Knightqueen (Oronis Knights #3)

“Look,” she said suddenly.

He stared into the swirling dust and frowned. A circular shape lay ahead.

A mine entrance.

CHAPTER SIX

The storm was getting worse.

As rocks peppered her, Carys winced. They reached the metal door to the mine, and she saw the control panel on the side, built into the rock. She rapped her hand against the buttons but nothing was working.

“There’s no power.”

Sten moved up beside her, moving slowly. It wasn’t like him. Her belly curdled. She knew he was hurt badly.

But the stubborn man would never admit it.

She blew out a breath, then she gritted her teeth and sent a surge of energy into the panel. She watched the blue light crackle over the controls, and a second later, the door groaned open.

“Sten, quickly.”

He almost stumbled, and she slid an arm around him. He was heavy, all thick muscle. She gritted her teeth and helped him stay upright.

They staggered inside, and she quickly turned and touched the interior controls. She slammed her palm against the panel and the door closed, cutting off the storm.

It plunged them into pitch darkness.

Carys held out her palm and ignited a small energy ball. In the blue light, she watched Sten lean against the wall. His face was ashen.

Tamping down her worry, she looked around. She spotted some dusty gear stacked by the door and waded through it. She found a small lantern.

She turned the dials, praying it still had power, and a second later, it flared to life. A warm, golden light emitted from it.

She set it down. “You’re hurt.”

“I’ll heal.”

“Sten.”

He coughed, and she saw blood on his lips. Her pulse spiked. No, no, no. Then he collapsed to the ground.

“Sten!” She cupped his jaw. “Retract your armor.”

He groaned, but a second later, his armor withdrew.

She saw that his shirt was soaked with blood. She sucked in a breath. It was bad. Really bad.

“You should’ve told me.”

The annoying man just grunted.

She ripped his shirt open. Part of her mind registered the slabs of muscle on his chest covered in a sprinkling of brown hair. His abs were heavy, defined ridges. But her focus lay on the jagged cut on his side. It was still oozing blood.

Her throat tightened. She couldn’t lose him.

She’d lost her family, and after that, Sten had become her rock.

The one constant in her life.