Another rumble vibrated through the werewolf's chest—[i]he nearly had her![/i] The snake had slipped his grasp, and in the next moment she was on his back. He reached upward, hoping to tear her loose, but his brain registered two sharp, brutal stabs to the neck. A cry ripped from his maw, this one tinged with more humanity than beast, as his body sank toward the ground — kneeling, failing, as if the vampire had found some hidden switch inside him.

His burning gaze shot across the clearing just in time to see his sister being torn apart by the human. He couldn’t even process how fast the woman moved—only the searing pain of both body and heart.

Where had he gone wrong? Only an hour ago the pair had been slicing at the young undead, chasing her through the trees like a toy. But now everything was twisted… a human killing his sister, the sire riding his back, and their prey barely standing at all. As he heard the human’s name called across the battlefield, a weak groan escaped him. He tried to move one arm — failed.
[i]'So this is where we die…'[/i] he thought, gaze softening as he used his final moments to mourn everything lost in mere minutes.

[hr]
Across the clearing, the huntress watched Violet collapse, struggling to crawl or rise. Nothing worked. Lyselle heard the sickening gurgle of her breath as the she-wolf tried one last time before finally falling limp. A flicker of empathy crossed the Huntress’ features — soft eyes, softened heart — before her expression sharpened again, gaze snapping toward Ren and Victor.

The command was all she needed. Seeing Ren positioned precariously didn’t hurt, either. She pushed off the ground and sprinted, closing the distance within a few blinks.

Her blades caught the moonlight like something out of an action film as she swept forward. With quick, practiced efficiency, she slit the neck of her new foe. No hesitation, no flinch — even as Victor began to rise. Anyone else might have paused at the sight of such a towering creature, but not her. No wasted motion, like a true assassin, as the blessed silver hissed across his throat. A liquid-filled cry of agony tore from him.

It took only moments for the massive beast to fall, collapsing onto the forest floor with an outstretched hand pointed toward where Violet lay. His final thoughts were of her — how small and fierce she had always been, how proud he was of her, how deeply he loved her…

And just as quickly as the battle had begun, it was over, leaving two dead werewolves in its wake.

Lyselle’s chest rose and fell at a controlled, moderate pace — she wasn’t even sweating. Her attention immediately shifted to Ren.
[color=#9BA7C3][b]“Your grace, are you all right?”[/b][/color]

The first instinct that surged through her was to ensure her bonded companion’s safety. A slight fret trembled across their link as Lyselle stepped closer, eyes scanning Ren for any sign of injury.