Coalition 02.5 - The Kingbird (10 page)

“A bridge,” Dare said softly, echoing his mate’s words.

They had barely taken a sip when the communications link on the wall behind them blared an alarm at the same instant
Dax’s
communicator buzzed loudly.
Dax
got to his first.

“I’m with the king,” he said into it. “Go.”

“Three incoming, sir.”

“Identification?”

“Signature shows 3rd Tactical Offense Wing.”

Dax
glanced at
Shaylah
.

“Well,” she said with a look at
Califa
, “that makes that decision easier.”

“It does.”

He knew the 3rd was
Shaylah’s
old flight wing, although she’d been on the defense side. But the Coalition being what it was—they seemed incapable of admitting their own arrogance was responsible for the change in results they’d endured since the rebellion had caught fire across the system—it was doubtful their tactics had changed much, and
Shaylah
knew them inside out. And so the usual drawing of straws to see which of them would stay home with the children would be foregone this time.

“Sorry,”
Shaylah
said to
Califa
.
Dax
knew the queen understood that his mate would be chafing at being left behind, and before
Shaina’s
birth would have refused to allow it.

“It is as you have always said, my friend,”
Califa
said. “The king must lead, and the
flashbow
warrior must fight, but the children must be protected over all.”

And so our king and our queen go into battle
,
Dax
thought as they hastily changed into flight gear.
They would have it no other way, just as I would have it no other way than to fight beside them
.

Only now, he would fight just as hard to survive and come home. There had been a time when he hadn’t cared about his own survival, but it was long past. The process that had begun with
Rina
was now complete with
Califa
and
Shaina
. He would live, and he would see that Lyon’s parents came home to him as well.

He thought of the kingbird, diving to salute the king, then soaring into the deep blue. That regal creature—so long thought gone forever—still flew.

And Trios was still here.

He and Dare would see that Trios stood, and would ever stand. And after them, their children would do the same.

END