Page 160 of Knot Their Soldier: Part Three

She does.

Those big purple eyes meet mine, and I see the pain in her before I feel a renewed stab of grief through the bond. She's doing a good job of suppressing her emotions, but it's not enough to hide from her Beta.

"It's time, Halley," I say.

Her throat works. "The Pass is gone."

"I know, sweetheart."

"That was my way back to them."

"I know that too." I slide my hand down and lace my fingers through hers, forcing something solid into her grip. "You can hate us later for not telling you. Right now I need you moving."

Knox ends his transmission and steps in close enough that all three of us stand shoulder to shoulder. He looks down at Halley with a hardness I haven't seen since the last time we were on a battlefield.

"Specialist Shade," he says.

He only says my name, but after years under his command, I hear his order clearly enough. He wants me to give him the numbers. The facts. A reason why now is the time we send our most precious person into battle.

"We have a window to get her down there before the next wave," I say. "Let her try one Command now, while the vanguard is still scattered. Then we use what we learn when the main army arrives."

Knox’s gaze fixes on me.

"Try one Command," he repeats.

I chose those words on purpose.

He needs a plan before he can send Halley into danger. He needs a target, a purpose, a reason that can stand up against the newly mated Alpha clawing at his control. If I call this what it is, he will hear risk. If I call it a test, he can turn fear into strategy.

So I give him that.

"One controlled attempt," I say. "Range, effect, reaction time. We get answers now, or we face the main assault blind."

His jaw locks.

I know he hates this. Every instinct in him wants Halley behind stone walls and armed guards, far from the front line. Mine does too.

But the Pass is gone, the next wave is already forming, and sheltering her will not save her if Blackgate falls.

Another impact lands at the rear of the fortress, and I duck as stone shrapnel scatters around us. I wrap an arm around Halley's waist to shelter her as best I can, and she instantly melts into my side, my sweet Omega seeking the comfort of familiar touch.

Knox is still hesitating, wavering between being her mate and her Prime Alpha.

"You know we can't keep her sheltered from this. We talked about it, so get your head out of your instincts," I say firmly, unable to stop myself from anxiously checking that her helmet is strapped on correctly. "Now that the Pass is gone, the next attack is coming for the fortress. They mean to destroy us as fast as possible. If our line breaks, we lose. We all die. Game over. I'm telling you that this is it. This is our moment, so don't fail us now, Prime."

It's harsh, but he has to hear it.

Halley is in danger no matter what. Every single soul in this fortress is on the verge of death.

His jaw flexes.

Below, a voice over the radio shouts for reinforcements at the lower bend. Another answers with casualty numbers I do not like at all. The front line is taking a hammering already.

Small bursts of Blaze and Viper ricochet down the bond as their control slips, giving us a taste of the violence we're about to walk into.

Knox watches Halley for a heartbeat, a brief flash of affection sweeping across his stony features, before he straightens and nods.

Yes.