Knightqueen (Oronis Knights #3)

His hands balled into fists. It had been pure instinct to link them with a dura-binding during the attack.

It meant the Gek’Dragar had been forced to take him with them.

They hadn’t been happy. He’d taken several beatings and still had the bruises.

At least he was with her. And he would get her home.

He tightened his hold on her body. She was staying still and watchful.

Holding her like this…it wasn’t something he usually did back on Oron. Over the years, he’d memorized how she looked, how she walked, every nuance of her beautiful features. In his darkest fantasies—ones he tried to keep ruthlessly locked down—he’d imagined touching her.

He breathed her in. Yes, they were both dirty, but his enhanced senses could still pull out her scent. It always made him think of sun-kissed honey.

You’re the head of her knightguard.

His jaw worked. He had no right to touch her. He was older, scarred, her guard. That was it.

I am Knightguard Thorsten Carahan. It is my duty to protect my queen. I am her sword, her shield, and her devoted servant.

He repeated his private vow a few more times.

The Gek’Dragar soldiers marched past their hiding place. But it was clear they were searching for them.

Sten and Carys had escaped their rocky prison built in the mountains here. There had been some sort of commotion at the prison, and they’d escaped in the chaos.

As they’d climbed down into the deep ravine, he’d heard the explosion that had destroyed the prison. It had provided the perfect distraction for him to get Carys far away from the Gek’Dragar.

Now, they were stuck on an unknown alien planet.

Alone.

The first thing they needed was food, and a safe place to rest. He knew that Carys was tired, and even though they had combat implants, they still weren’t functioning at full capacity. He ground his teeth together. The Gek’Dragar had shot them full of drugs that had left them unable to use their implants.

But it was wearing off. Soon, they’d be at full capacity again.

Still, even their tech couldn’t keep them upright for days on end. They needed rest. Carys’ feet were scratched up badly, and he hated seeing her golden skin damaged. He hated more that it wasn’t healing like it should.

Sten leaned closer to the opening. He listened, using his enhanced hearing.

The Gek’Dragar were gone.

“Come on.” He moved the rocks carefully, then helped her out.

She looked as graceful as ever, even in her tattered and torn dress. Days ago, she’d asked him to tear the long skirt shorter to give her more movement.

She was tall and slender, like a dancer. Her white-blonde hair was dirty and tangled, but she still looked like a queen. Her eyes were a brilliant gold.

He took her hand, loving the way her elegant fingers tangled with his. He pulled her in the opposite direction to the Gek’Dragar. They moved swiftly along the bottom of the ravine.

He hated it down here. This planet had too many wild beasts that bred and lived in the shadows. From what he could tell, there was something unnatural about them. They were twisted and mutated.

He looked up. There was nothing around them but sheer cliffs that seemed never-ending, reaching for the sky.

Then his gaze snagged on something. About halfway up the cliff face, a broken bridge dangled high above. And on one side, he spotted stone dwellings cut into the cliffside.

“This way.” He walked until he found a narrow, steep path that led up the cliff. “We’re going up.”

She nodded. “Where are we going exactly?”