Knightqueen (Oronis Knights #3)

She gritted her teeth, her sword cutting through hard shells and sharp claws. Black blood splashed the rocks.

Whirling, she and Sten moved with power and precision. He threw an energy ball.

Several more alien creatures came up over the rocks. Her jaw tightened. She’d be no one’s meal today.

She slashed at more creatures, then formed another energy ball and tossed it into a crowd of the beasts.

“Sten.” She ran in his direction.

It was like he read her mind. He bent forward and she rolled over his back and sent out a wave of energy. It hit the creatures, the powerful blast tossing their bodies into the air.

The last few alien monsters retreated, skittering back into the shadows.

Quiet fell. All Carys could hear was her and Sten’s harsh breathing.

She dissolved her sword. Sten waited another beat, before dissolving his, as well.

He straightened and scanned the area.

She studied his rugged face, and the scars that slashed down one cheek.

He’d gotten them protecting her when she’d been a teenager. They’d been attacked by a vicious creature intent on assassinating her. Not once had he given up, or slackened from his duty, even when he’d been injured and in pain.

Suddenly, tiredness hit. Carys was so sore, weary, and hungry. They’d been held captive for days, and been carted halfway across the quadrant to…wherever they were. The entire time she’d worried about Oron and her people.

When they’d escaped the Gek’Dragar prison, she’d been filled with hope. But after a day of travelling through these beast-infested ravines, fighting for their lives, she was tired.

Sagging, she dropped onto a rock.

“Carys.” Sten knelt in front of her and cupped her face.

“I just need a minute. I’ll be fine.”

She was always fine. She had to be. Her people wanted to see strength and grace in their queen.

Not a woman who often felt alone. A woman who keenly felt the weight of her people’s safety weighing on her. There were always vital decisions to make, political alliances to navigate, and enemies waiting for a moment of weakness.

“You’re exhausted,” he said.

She met green eyes she knew so well. “So are you.”

His callused thumbs moved on her cheeks, and she hid the shiver of pleasure that ran down her spine.

Then a fierce frown crossed his face. He leaned down and picked up one of her feet in his hands. He made one of his unhappy sounds. Her skin was torn and bleeding.

“The bindings came off,” she said.

He’d wrapped her bare feet the best he could in shreds of his shirt.

“It’s fine, Sten.”

“No, it’s not,” he growled.

“They’ll heal.” Another benefit of their combat implants was that they helped their wounds heal faster.

“But your healing rate is still slow after the drugs the Gek’Dragar gave us.” His scowl turned savage. “Another thing I will ensure they pay for.”

She touched his wrist. His skin was warm. Back in the palace, they rarely touched. But out here, everything was different. “First, we focus on escaping. There will be time for vengeance.”