Knightqueen (Oronis Knights #3)

The creature roared, more drool dripping off its huge fangs onto the rocks below, and nothing but mindless rage radiated off it.

It leaped, its powerful, scaled body sailing through the air.

Carys’ heart thudded hard. Wait. Wait.

Then a large figure leaped in from the left, his big body a blur.

Knightguard Thorsten Carahan soared through the air. He held a giant, blue broadsword in his hands.

Her pulse leaped as she watched him. He used his strength and momentum to drive the sword into the beast’s body.

Carys dived and rolled, conscious of the dura-binding linking her to her knightguard. They’d lengthened it to give them room to maneuver, but she didn’t want to get tangled up.

Sten and the monster crashed to the ground. He pulled his sword free of the animal’s hide, and ugly, black blood dripped onto the rocks. He stabbed it again, ensuring it was dead.

“Carys.”

The low rumble of his voice moved through her and she fought back a shiver. She closed the distance between them. “I’m fine. I play the bait very well, I think.”

Sten made an unhappy sound. She knew every scowl, every look, and every sound that her knightguard made. He’d been her personal guard for over a decade. He’d protected her without question. He’d trained for it all his life.

She’d never ever questioned his ability, or his loyalty.

He glanced her way. His brown hair was short, and his features rugged. One cheek was covered in scars he’d gotten protecting her. No one would accuse Sten of being handsome, and if they did, he’d probably hit them.

No, Sten was pure strength and rugged power.

“I still can’t make my armor,” she said.

“Me neither.” He wore his own ripped, dirty black clothing he’d been wearing at the ball. His shirt had several tears, bronze skin showing through.

And he still made her breath stutter.

Alone, lost on an alien planet, it was just the two of them.

There was no protocol, palace workers, other knights, or the thousands of meetings and gatherings she attended as queen to keep them locked in their roles of knightqueen and knightguard.

It made it harder for her to hide her feelings.

Suddenly, several small creatures skittered over the rocks.

Oh, no. The beasts down here never stopped. These ones had lots of legs, and hard bodies, but their fangs looked just as sharp.

She tensed. “Sten.”

“I see them.”

He swiveled, and they pressed their backs together. Carys lifted her sword.

“Wait for them,” he said. “Wait.”

Carys waved her sword, a wash of blue light lighting the area around them.

The small creatures reared, spikes appearing on their legs.

“Go!” Sten roared.

They charged together, blades swinging and slashing.