Page 29 of Ruthlessly Mated

I can’t get rid of them by abandoning them, and I can’t get rid of them by telling them enough of the truth that any sane guys would run away. So we all pile back in the truck and I send it on to Rock City, which happens to be the next off-ramp from the gas station.

Rock City is a desert outpost that grew over time until people mistook it for somewhere to be. It has a wall around it. Usually that would indicate an ancient city, but this time it’s because there was a recent period where people got very interested in walls and keeping undesirables out. Sort of coincided with vampires and werewolves turning out to be real.

It is made primarily from red sandstone cut from the region, so it almost blends into the landscape. Anything that isn’t red is soon covered in a sandy haze of it, including the road, and now my truck.

It’s beautiful, actually. It’s a pity everyone who lives here has decided to be a giant piece of shit.

As we roll up to the checkpoint at the south of the city, two large signs are prominent, freshly washed that day so they gleam as we approach.

No Vampires.

Trespassers Will Be Staked on Sight.

No Werewolves.

Trespassers Will Be Shot with Silver.

There are dozens of signs warning us to stay well clear of the place, but that only gives me more reason to want in. Alexander would never have the necessary strength of ego to go undercover. He likes to storm around making a big show of his ancient vampiric power. Places like this are a horror to him. He’d be shocked to realize that there’s somewhere he really can’t go. That man conquered the world once. Twice. Three times. I’m sure he’s gearing up for a fourth go, but that’s going to be complicated now that it’s not exactly a secret what or who he is.

“Hey, beautiful,” the guard says as I lower the window. “Present your hands, please.”

This part, I did not expect.

“What’s this?”

“Have to test. UV and Silver,” the guard says. “We’ve had a few unnaturals try to sneak in.”

“How disgusting,” I say. “So what do you do with the silver and the UV?”

“Silver goes in the hand for a good minute, UV’s already on. We’re pretty sure you’re not vampires, but it’s the wolves that try to sneak in. Mangy things.”

I’m glad the other two guys are in the back bed hiding out. Looks like Conroy and I are going to be suffering through this nonsense trial.

“Alright, give us the trinkets,” I say.

I hold my hand out and the guard drops a silver coin in it. “Should I hold onto this, or do you want me to pass it on?”

I try to hide the strain in my voice. It does not feel good to have a silver coin in hand, but it won’t leave a mark. It hurts, but what’s a little pain.

“Pass it on,” he says, handing me another coin. “Everybody has to be tested.”

“Wait,” I say. “Are supernaturals trying to sneak into the city?”

“Not often, but we can’t be too careful. This is the only city in the island that can boast being free of any kind of freak, and that’s because nobody gets in here except normal people.”

“People who don’t have anything special going on? Just totally normal, average people?” I confirm.

“Exactly.”

“Run of the mill people. People who can be trusted.”

“Give the man the coin,” he says.

I tried stalling, but I’m not going to be able to hold off any longer without seeming suspicious.

I hand the other coin over to Conroy, trying not to wince as my palm burns. He takes it without a word. He’s the wolfiest looking guy I’ve ever seen. I hope he has the ability to be stoic.

“So this bothers wolves, does it?” I make innocent conversation. “Seems like it wouldn’t do anything much.”