Lib Novel Page 43
His gaze bored into hers. “I’m too heavy. I’ll pull you over the edge.”
“Then I have another order for you. I order you to catch this rope. I will get you over here. Do you understand, Knightguard?”
He glared. “Yes,” he said through gritted teeth.
Carys threw the rope.
He caught the end with one hand, still dangling from the rail line with his other one.
She nodded, gripping her end of the rope firmly. “Good now—”
The rail line broke.
He plummeted.
His full weight hit the rope and yanked her forward.
No.
She gripped the rope with all her strength and formed her sword in her other hand. She rammed the end of the blade into the platform. She needed an anchor. The ground sizzled when pure energy met rock.
Her shoulder wrenched as she took Sten’s full weight, pain sizzling through her. She gritted her teeth.
“Sten?” she said, strained.
“I’m all right.” His voice filtered up from the chasm.
She heard the sound of rocks falling, then a tug on the rope. A second later, he climbed over the edge of the platform.
Relief and elation hit her. With the strain gone, she let go of the rope and collapsed. Her sword dissolved in an instant.
He dropped down beside her, panting.
“You are so stubborn,” he bit out.
“So are you.” She rolled into his body. His warmth hit her, and she shivered. He was alive. Thank the knights.
He reached up and rubbed her sore shoulder. “You should’ve left me.”
She lifted her chin. “You’re mine, Thorsten. I will never leave you.” She leaned over him and cupped his chin. “Because I love you.”
Shock made his green eyes go wide.
Her insides trembled. Oh, had she just blurted that out loud?
Blurted out her deepest, most secret feelings for a man who’d only kissed her because she’d ordered him to?
She fought back the hot mix of emotions, embarrassment leading the way.
You’re the Knightqueen of Oronis. Act like it.
She pushed to her feet, setting her shoulders back, and dusted herself off. She did her best to lock down her rioting emotions.
“I know you don’t feel the same, that you don’t want me the way I want you. But it doesn’t change my feelings. Don’t worry, I won’t demand anything from you.” She nodded, pretending like her insides weren’t twisted into a hundred painful knots. “Now, we need to get out of this mine. Are you ready?”
He rose in a lithe move for such a big man. He was still staring at her. “I’m ready.”
“Good.” She walked off the platform and into the tunnel like a queen.