The young dragonwoman, Nikki, gave Melanie one more look with a nod of acknowledgment before she left.
Shutting the door, Evie walked back into the room and sat on the arm of Bram’s chair. She snaked her hand around the back of Bram’s neck before saying, “Nikki’s agreement makes three out of four. Do you think you two can convince Arabella?”
Mel glanced to Tristan and her mate answered, “Not only is Bram allowing Murray to be a part of this, Bram supports the plan as well. That may be the tipping point in garnering her consent.”
Mel squeezed Tristan’s hand in hers. “We’ll find out soon enough. She’s due any moment.” Melanie looked to Bram. “You still haven’t told me why you’re going with my idea. A few seconds after I finished, you began calling the others to come in. Why?”
Stonefire’s leader shrugged. “You made a good case. A leader’s best asset is realizing when to lean on his clan members for help. I’m not about to be a macho alpha who needs to think of everything myself. Somehow, I don’t think Evie would put up with it.”
Evie leaned slightly against him. “I’m glad you understood that on your own.”
While Mel and Evie hadn’t hit it off in the beginning, Mel couldn’t think of anyone better suited for Bram. She only hoped Arabella would find the same happiness one day.
Guilt made her stomach churn. Mel had spent more than a year coaxing and pulling Arabella out of her shell, yet what she was about to ask might undo all of that hard work. Still, even if her sister-in-law grew to hate her afterward, Mel would suffer the ill feelings if it meant earning the public’s support and ensuring the safety of Clan Stonefire.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Evie went to answer it.
Tristan squeezed her hand and whispered, “You can do this, love.”
After giving her mate a weak smile, Arabella’s voice carried down the hallway. “Anyone care to tell me why I had to trudge all the way here? I’m on a deadline for upgrading our security systems. With the new threats, I can’t afford to let it wait.”
Evie guided Arabella inside the living area. “Believe me, Arabella, this is more important.”