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The DGSE, the Directorate-General for External Security, France’s foreign intelligence agency, as a whole?

Maybe not. But Gabriel firmly believed someone in their ranks was poking around in their business.

And so did Maxime. As chief of security, it was his job to ensure the DGSE didn’t get too close.

The Langeais wolves weren’t a threat, not in the usual way, to national security, but like any paranormal entity, discovery by anyone, especially the government, was high on their list of things to avoid.

Gabriel shook off the sudden chill that swept through his body.

To become nothing more than a science experiment, a lab rat, because of what they were, gave every shifter nightmares.

With the Langeais wolves’ unique ability to turn people, there was every chance the government would want to weaponize them.

In the tenth century, Lothair, the Count of Anjou, had sought to do that very thing.

Their ancestors had fought against it then, and they would do everything in their power to prevent it from happening now.

Keeping the balance, ensuring Isobella went back in time, that they did nothing in the present that would affect the past, was the only way to ensure not only his continued existence, but the survival of the Langeais wolves.

“It could be the DGSE.” If Maxime hadn’t mentioned his concerns to Stef, Gabriel wasn’t going to either. “Whoever it is, be careful, Stef. It’s not like we can shift here to protect ourselves.”

An impish grin curled on her lips. “A wolf running down Market Street… That’d be a sight.”

Gabriel chuckled and wagged his finger at her. “Don’t. If you feel the need to shift, head out to Muir Woods one night.”

Stef nodded. “I might do that soon.”

Being in a city too long made their wolves restless.

He was a regular visitor to the Meudon Forest outside of Paris.

In the two months he’d spent with Annabelle three years ago, getting away had been difficult.

It was a good thing being with Annabelle, being inside Annabelle, had eased his beast. He’d spent a lot of time inside Annabelle. His cock twitched at the memory.

He planned to be doing that again and as often as he could from now on. If she thought leaving before he woke would dissuade him, she was wrong. He’d spoken in French, and she may not have understood, but Annabelle was about to find out he’d meant it when he’d told her she was his forever.

* * * *

Waiting for a cab, Gabriel called Maxime.

“Where’s Stef? Why hasn’t she called in?”

If Maxime could reach through the phone and grab him by the throat, Gabriel suspected he would. “Nice to talk to you, too, Maxime.”

“She was supposed to check in.”

Gabe moved away from the cab rank and ducked into an empty doorway. “You remember she’s a she-wolf, right? That she trains with an alpha. With you. And holds her own. She’s capable of taking care of herself. You’ve made damn sure of it.”

Maxime’s sigh down the line was weary. “I know, but…”

“She’s fine, Maxime. She’s sticking close to Isobella, making sure she’s prepped and ready to leave.”

“Good, good.” The tension in Maxime’s voice eased. “So you found the right witch?”

“Yeah.”

“And you’ve claimed your mate?”

“Soon. Things are a little complicated here right now.”

“How so?”

A cab pulled up to the curb, and Gabriel waved it off.

He was not having this conversation within earshot of strangers.

“Well, for starters, the coven still plans to send my mate back in time. There’s an ancient grimoire on the loose.

The time travel spell isn’t exactly accurate.

Dutton King wants my mate for himself. There’s a coup brewing in the coven.

The King family are up to their necks in it.

And from what Louis and Pierre have found, the threat from their matriarch, a Cordelia King, is substantial. ”

“Cordelia, did you say?”

“ Oui. Does that name mean something to you?”

Silence settled down the line, and the hairs on the back of Gabe’s neck rose. “Maxime? Is there something you need to tell me? Something about this Cordelia?”

There was a clink of glass, then liquid pouring. Gabe checked his watch, calculating the time difference. It would be around four in the afternoon in France right now. A little early for Maxime to be hitting the cognac. Whatever his alpha knew about this Cordelia, it wasn’t good.

“ Oui , my ancestor, Gaharet, wrote about a Cordelia.”

“In his journal? The one that tells us about all the women who go back in time?”

“ Oui. ”

Gabriel’s gut clenched. “What does it say?”

“That she’s a powerful, evil witch. A time-traveling witch. If this Cordelia King is the same Cordelia, approach her with extreme prejudice. She was an enemy of the Langeais wolves back then. She’d be an enemy of us now.”

Putain. Maybe it wasn’t the same Cordelia, but… “ Dutton King was the witch who came up with Faucher as a target. That can’t be a coincidence.”

“ Putain. Have you seen this witch, Gabe? According to the journals, she has heterochromia. ”

“ She has two different colored eyes? Like Alain?”

“ Oui.”

“Does that mean she has the second sight as well?” Alain had inherited the ability from his medieval ancestor. It was rare and often skipped generations. And the genetic mutation was the same one that created heterochromia.

“I would imagine so.”

“I haven’t seen her, but I’ll ask Annabelle.” Gabriel pinched the bridge of his nose. “What else have you kept secret from us? From me? Damn it, Maxime. I’m your head of security. Don’t you think I should have known about this?”

Putain . If this was the same witch, where did that leave Annabelle? That his ancestors had not defeated her, werewolves and experienced chevaliers, said volumes. Annabelle couldn’t hope to defeat Cordelia on her own.

“I’ll have Pierre and Louis dig up all they can on this Cordelia King,” said Maxime. “We’ll find out if it’s her. I’ll have them keep you informed.”

“You do that.” Gabe stepped out of the doorway and flagged a cab down. “And, Maxime, don’t keep secrets like this from me anymore.”

He ended the call and slipped into the cab, giving the driver Annabelle’s address. Nothing and no one was going to lay a finger, magical or otherwise, on his Belle. Not while Gabriel still drew breath. Annabelle needed him. More than she knew. It was time to make her his mate.