“What did these Lycans do that gave them away?”

“They lose their skin if they’re highly emotional. Rage. Fear. Grief. Humans panicked when they caught sight of claws, fangs, sudden hair growth…and they told others about the ‘monsters’. They’d hunt and kill entire families of Lycans.”

“Why not just take out the person who saw something?” Her fingers relaxed their hold on his shirt since he wasn’t causing her pain. “That would protect them.”

“It wasn’t the way it is now. In the past, towns were smaller and they tended to be very superstitious when people just disappeared. They totally believed in monsters and they’d gather in large groups to hunt and murder anything they feared. Ever hear of the witch trials? Try a bunch of angry villagers with weapons willing to kill anyone they didn’t like or didn’t know well. They didn’t even bother to hold a trial for someone they suspected of being a monster. They’d just lynch them.”

“According to your Vampire and Werewolf tale, they would have been justified in trying to kill them.”

“Exactly, if you were to see us in that light. But we’re not really monsters. We’re just different. You asked why Lycans didn’t end the lives humans who discovered the truth. Lycans didn’t want to harm innocent people, period. Vampires don’t have to kill to obtain blood from their prey. I was able to control you with my eyes. I gained that ability from my Vampire ancestors. Their abilities to control human minds and wipe memories protected them but it was a constant fear they’d be discovered while they slept. They had Lycan protectors to prevent that from happening, to stand guard when they were vulnerable after the sun rose.”

“You didn’t burn up in the sun,” she pointed out. “Your teeth aren’t sharp either. Everyone knows Vampires are allergic to sunlight and have fangs.”

“I said I’m half. The sun doesn’t bother me at all. ” Drantos paused to glance toward the fire, then looked back at her. “The Vampires began to gorge on blood, feasting on humans after they formed the alliance with Lycans. They grew bolder with powerful guards to protect them when they were vulnerable. It made it safer for them to feed more often. They—”

“Started killing everyone?”

“No. They just overfed on them.”

“Wow. Do Vampires gain weight? Wouldn’t it make it kind of hard for them to turn into bats and fly? I’m imagining a big, bloated flying rat with little tiny wings now.”

He growled again. “You aren’t taking this seriously.”

“And you’re nuts. I’m trapped under you and you seem determined to share your dementia with me so forgive me for the snarky comments.”

“Stop it.”

“Ditto.”

He shifted his chest, pinned her tighter under his body. “No, they didn’t gain weight. But all the blood fooled their bodies into believing they were more human than Vampire. No one realized the consequences—until a few of the female Lycans who had Vampire lovers ended up pregnant. It only happened with Vampire males and female Lycans. Vampires aren’t able to breed with each other, but when they realized they could impregnate the Lycan women—”

She’d had enough. Dusti just wanting him to stop talking nonsense and get off her. “They threw a big ol’ orgy?” she interrupted.

“Damn it,” he snarled. “Stop.”

Fear hit her over the pure rage that darkened his features and she sealed her lips. Don’t piss off the insane linebacker-size guy on top of you, she silently ordered herself.

“The male Vampires secretly plotted to impregnate as many Lycan women as possible. They wanted to form an army of half-breed children. Some believe it was so they no longer had to keep an alliance with the Lycans. They could be guarded by their own children. Others believe it was just because they finally had an opportunity to breed, and that appealed to them.

“Some of the Lycan men started to disappear. The Lycans quickly figured out they were being murdered by Vamps so they could gain access to the widowed mates, whether they were willing or not.” Anger deepened his voice. “The Vamps were attacking Lycan women. They violated them by controlling their minds, and then their bodies. A war broke out between the two. A lot of Lycan men died but it gave the women a chance to flee. A group of them—some who were pregnant and others who had already birthed half-breeds—ended up in Alaska, since there were no major human towns here at the time. Vamps need humans to feed from. They can survive off animals but I’ve heard animal blood tastes like shit to them and weakens them over time.

“The Lycans and VampLycans were safer here, but we still broke into four clans in case the Vampires were able to track us. It was about survival. They wouldn’t be able to take us all on at once and it would provide time for the others to flee if one clan was attacked. It helps keep our numbers in check too. It’s how we stay under the radar, by monitoring the size of our population so we don’t draw attention to ourselves, and what we are. Humans just see our clans as small towns, not a threat to them.”

Dusti held her tongue. Drantos paused, licked his lips, and took a few breaths. The anger eased from his striking features.

“The survivors soon discovered a clan of Gargoyles in the area. They’d fled Europe to avoid being hunted by Vampires, humans, and others of their kind. They were dying out. Gargoyles tend to breed more boy children than girls. They had so few women of their own kind that they’d fight to the death at times, killing each other to gain access to one. They needed women to breed with and the survivors of the war didn’t want another fight, this time with Gargoyles. They had lost a lot of their males already.”

“I’ve heard enough.” She just wanted him to stop. None of it could be true. She didn’t want it to be.

“I’m telling you the truth.” Drantos paused. “Imagine a bunch of frightened people in a desperate situation. Many of the Lycan women had been raped, in mind and body, and had birthed children sired by Vampires. These women had lost fathers and brothers who’d died fighting to give them time to escape. Some had lost their mates. They were vulnerable, so some of their single women offered themselves to the Gargoyles. They formed a new alliance. The Gargoyles swore to live side by side with us in peace and to help fight any Vampires who came after us, if the need arose to defend the clans. We had the common enemies of humans and Vampires.”