Corrigan Magic (Corrigan: Blood Destiny Book 2) by Helen Harper Page B

catastrophic. 
    Henry Regis ruled the Brethren.  Although his time was bloody and violent, he had the respect of the land.  It is suggested that even the vampyres bowed at his throne.  However, three years into his rule, another was formed.  Thomas Blenheim too received full control of the Voice.  Unable to reach agreement with Regis, he fled to Scotland, splintering the Packs of the country.  The resulting war infected the country, not just among the shapeshifters but amongst the humans too. 
    Such power is not to be shared. It is the recommendation of this author that if two Lord Alphas emerge simultaneously, the second receiver must be immediately executed to avoid tragic bloodshed.
     
    That was it.  No matter how many other books I scoured, I could find no other details.  I’d never heard so much as a whisper of this tale before.  I had the suspicion that it had been deliberately swept under the carpet.  It would have been easy to blame the humans for the war at that time and to conveniently forget that we were the instigators.  It had, after all, been the time of the war of independence between Scotland and England.  The book’s author certainly seemed to suggest that it had come about as a result of shifter politics rather than human.  The idea flabbergasted – and terrified – me.  Manipulating history never ends well.
    Mack might not ever be another Lord Alpha, but she could very well be the first Lady.  She had the strength.  She’d almost killed a bloody demi-goddess on her own.  If she was still in Scotland, then her Voice was more powerful than mine.  I couldn’t reach those kind of distances. 
    I did, at least, find it impossible to believe that she was interested in seizing power.  Not only did she not seem to be aware of what she was capable of, but she possessed an innate disdain for anyone in authority – including, of course, me. She would never be hypocritical enough to usurp my position, that much I knew for sure.  Except it wasn’t the idea that she could take my place that concerned me.  There were often days when I would welcome it.  It was that anyone discovering her abilities might rally behind her and cause another civil war – or kill her to avoid one.
    The only way out of this mess that I could see was to pray that Mack chose to remain as far away as possible.  For one horrifying moment, I wondered whether that was why she’d left the Pack and gone rogue in the first place.  It didn’t fit though.  Still, as painful as the thought might be, it might be best for everyone if she stayed away.  My heart tightened.  I couldn’t think of anything worse.  But I couldn’t think of any alternative.
    “My Lord?”
    I didn’t turn around.  There was a faint tremor to Lucy’s tone that somehow mirrored my own emotions.  I couldn’t let her see my face right now.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Um, there’s someone to see you.”
    “I’m busy,” I growled.  “Take a message.”
    “It’s a vampire.”
    My shoulders stiffened.  It was still morning.  The fact that a bloodsucker was taking the risk of moving around in daylight was enough to cause concern.  I knew they had means of travelling in sunlight that kept them safe.  I also knew they tended to avoid those means unless they had good reason.
    Still, I already had a pretty good idea about who it would be. “Show him in,” I grunted.  It was surprising that Aubrey had discovered enough information about the blood sample to approach me so quickly.  It was, however, information I desperately needed.  I ran my fingers through my hair and adjusted my collar.  The least I could do was to look vaguely presentable.
    I knew from the reek of rotting flesh that Aubrey was behind me long before he spoke. “Lord Corrigan.”  There was a note of cold pleasure in his voice.  “Catching up on some light reading, I see?”
    I turned and gestured at a nearby chair.  “Please, sit.”
    “I won’t be here