Page 30 of Ruthlessly Mated

“Oh, yes. They try to pretend it doesn’t hurt, but after thirty seconds or so, it’s absolutely unbearable,” he says.

“Strange,” I say, as the pain in my hand starts to reach a sharp peak. “And then what do you do with them? Shoo them away?”

“Unnaturals trying to access the city face capital punishment,” he says.

I nod. “So you shoot them in the face, or…”

“Depends what they do,” he says. “I’d like to shoot one in the face. Would rather get a vampire than a wolf though, you know. Wolves just bleed like people. Vampires crumble to dust.”

“ASMR,” I say.

“Exactly. The sound they make is really soothing.”

“You know, I’m actually very pleased to see this happening,” I say. “My parents were killed by vampires.”

“Were they now?” The guard is immediately interested.

“Both of them slaughtered in a single night. They died trying to protect me. I only barely got away with my life, and do you know I think the beast that killed them still stalks me. They don’t give up, vampires. They’ll hunt bloodlines for generations.”

“Hell, yes. And they’re not like wolves. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I don’t like those mangy bastards either, but vamps are creepy in an entirely different way. Real unnatural freaks they are, feeding on humans as their primary source. That’s why nobody wants ‘em. Even those freaks in Eclipse City won’t tolerate vamps.”

I draw in a breath. It’s not easy. My nervous system has started to scream as it feels like the coin is burning through my hand. My fingers, clenched tight around it, almost feel like they can’t actually move away from it. It’s like being very slowly electrocuted.

I’m starting to wonder if this plan maybe wasn’t actually the best plan.

“Doesn’t hurt, does it?” The guard narrows his eyes at me.

I laugh. “Hurt?”

Fuck, yes, it hurts. Hurts like being shot, but very, very slowly.

“I wonder what it feels like for an unnatural,” I say. “Have you ever caught one?”

“Oh, hell, yeah,” he says. “They can stand it for the first little bit, but then the tears start to well in their eyes. They can’t help it. Pain’s too much, I reckon.”

“What about if they sneak in other ways?”

“Well, there’s all sorts of traps. Can’t tell you them all of course, security issue, but I can tell you there’s colloidal silver in the water supply. Any unnaturals that sneak in here are going to have mighty sore tummies.”

“You’ve thought of everything,” I say admiringly, as my hand feels like it’s burning all the way up to my elbow.

Fortunately, a small convoy has pulled up behind us while all this is going on. Back in the rear, someone lays on the horn, then stays on it.

Thank god for impatient assholes. Whoever that is, is saving my whole entire life right now.

“Alright, go on through,” he says.

“Do we get to keep the coins?”

I’m not entirely sure I can actually let the fucking thing go without crying. My fingers are locked around it. I am holding myself together with sheer will power that will disappear the second I have to move too much.

“Sure! Enjoy the souvenirs!”

We drive through the checkpoint.

Damon leans over and gently unfolds my fingers, plucking the infernal coin from my palm and tossing it into the cup holder that always ends up doubling as a coin collector in any vehicle.

Conroy dumps his, shaking his hand out and rubbing the afflicted palm with his other hand.