Delwyn and Felicity were closing in on the pair of them. Now firmly back at Lyselle’s side, Renaissance lowered her body once again, arms spread and talon brandished. Her left hand flitted down to her side and gripped her encrusted dagger still stained with werewolf blood. Unsheathing her weapon, Ren was prepared to strike quickly. Whatever rune that Huntress Master was carving into the boys skin was surely finished soon? And Lyselle’s knife whistling through the air did little to deter her.

Letting out a warning, serpentine hiss, the Vampire watched Delwyn expose his vulnerable side and she struck once. Twice. The dagger swept through the air, slicing up across Delwyns exposed rib area. The Ancient Vampire quickly followed the strike with another devastating downward slash. The dagger did its job, carving into Delwyn’s flesh with satisfying ease. Moving agile as a deer, Ren moved behind both Felicity and Delwyn, whipping around them like a whirlwind. Now behind them, she shoved Felicity toward Lyselle, engaging them into combat far sooner than Felicity had bargained for, no doubt. The aim was to hit her with the element of surprise. To put her in an unexpected position, prime striking distance for her bonded human. Lyselle was ready. She always was. And Ren knew she’d seize the opportunity to strike whilst Felicity was bewildered, even if only for a second.

Not satisfied that Delwyn had suffered enough, Ren clamped a flexed hand on the Hunter’s shoulder and spun him round to face her. Her face a portrait of horror, she glared at him with those midnight black eyes and saw the Hunter’s fury seeping from his pores.

[i]“Come now, Hunter!”[/i] Renaissance taunted, her voice shrill and subhuman. She awaited his next move, which would be predictably enraged and avoidable. Whilst she handled Delwyn, she expected her beloved Huntress would deal with Felicity. Then, once they’d successfully defeated these two, Ren hoped they’d be able to tackle the far more difficult task at hand: Holt.