Prince of Flight Read Free Page B

as much, making them suffer. There had been a time when he was one of the most feared of the hawks’ warriors. Bloodthirsty and bent on winning as all warriors were, he’d been ruthless in his quest for victory in battle. But in the end, he’d been blinded by lust, then nearly blinded for real. The bird gods demanded payment due, and payment he had made.
    “I still cannot fathom why we’re meeting in this dive,” said Rossi. “Aeson has raised his standards. He probably showed, took one look at this place, and then fled. Smart man.”
    “Hey, I like this bar. It is one of my favorites,” he said, omitting the fact that it was only his favorite because of Lark.
      “You have been living as a human for far too long if this bar holds appeal,” said Sachin. “Your standards have fallen greatly.”
    Had they not been friends all their lives, Keonae would have taken offense. As it stood, he knew Sachin’s words were birthed out of concern and a healthy grain of truth. The bar was a hole in the ground.
    Lifting his beer, Keonae inclined his head to make a toast. “To using women to serve one’s needs so long as I’m not tethered to a mate, and to dives like this. May the shit hole-in-the-ground places always welcome a motley crew such as us.”
    Rossi’s sound of disgust wasn’t lost on Keonae. “Brother, tell me you’re not planning to continue living here in this realm. More to the point, near this place. The human realm is a wonderful place to visit, but to lay roots? To call home? Also, I believe the human term for this is hole-in-the wall, not ground.”
    Sachin groaned. “Rossi has moaned since our departure. Mayhap the moons back home are afflicting him.”
    “Make fun of humans,” said Lazar to Rossi before he drank his beer. “I dare you. I will tell your wife. Lucy will unman you.”
    “Hey, none of that now,” said Rossi with wide eyes. “Her moods have been sour enough with me of late. She needs no encouragement. I had no idea human females could be so violent. Pregnancy has made her scary. I show no fear in battle, yet I shake in her presence. I spent last night sleeping upon the floor outside our chamber doors as she deemed me in the dog house, whatever that means. Humans are very strange beings.”
    “My wife just happens to be human too. As does your queen,” reminded Sachin. “If they hear you talking about their tempers, they’ll team up with Lucy and they’ll all geld you.” Sachin leaned forward as if daring Rossi to say more. Wisely, Rossi shut up.  
    Keonae laughed, bringing a look of surprise from the males around him. “What? I find it humorous that you are all terrified of little human women.”
    “You really need to meet them face-to-face,” said Sachin. “They’d scare the feathers off a vulture.”
    Keonae smiled wide and felt the pull on the right side of his face from muscles he didn’t use often. He quickly schooled his expression, dreading drawing attention to his misshapen smile.
    “Speaking of vultures,” said Lazar, knocking lightly on the table. “You were correct, Keonae. We have held much back from you in the past months.”
    Keonae nodded, figuring as much.
    Lazar continued. “They have been attacking on the edges of the kingdom, we believe in an attempt to test our forces and our protection lines. To date, they have not been successful in gaining access to the hawks’ area, but I do not think that is their true mission.”
    Sachin let out a long breath. “Nor do I. They seek to distract us while testing our resolve.”
    “Bottom feeders,” mouthed Rossi.
    Lazar nodded. “Word reached us that they’re planning a raid here in the human realm. And if our spies are correct, this raid is to occur not far from where you lay your head, Keonae. And we do not believe it will be far in the future.”
    “I would like to place guards with you until this blows over,” said Sachin, tipping his head. “I know you will protest and tell me no, but think upon