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

“Maybe not in recent history, but yes, long ago. The wolf-shifters were warriors, as you know. Their instincts were to protect and be of service.”

I nod. At least he has that right.

“And the vampires?” Kenna asks.

“They were cursed. Their curse slowly spread, bite by bite, turning some, killing others.”

We near the main road. Kenna changes lanes.

“You’re missing the part about how the base nature of the fae is to torment the minds and bodies of humans, wolves feed off the flesh, and vampires the blood. We’re the ruin of men.”

Greyson shakes his ghostly head slowly. “You’ve been led to believe that, but it’s not so, Corbin.”

“When left to our own devices, we needlessly kill. We’re violent without the Accords. And having various magicals inter-mate creates monsters.”

Kenna’s inner wolf growls. “What about me suggests that I’m a monster?” she asks, swerving around a car.

“You can’t control your magic.” I stop just short of blurting that she killed Amanda. Sure, it was self-defense, but she can’t throw fae magic around like that.

“I’ll learn to use it properly. That’s why I wanted to find my father. To understand.”

Greyson eyes me. “Corbin, you’re vastly mistaken. It isn’t in the nature of any of us, hybrid or full-blood to hurt other creatures. Violence like that comes from curses.”

I’ve heard enough. The two fall into conversation as I steam with fury. My wolf pants inside, upset with me, but my Alpha nature can’t tolerate these lies.

The long road ahead gives me plenty of time and space to sit with the burden of my thoughts and a growing sense of guilt for putting my mate in a dangerous situation and for lying to her. There’s no telling what Greyson will do. He’s fae. The whole ghost thing may just be glamour. I have to do what’s right and turn him into the Council. Kenna might hate me for it, but someday, when her father’s crimes are exposed, she’ll understand.

When we reach the border crossing, if the guards see the ghost, they don’t say anything. I’m guessing he isn’t visible to them.

“So, why did magicals go from benevolent beings to malevolent, if what Corbin is saying is true,” Kenna asks after we’re cleared to go back into the United States.

“They were cursed,” her father answers.

“By who?”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out. That piece of information was what I traded my life for.”

“And?” Kenna and I say at the same time.

“Now I’m made of the veil between the worlds: the living and dead,” he says as though this is his greatest regret.

Kenna shivers.

“I feel thin, wispy like I’m hardly here.”

“But what about that piece of information you were after?” I follow up with a deliberate tilt of my head as if, once more to say, explain.

“I’ll start at the part when I said I felt like I was torn between my two natures—fae and wolf. Sometimes one would be stronger. Sometimes the other. But never violent or wicked.”

I scoff. “Likely story.”

“Remember, this was before the Accords, Corbin.”

“Which was created because of you, because of your propensity for cruelty against magicals and humans alike.”

“What do you remember of that time?” Greyson asks.

“That I was a violent beast, prone to maiming and devouring humans.”

Greyson grunts.

Kenna stiffens. Her knuckles blanch against the steering wheel. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’ve never told you about that period because the Accord spell wiped the details of our violence from the mind of magic-kind so we wouldn’t be inclined to indulge our base nature.”

Greyson clicks his tongue. “In other words, you’ve been told that you’re a man-eating beast and that vampires are bloodsucking—”

“Kenna, don’t listen to him,” I grind out.

She jerks her head in my direction. Her gray eyes turn stormy. “Check the scoreboard, Corbin. So far, you’ve lied to me twice.”

“It was for your protection.”

“As far as I know my father hasn’t deceived me once.”

I imagine Greyson’s expression is pretty smug right now.

“Dad, go on. I want to know what happened.”

“I wanted to understand myself and all forms of magic. I figured that would help me put the pieces together. However, the fae were dodgy. They didn’t want to reveal anything. The king—” Greyson falters. “I can’t seem to remember the king during that time. It’s like something blocks my mind, locks it out of my memories.” He lifts his hand to his forehead. “I wonder if I left some of my thoughts on the otherside.”

“Do you mean the fae king Melchior?” I fill in. “Council member. Together with him and the vampire Alpha, we’re intent on protecting magicals from you and the Klave.”

“Protect magicals from the Klave?” Greyson laughs. “Why would you do that? Well, I suppose some might consider the truth a threat.”

“What truth?” Kenna asks.

“History. That hybrids like us aren’t so bad. That we should have rights. That magicals can intermingle. Love is love.”

“Sounds like a bunch of nonsense to me,” I mutter.

“No one asked,” Kenna says. “So the Klave isn’t bad?”

“When Jacqueline and I married, I knew it was only a matter of time before I would be banished or imprisoned. But as a hybrid, I was more skilled at concealing myself. After I sent you and your mother into hiding, I created the Klave—” He shakes his head. “Something is missing. Part of my mind. When I was on the otherside, it was like I was suspended, waiting. I can’t quite explain it.”

“But the piece of information you traded your life for. What was it?”

“It’s gone. I knew something was amiss among the magicals and that the Accords weren’t solely because you and I were perceived as a threat. But this is where I’m drawing a big blank. Kenna, I’m