Excerpt from my book Bloodless

Rydal held Drey up by the neck, choking the younger Archwing brother. Rydal bared a feral grin at his struggling brother and growled, "You were never a match for me Drey, even when I was wingless. You refused my offer to join us true vampires. You will always be a Bloodless, now and in the afterlife." Rydal opened his mouth, fangs ready to tear out his brother's throat.

Drey knew he had lost. He had failed the Bloodless and Nathan's mercenaries who so willingly helped them. He could not even defeat Rydal, despite the fact that they had trained together since Drey was able to fight. How did he become so skilled in combat? thought Drey. He saw Rydal's fangs come ever closer to his throat. Drey closed his eyes in defeat. Mom, Dad, Diana, everyone,I am so sorry. Then Rydal howled and dropped Drey.

Drey gasped for air as he quickly backed away from Rydal's winged form. Through his emerald eyes, Drey saw a crossbow bolt embedded in Rydal's back, right where his spine was located. By all means, Rydal should have dropped dead or convulsing on the altar, but Rydal strained to reach his back and with a cry, tore the bolt from his back.

The bolt came free, ripping away scraps of flesh and blood. Rydal snapped the bolt and turned to the direction where it had been fired. Both Archwing brothers saw a lone figure crouched in semi darkness, frantically reloading a crossbow. From its attire and figure, Drey guessed that the archer was a mercenary, one of Nathan's boys. With practiced eyes, Drey could see a panicked but determined expression on a young male countenance. As the bolt slid into place, the mercenary raised and aimed at Rydal again. The head of the bolt gleamed silver. Rydal laughed mockingly and spread his arms. The mercenary spared a glance at Drey and mouthed the word Go. Drey slowly crept back further from Rydal.

When the young vampire was a safe distance away, the mercenary fired his crossbow at Rydal. While the bolt was swift, Rydal's reflexes and movements was faster by a mile. With a great sweep of his wings, Rydal buffeted the bolt back at its owner. The mercenary only had a chance to gape at the incoming bolt as it struck him in the shoulder with such force that is pinned him to a wall. With another two great flaps of his wings, Rydal sent the stone area around the Drey's savior to come crashing down on him. Drey tried not to turn back as he ran away from the sadistic laugh that belonged to his brother. But he could not forget the young mercenary's face.