Knightqueen (Oronis Knights #3)

Sten stepped back, lowering his sword. He turned to Carys. “Very fierce, my queen.”

She grinned at him. “Thank you, my knightguard.” She let her gauntlets dissolve away. “I had a good teacher.”

He reached out, wiping his finger across her cheek.

Her breath hitched.

“You have some blood here,” he murmured.

Energy from the fight was still pounding through her, and the touch of his fingers added to the sensation. She felt heat wash over her skin.

Sten paused, his gaze locking with hers.

She gripped his wrist, felt the fast beat of his pulse.

That’s when they heard shouts.

Sten bit out a curse. Her pulse spiking, Carys spun.

Five Gek’Dragar soldiers sprinted into view, lifting their weapons. Her heart leaped into her throat, but at the same time, resolve firmed inside her.

Finally, she could face the enemy who’d taken her. The ones who were hunting them like they were animals.

Sten lifted his sword.

“There are only five,” she said. “We can take them.”

Sten’s mouth flattened but he nodded. Then his brow creased.

“What?” she said.

“I think…” Suddenly, black bands of armor, made from a nanotech substance, snapped into place over his broad chest.

Carys gasped. She knew the armor was flowing from the implants embedded along his spine. It covered his body, flowing down his arms and legs, before a black visor slid over his face.

She reached deep, connecting with her oralite implant. For a second, there was nothing. Panic flared as she watched the Gek’Dragar running toward them.

Then, it felt like a wave crashing through a barrier.

Her armor formed.

As the black armor slid over her body, it felt like she’d regained the use of a limb. Power flared inside her.

Her visor slid closed, combat information running down the screen. Her own sword formed in her hand, glowing bright blue.

“Be careful.” Sten’s deep voice came through her implant’s comm line.

She lifted her sword in front of her. “Being careful isn’t what we need right now.”

She wanted to fight. She needed to fight. Most of all, she wanted revenge.

Sten thrust his sword forward.

The Gek’Dragar soldier dodged, but Sten was filled with the savage need to protect his queen.

His next thrust cut through the enemy’s heavy armor and leathery skin.

He felt the rush of Carys’ energy and knew she’d engaged the other soldiers. The Gek’Dragar sliced at Sten’s shoulder, and he hammered a quick punch to the alien’s horned face.