The Rebel Queen (Outlaw 1)

We hadn’t actually set foot on the Vampire plane, but we’d heard enough about it to know how unique it was. “Yes. It’s where Dean was raised.”

“I don’t understand the time differences, but I suspect they don’t all line up,” Lily said. “Not twelve years’ worth, and you would pick up time on planes that run slower.”

Finally I was getting somewhere. “Do you think we lost the time inside the wormhole?”

She nodded. “I think it’s possible. And if it’s possible to lose time in the wormhole, it could be possible to gain it back. That’s not the right way to say it.”

But I understood what she meant. “It’s a form of time travel. The question is can I get back the same way?”

“If you got back, you could save Sarah.” The words came out on a quiet gasp.

“Yes, I could save us all.” A little hope lit through me because Lily was clearly thinking about the problem. And she wasn’t telling me no. I pushed back thoughts of all the complications that could come from going through time again. I would deal with that later. I only wanted a chance to set things right. To go back to the world I understood. Even if we won this war, this wasn’t my world.

“I need to think about this.” Lily stood, straightening her skirt. There was purpose in her eyes, and I knew I’d found an ally. “I understand how to open a wormhole to get to another place. It’s a form of teleportation, and I’ve gotten good at it. I would need to figure out the time element.”

“I would appreciate anything you could do,” I assured her.

Lily nodded. “I’ll begin immediately. Like I’ve said since yesterday—your return brings us all hope.”

She strode away, back to the eastern side of the base where there was a neighborhood of cottages.

I was warmed by more than the fire. If Lily could find a way, I might get my life back. I might get my children back. I would have to be careful. There were things that needed to happen. I would make a list and sort through all the issues.

“So the queen is not as placid as she seems,” a silky voice said.

I turned to watch Alexander Sharpe peel away from the shadows, his long limbs moving with predatory grace. He wore all black—black slacks and a black collared shirt and loafers. The only other thing he wore was a gold ring that I didn’t remember him wearing before. Unlike the rest of the group, he didn’t bother with a jacket. He either didn’t feel the cold at all or perhaps he preferred it.

I didn’t like the fact that he’d been listening in to my conversation with Lily. If she was an ally then Alexander definitely qualified as a foe. He would use any information he had on me to leverage his position with Danny. “I don’t think that’s any of your concern.”

“Oh, I think the fact that the Queen of all Vampire is considering time travel concerns all of us.” Alexander moved in and took Lily’s seat. “Though I should warn you I don’t think that’s going to turn out the way you think it will.”

“Because Lily’s lying to me?” I knew she wasn’t, but I was interested in seeing what Alexander would say.

“Because our fair Lily is holding on to hope with both hands. She lost her precious sister, and you suggested a way to get her back.” He tsked my way. “I’m surprised with you, Queen Zoey. I rather thought you were all about kindness. Giving her false hope isn’t well done of you.”

It was time to go to bed. Long past. I stood. “Good night, Alexander.”

“Wait, my queen.” His voice had gone softer. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I also wasn’t hanging about eavesdropping on purpose. I hadn’t had the chance to express my true joy at seeing you again.”

I felt my brow arch. “That’s good to hear.”

“But you don’t believe it?”

“I know you, Alexander. I trust you as long as you believe you’re on the winning side. If you decide Myrddin is the better bet, you’ll go with him.” He’d been an ally of sorts in our war with the old Council, but I’d never truly trusted him.

“You don’t think a man can change?”

“I don’t think you’re a man at all. I don’t think you were a man even when you were human. I think you were born a predator and you’ll die one.”

His dark gaze turned thoughtful. “Perhaps. I’ve had a long time to reflect on my existence. Both the one today and my human life. I always find it fascinating how humans study serial killers. As if they can find answers in the past, some point in the killer’s life when a trigger was pulled and they became deadly.”