can once this is all over. It won’t help you tonight, but it’s good to keep on you. Silver bullets as well, but I only break those out when I know I’m dealing with one of the Moon Cursed.”
“Moon Cursed? Another way of saying werewolves and werecats? Are there other types of were…things?”
“No. No one really knows where they came from, but it’s just the two, locked in a semi-aggressive stand off since they came onto the supernatural scene,” I said, shrugging. “You learn to get used to not having answers in our world. Not everything has a reasonable explanation.”
“I’m noticing. So tonight…fae are poisoned by iron, and a fatal wound with it will kill unless they can find someone who can or will heal them in time. Vampires will die, no matter what, if you set them on fire or leave them in the sun. Everything dies if you cut its head off.”
“Or rip it off,” I said, looking at his large arms. My fangs were already down, and the idea of sinking them into the mass of his bicep was an urge that made it very hard to focus. “It’s disgusting and rough, but you have the strength to do it. Don’t forget that.”
“Yeah.” He practically shuddered.
“You flip SUVs like they’re made of paper. It doesn’t take much pressure per square inch to break a neck and tear a head off. And you have to remove it. Vampires can heal from a broken neck once someone readjusts it and gives them blood.” I put the swords away as we talked. Cassius was picking out several guns from his personal arsenal to take to his indoor shooting range in the basement of his multi-million-dollar mansion.
“Yeah…”
I tried not to sigh. He was still adjusting and wasn’t giving us a hard time. He was probably just uncomfortable, thinking he could use his strength for that.
The problem was, I needed him to be a bit more blood thirsty…well, a lot more blood thirsty. I needed him willing to do whatever was necessary to survive.
“I’m ready,” Cassius said, holding out two guns for me. One was a neat little Beretta, and the other was an M4, two of my standard choices. He picked up two more and handed them to Raphael, who held them with practiced ease. Cassius grabbed the two he chose for himself and led us to the basement shooting range.
“You know, most rich people would put bowling alleys down here,” Raphael said, looking around the large space.
“Most rich people don’t need to shoot a lot of people fairly often,” Cassius replied as he put his weapons down at the first station.
I hit a few buttons and called targets to come down in the back. “Have you ever practiced with firearms before?”
“It’s what I did in my spare time. Go to a local shooting range and keep working on my aim. Guns have proven pretty useful over the last five years.”
“Good. Then you know the deal. Don’t point it at anyone else here. We’ll shoot back, and we’re faster than you.”
Cassius didn’t bother with earmuffs, and neither did I, heading to my station. One of the things everyone had to get used to was the loud bang of a gunshot or several in quick succession.
We loaded and took aim while Raphael was still making his way to the third station. Cassius’s range had six stations. He often brought people down to help them, so they could defend themselves while they were out in the world. I knew Leith, Terry, and Annie-Lyn were all fantastic shots.
We all fired around the same time, emptying our handguns, a variety of different ones between us. When Cassius hit the button, the targets came forward, and I grinned to see all mine in the center ring of the target’s body—kill shots, every one of them. Glancing at Cassius’s, I saw the same thing. I knew he was equal to me with firearms.
But when I looked at Raphael’s, I was genuinely surprised.
Heads shots, all within a few millimeters of each other, making one big hole.
When he noticed me staring at his target, he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.
“I know headshots aren’t practical in a real situation, but they keep my aim sharp.”
“Whatever works,” I said, taking his target down and holding it where Cassius could see it. “Um, for future reference, headshots on supernaturals are a good idea. Body shots can easily be healed by certain species. If you can hit the head, go for