Chapter 6

“Toldyou I’d spread the word far and wide.”

Christine couldn’t argue with that. “Parello” had been true to his word; the length and breadth of the whole system knew who she was and what she’d done. Prince Phillip Allen Richards had indeed been uniquely placed to do so.

The royal heir had served anonymously as so many of England’s royalty had done over the centuries. Parello was a play on the “parallels” in his life: serving as his ancestors had, both before and during the Colony Wars, also serving in the Armed forces against the terrorists to defend his own future throne.

Christine was glad that he hadn’t told her his true identity until after they’d decided they were totally crazy about each other; a sentiment he also shared and demonstrated delightfully at every opportunity in the two years since the Victory at Io.

And, while she wasn’t serving forward military anymore, now that the last of the rebels had finally given up, it was hard to argue with her new role: brigadier in charge of flying the armored Stinger for the Royal Family.

Including herself and their yet-to-be-born daughter.

They’d already decided to name her Parella after her father.

And when Parella was grown, and done flying her own tour with the Night Stalkers, she would, as her mother now did, wear the infamous Sword of Io.

Once again held by an officer as it should be.

Once again a symbol of honor and country.