Mom hugged me, clung to me, and I to her the moment we were behind her closed office door. She shook all over, the power of the Council murmuring to her in comfort. But she wasn't upset, her glowing eyes full of the most happiness I'd seen in her in a long time.

If ever.

"Syd," she said, wiping at her face with both hands, laughter in her voice. "Can you believe it?"

She'd pulled it off. While the old Council gaped ...