The Rebel Queen (Outlaw 1)

“Yes, that was a fun time.” Dev strode in looking as delicious as a man could look. He’d changed into the slacks and sweater Albert had found for him. “Good morning, Evangeline. Fenrir. I hope we didn’t disturb you last night.”

Fen shrugged even as he overloaded his plate with meat. “Nah, those dampeners work. Sasha made sure Rhys had some serious protections in place after Rhys started an orgy on the werewolf plane. We all saw way too much that night.”

Rhys started to walk into the dining room with Lee behind him. The minute he heard Fen talking, he tried to turn and walk back out. Only his twin stopped him. Lee playfully pushed him back into the room.

“Do we have to talk about this?” Rhys’s eyes rolled, but he turned and walked in again. “I would rather discuss battle plans. Please tell me this isn’t what Dad called us in here to discuss.”

Lee’s smile went wide. “Goddess, I hope so.”

“I promise I can help you control your magic.” Dev put a hand on Rhys’s shoulder. “It will still go a bit crazy when you’re truly emotional, but you’ll be able to control it during sex. I haven’t asked you this yet, but have you had children?”

Lee snorted, and Fen nearly lost his plate.

Rhys went a hearty shade of pink.

“Devinshea, maybe you and Rhys should talk about this privately.” Sometimes Dev took his open-book policy when it came to sex way too far.

“No, Papa. I don’t have children,” Rhys replied.

“If you’ve had unprotected sex, it’s entirely possible you could have impregnated a female partner.” Dev was never one to back down from a hard talk, especially when it involved sex. “In fact, it’s probable, son. You have to be very careful.”

Rhys looked his father in the eyes. “I don’t have children.”

“Papa, he doesn’t have children.” Evan stepped in as though she thought Rhys might need her.

“Unless he’s kept up with all of his female partners, how can he know?” Dev asked.

“Because I haven’t had any, okay? I have not had sex with a female. Or a male, or anyone but my right hand,” Rhys said through gritted teeth.

“His right hand gets a workout, though.” Lee poured himself a glass of juice. “I mean it. That sucker is strong. It can go for hours.”

“Remember that when I use it to stab you, brother,” Rhys growled Lee’s way.

Fen put his overly full plate on the table and couldn’t contain his laughter. Evan sent him a dirty look. Fen held up his hands. “Sorry, baby. Hey, I can laugh. I’m absolutely one hundred percent as pure as Rhys. Lee’s the slut here.”

Lee simply shrugged. “Well, I’m human. You guys have plenty of time to get your freak on. I’ve got fifty years if I’m lucky.”

“Uh, I have a human life-span, too,” Evan pointed out. “And yet no one talks about poor Evan having to go without.”

Rhys frowned her way. “You’re seventeen. You can wait.”

“Lee was sixteen when he nearly started a pack war by sleeping with that she-wolf,” Evan said primly.

“Yeah, well, we all know that Lee probably won’t make it past his twenties the way he’s going,” Rhys shot back. “He’s the most reckless asshole ever to walk the Earth plane.”

“Rhys, it’s not normal for you to not have sex.” Dev’s jaw was hanging open in pure shock.

Evan had that prim look on her face I was coming to associate with her raging against the patriarchy. “But it’s normal for me because I’m a girl.”

“Your brother is a fertility god,” Dev argued. “At his age I was quite experienced.”

“He means he’d plowed through every female in the sithein, and many of the males.” I could translate for the kids.

“Zoey, you are not helping,” Dev replied.

“I disagree. Mom is helping my case a whole lot. Go Mom.” Evan took a seat beside Fen.

I noticed Daniel had joined us. He moved in quietly, his eyes going straight to Lee. After what he’d told us the night before, it wasn’t surprising. He’d likely been thinking about what he needed to tell Lee all night long.

I thought we should do it privately, but Daniel had convinced me it was a family issue. Rhys had never been able to hide what he was, nor had Evan had a choice in keeping her glow private.

“Lee turns out to take more after Papa than I do.” Rhys sat down, his plate completely empty.

“Lee does not have your needs, Rhys.” Dev still seemed to be reeling. “Sex isn’t simply for fun when it comes to you. It’s a necessity.”

Rhys shook his head, his decision made long ago. “I am not in a place where I can take a goddess. I’m not going to risk my magic going wild and getting us all in trouble. You know Myrddin has spies, and an explosion of Fae fertility magic could get through the wards and potentially give away our position.”