As much as he hated to admit it, she was right. Angry that he'd allowed himself to be caught like this, he manifested a stake in his hand. "You know the legend. Stab them in the heart and they'll die." He handed her the stake.
Susan's eyes held a degree of fear as she wrapped her hand around the stake and offered him a brave smile. "Call me Buffy. I'm even blond, but don't ask me to wear a halter top." She glanced over to Zoe. "Or corset."
Ravyn lifted her hand with the stake in it and kissed the back of her knuckles. Standing there with his death imminent, he felt a wave of respect for her the likes of which he'd never known. More than that, something sublimely tender touched his heart.
Whatever happened tonight, he only hoped that she got out of it in one piece.
Susan offered him an encouraging smile before she stepped back. Reluctantly, he let go and turned around to fight.
As the Daimons came toward them slowly, the Dark-Hunters formed a circle with their backs to one another.
Ravyn tried to put Susan behind him, but she wouldn't go. "Susan, get in the middle."
She met his gaze without flinching. "Get your head in the fight, Ravyn, and don't worry about me. I'm the only one here who isn't having my strength depleted right now. "
Zoe scoffed at her bravado. "You're also the only one of us who has a soul they can steal and blood they can drink."
Susan opened her mouth to respond, then snapped it shut. "Very valid points." Then she literally hopped behind him.
Ravyn reached around his back to assure himself that she was as far from harm's way as she could be for the moment.
Dragon whipped out his nunchakus while Menkaura wrapped a strange golden chain around one fist.
The Daimons didn't attack right away. Rather, they crept toward them as if savoring the picture of them crowded together.
"What are they waiting for?" Belle asked.
Ravyn ground his teeth as he realized the answer. "For us to grow even weaker. "
"Screw that," Cael snarled before he let out a war cry. He ran at the Daimon closest to him.
Without thinking, Ravyn broke formation to help Cael as two Daimons ran at Cael's back. Suddenly all hell broke loose as the Daimons swarmed over them.
Susan couldn't breathe as she watched the Daimons go after the Dark-Hunters. There were so many of them, she wasn't even sure if the Dark-Hunters were still standing.
She staggered back as a Daimon came at her, then paused a few feet from her. He sniffed the air in a way that reminded her of a dog who'd caught wind of something it found appealing. "You're not one of them," he said with a gleeful smile. "You're human."
"And you're not."
He came at her.
Susan grabbed his shirt and fell to the ground with him in tow. Rolling onto her back, she raised her legs up and kicked him over her head, away from her, then continued the roll until she was back on her feet. He landed in a heap by the Dumpster as the next Daimon came at her. She elbowed the woman in the face, then twisted around, trying to stake her.
The woman sank her fangs into Susan's arm.
Susan hissed as the pain spread through her. "I hate to girl fight, but..." She grabbed her by the hair and yanked as hard as she could.
The Daimon cried out before Susan head-butted her.
Ravyn turned to see Susan fighting off her attackers. Stunned by her skill, he missed the Daimon coming for his back. Something hot ripped into his shoulder. He turned with a curse to punch the Daimon in the face. He staggered back but left the knife embedded deep in Ravyn's shoulder. Pulling it out with a curse and a fierce grimace, he tossed it straight into the Daimon's chest. He exploded into a golden shower that rained down on Ravyn.
Ravyn caught the knife before it fell to the ground and headed for Susan. She executed a mawasbi-geri or roundhouse kick so perfectly that even Bruce Lee would have been impressed. Gods love her, she did know how to handle herself. Dragon really had taught her well.
And before Ravyn could reach her, she turned on the Daimon nearest her and stabbed him with the stake.
Ravyn skidded to a stop as she killed the Daimon like a pro. She started for Ravyn, then caught herself as she realized he had black hair.
He gave her a crooked grin. "Remind me to never piss you off again."