The Rebel Queen (Outlaw 1)

I’d liked that life. Was it awful to want it back? To fight to get it back?

“These are interesting times, Your Highness. But if you want to return to a less complex time, I won’t stop you. Or mention it to anyone else. There are a couple of acquaintances of mine who can perhaps even aid in your endeavors,” he said smoothly. “But you should know that time travel is fraught with inconsistencies. And just because you manage to make it back to what you consider a proper timeline, it doesn’t mean this one goes away. At least not theoretically.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Do you honestly believe I haven’t thought about it?” Alexander asked. “Haven’t thought about going back and warning my younger self that a Hunter would take down the greatest predator of all time? I’ve had a hundred plus years to fill, and I’m no longer allowed to practice my favorite hobby. I don’t know if what you seek is possible at this point, but the likeliest positive outcome would be starting a new timeline. You would go back to when you left, but this timeline is already established. It can’t be erased. You would merely split reality and go a different direction, leaving all of us without your presence.”

Leaving my kids here without me? “You can’t possibly know that.”

He shrugged, a negligent gesture. “I can’t know it for certain. I suppose you’ll find out.” He nodded. “Ah, the Green Man has come for his goddess. Your Grace.”

Devinshea stepped into the circle of light, holding his hand out. “My goddess, you’re all right? Daniel and I have been looking for you.”

I stood and took his hand. “I’m fine. Sorry, I lost track of time.”

“Good evening, Alexander.” Dev started to walk me back to our brugh, and I could feel Alexander’s eyes on me the whole way.

His words would haunt me for the longest time.

Chapter Thirteen

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I stared at Daniel as he knotted his tie. I was sitting on the bed watching him get dressed. He’d only recently announced his plans for the day, and I wasn’t particularly happy about them since they included leaving the safety of Frelsi.

“I can’t have everyone we need to meet with file into town. Myrddin knows we’re somewhere in Iceland. Until we can move to the New Zealand base, we’re going to have to be careful. Honestly, even when we move we’re going to have to meet our allies in neutral places. I’m flying to Edinburgh to meet with the Scottish alpha. It’s not a long flight, and it will tell us a lot.” He stopped and turned my way. “Do you want to come with me? Are you upset I’m taking Dev instead of you?”

Dev lived for things like this. He loved playing the political game, and he would be far more helpful to Danny than I would. I would mostly want to go and find the places where they filmed Outlander. “No, I don’t want you to go at all. It’s dangerous. Shouldn’t we wait a few days? At least until Kelsey gets back?”

I’d talked to her briefly the night before through the mirror network the Fae had set up. She’d checked in, and I’d made sure Evan was all right. They were staying underground and the primals’ nest was well protected according to Sasha. She should be safe, but I already missed my daughter. Kelsey was gung ho to get to work so she’d cut the call short. Well, she’d said that was the reason, but I’d also heard Trent whispering just out of sight, and the poor man hadn’t gotten any in twelve years, so I could forgive them both for not wanting to talk.

“We can’t wait, Z. Right now there are a million rumors running through the supernatural world, and I need to put some truth out there.” The suit he was wearing didn’t fit exactly right. It was one of Hugo’s, and it strained a bit at the shoulders and was a tad too big in the waist. It was sad because he had a dozen suits at the penthouse that had been tailored to fit that hot bod of his. Devinshea had selected each one, so they were perfect. Myrddin probably wore them, and now they would have to be burned. “The Scottish alpha has a lot of influence over the European wolves. I also need to get somewhere I can safely call the new American alpha. They don’t have a mirror so I have to use a cell phone, which means I need to be outside Frelsi for it to work. According to Sasha, John McKenzie died suddenly and mysteriously a few months after we disappeared.”

McKenzie had been the alpha of the American packs. He’d sat on the Council and been a true friend and ally to us.