Wolf Shifter Diaries: Lies Tamed (Sweet Paranormal Wolf & Fae Fantasy Romance Series Book 2) by E. Hall (books for men to read TXT) 📗

Kenna winces.

“Does that mean Greyson hooked up with Jana? That bombshell fae sure got around. Oh, the stories I could tell about her.” Jackie takes a deep breath. “Sorry, I got carried away. She never liked me.”

“I thought vamps and fae weren’t the best of friends anyway?” Kenna asks.

“No, they’re not, but way, way back there were balls and revels and all kinds of festivities. Things were different then. I can’t believe he kept that from me.” She narrows her eyes.

“Well, you kept everything about him, and by default the nature of my existence, to yourself, so can you criticize?” Kenna’s cheeks flame with frustration.

“I was bound to secrecy. Hidden away to keep us safe. He went off and hooked up with a fae? Though, knowing Jana, she probably tricked him. I’m sorry. I will keep apologizing to you until you forgive me, but had I not married your father, you wouldn’t have come along, and I’m not sorry for that. The Council can fine me, arrest me, or sentence me to death, but I will never apologize for your existence, Kenna.”

I mouth mic drop.

“Thanks, Mom,” Kenna says in a small voice. “To me, you’re my mother first and a vampire second. But I understand what you needed to do. I will find my father and figure this out. But, um, according to Clove, Greyson is a hollow ghost.”

Jackie gasps. “He didn’t. Oh, Kenna. I am sorry. If he’s a hollow ghost, there’s even less of a chance you’ll be able to find him.”

“Unless he wants me to.”

“Yeah,” Jackie says slowly as though she means to say that’s unlikely.

“Corbin and I are going to fly to this resort in Mexico. I have a feeling about it.”

“I’m sorry to say that you won’t find him...because you can’t fly to Bahia Magia. You can only drive, and even then it’s a complicated trip and not something you can make in that sleek Cadillac you rolled up in.”

“We don’t have time to drive,” I say, cutting in.

“Then you’re out of luck,” Jackie says. “There are numerous Runes of power and protections to stop humans and magicals alike from accessing the resort. The area also has hazards and requires extra care in traveling. The Cadillac would be spotted instantly and your mission thwarted. You want to take something that will allow you to  pass through unbothered by anyone who wants to mess with a posh car.”

Kenna wears a mischievous smile. “In other words, we want something rusty with dents. A vehicle with faded, sunbaked paint. We could give the Cadillac a make-under or—”

“I don’t understand. What does it matter what kind of car we take?” I ask, interrupting Kenna.

Jackie presses her lips together as if torn up about mother protection and magical duty. “It’s like this, that area has a reputation for being just a little dangerous thanks to humans who like shiny things and the magical wards that want to keep our kind from poking around down there at a minimum. Even if Kenna used fae glamour to make the Cadillac look junky, they’d be stripped away.”

“Also, for the record, I don’t know how to glamour anything. At least not yet.”

I love Kenna. My wolf loves her, but I don’t love the idea of her magic being split. What if she decided she no longer wants to be a wolf and prefers fae or vamp life?

Kenna looks out the window. “In that case can we borrow the Honda?”

“I’ll leave the Cadillac for you to use while we’re gone,” I offer.

Jackie crosses her arms in front of her chest. “It’s dangerous. I don’t want you to go, but I also can’t stop you.” She steps closer to her daughter and brushes her cheek. “You’ve come of age as a magical, and I daresay a lot more powerful than me. Technically, I probably couldn’t stop you. And maybe you will find your father.”

“So we can take Rhonda?”

“After going into hiding, I’ve lived simply, frugally to not draw attention to myself after years of luxury. So I won’t say no to driving in style.” Jackie eyes the Cadillac through the window.

Kenna fist pumps the air and bounces on her toes, gripping my arm. “Road trip!”

Chapter 13

Kenna

“We’re going to Mexico. Have you ever been?” I ask Corbin.

A light breeze wafts the scent of grease and motor oil as we cross the lot toward my mother’s Honda Odyssey minivan circa 1994. The car is older than me. I tap the roof of what can only be described as a rust bucket on wheels complete with a bumper sticker that says My honor student can beat up your honor student. My mom thought it was funny. Turns out, considering I’m part wolf, part vamp, and part fae, she was on to something.

“Corbin, meet Rhonda the Honda. Rhonda, meet Corbin.” I make a grand, sweeping gesture with my arms as though presenting a game show prize.

Corbin’s eyebrows lift, wrinkling his forehead. “It’ll never make it.”

I scoff. “She’s rough-looking, which is just what we need. The old gal will be just fine.”

My mom sidles up beside us in what I now realize is her sneaky, vampire way.

“When Kenna was little, I wanted to blend in with the other moms so I got a minivan. Never looked back. I recently got a quote for a new alternator, but the brakes are decent, although the defroster is finicky...”

Corbin lifts an eyebrow with concern.

“Rhonda has never failed us.”

“Well, there was that one time in the snowstorm,” my mom starts.

“Shh. You’ll scare him off,” I whisper to my mom. I’ll try to ply Corbin with the promise of good food. “The other day, we had delicious tacos. In Mexico, I bet there are burritos, salsa, guacamole,