“Even when it’s inconvenient?” Aleksi challenged.
“Especially when it’s inconvenient,” I insisted. “We got comfortable with small concessions. You never did. That’s not stubbornness—it’s what we were missing.”
The massive Finnish forest reindeer looked between us like he was waiting for a punchline. When none came, something shifted in his expression—a wall coming down that might’ve been standing for years.
My eyes widened as he reached out and cupped Kenai’s cheek, his thumb tracing beneath the scab that he had causes. “I’m sorry, pieni valkoinen. I…I should have controlled myself better.”
I saw the tiniest blush rise on Kenai’s ears, and I was definitely going to tease him about that in private.
“It’s alright, not my first scar.” He said, trying to appear nonchalant and failing.
“Also not your last, knowing you.” I teased, and Sylvie chuckled in agreement. Aleksi lowered his hand, and exhaled slowly.
“I want to help,” he murmured finally. “I want to fight—but the right way. Together.”
“Together,” Sylvie echoed, and the word held a promise that made the air shimmer with magic.
Aleksi didn’t fight it this time. He only sighed. “Only a few days left until Christmas, and there’s too much here for even our brilliant omega to work through alone.”
“Know any human lawyers willing to work Christmas Eve Eve?” Kenai asked jokingly.
But Sylvie wasn’t smiling now. “Yes,” she said with soft determination. “I know just the one.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sylvie
Standing on Grandma Rose’s porch with three reindeer shifters behind me felt surreal. The house looked exactly the same as it had when I’d arrived for my PTO, but I felt like a completely different person.
“Are you sure about this?” Kenai asked quietly, his hand finding mine.
“No,” I admitted. “But we need her help, and she’s the best lawyer I know—even if she’s going to make this incredibly awkward.”
“How awkward are we talking?” Taimyr asked.
Before I could answer, the door swung open.
“Sylvie, I thought you’d gone back to the city.” Her eyes weren’t on me but on the three men standing just behind me.
“Hi, Grandma. Yeah, so about that?—”
“Sylvie, would you stop being obtuse and just introduce me to your boy toys?”
“Grandma!”
She looked at my mates and then back at me with that calculating stare I knew too well—the one that had broken down at least two federal judges.
“Don’t ‘Grandma’ me. I am eighty-two years old, Sylvie Marie Hartwell. I know a little something about how the world works. I was also the only woman in my law class, as you know. Let’s just say sleeping withonlythree men at the same time is rookie numbers, sweetheart.”
“GRANDMA!” I buried my face in my hands. Oh my god.
Behind me, I heard Aleksi make a choking sound. Taimyr was definitely laughing.
“Since my granddaughter won’t do it—hello, I’m Rose Eliane Hartwell, Esquire. Come inside, all of you, before we catch cold.” She stepped back, letting them in.
“Yes, ma’am,” Kenai said, his voice barely hiding his amusement as he ducked to enter. The other two followed, each ducking so their antlers wouldn’t hit the doorframe. My grandmother observed this with her hawk-like gaze but said nothing.
“Well, don’t just stand there. I made coffee. Something tells me this is going to be a long conversation.”
