Knightqueen (Oronis Knights #3)

The sunlight was nearly gone, and Sten used his energy to create blue light on his palm. They used it to search the rest of the village.

The dwellings were all empty.

“The Gek’Dragar are responsible for this.” Anger coated Carys’ voice. “I know it. Whoever lived here, the Gek’Dragar forced them out.”

“Yeah, the guls have a lot to answer for.” Something moved in the shadows and Sten spotted a small lizard. Quickly, he chased it, and gripped the small creature. It wriggled, but he quickly twisted its neck.

“Sten!”

“It’s food.” He scanned the creature with his implant. It was fine to eat and had a high protein content.

Carys’ nose wrinkled. “I’m not eating it raw.”

“Yes, my queen.” He took her arm, and led her into the least ruined building carved into the cliff. At the back, he saw a vine growing over one wall. It was laden with white fruit. A quick scan told him the fruit was edible as well. He plucked several off the vine.

Carys ducked into an adjoining room. “Sten, in here.”

He followed her and saw where water trickled down the wall, pooling in a basin carved into the rock. He scanned the water. Potable. Something else to thank the knights of old for. A quick circle of the room, and he found a carved bowl made of some type of wood. That meant there might be trees on this planet somewhere, although he was yet to see any. He rinsed the bowl out, and filled it with water.

When he handed it to her, she drank greedily. He watched her graceful neck, his gut tightening. A droplet of water escaped, sliding down her neck. He swallowed. He had the sudden urge to lean forward and lap at that drop. At her skin.

Gul. He made himself look away.

He needed to find his control. His hand flexed. He was usually very good at not letting himself notice how beautiful his knightqueen was.

He’d had years of practice.

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

“Come on, let’s find somewhere to rest for the night.” He led her back into the main room of the house. He found a small table that was kicked over on its side, and righted it, setting their food down. He found a few other things buried in the rubble.

There was a candle made from some sort of slow-burning wax. He lit it, and it gave the room a flickering glow. Next, he pulled up some netting, and realized it was a hammock. He dusted it off and affixed it to the wall, then he tested it with his weight.

“It’s stable.”

He crouched down on the ground, then used a burst of energy to cook the lizard.

Carys sat down beside him. She pulled a face as he used a knife to slice the cooked creature, but she took a hunk of the lizard meat. He watched her gingerly test it.

“I’d give anything for some berrigian broth right now,” she said.

A popular meal on Oron, it was made from a flavorful vegetable, and he knew it was one of her favorites.

“As soon as we get home.”

She shot him a small smile that made his chest tighten. “And you’d want a thick brod steak.”

She named his favorite meat. “You know me too well.”

“I do.”

Quietly, they ate the fruit and meat, taking sips of water in between. The silence was comfortable and familiar.

They’d spent a lot of time together since he’d become her guard.

She’d been a young, bubbly, seventeen-year-old, and already so amazingly beautiful, when he’d been assigned to her protection detail.

It had been an honor to protect the life of the knightprincess.