"Insolent girl," he breathed, his hand snaking around her back and striking her arse with his palm before soothing the sore spot he left in his wake. "I knew though, according to your stories, that he lived at least until after September 1997. I had no interest in destroying the timeline or putting your return at risk, and so I waited. Until he and Rowle reported back from a triggered Taboo search with no memory of where they’d been or who they’d apprehended. Of course, they both had to be punished for letting a handful of teenagers best them. But then..." 