Chapter 19
Carys woke in her bed. The curtains were fluttering in the breeze, and she saw a vase of verlorna lilies resting on the table nearby. Their fragrant scent tickled her nose.
She sat up and blinked.
For a horrible second, she thought everything had been a dream: her abduction, the Gek’Dragar and the Blue Death, Sten.
Her heart squeezed.
Sten. He’d been hit with the Blue Death. Horrible images ran through her head. His veins and skin turning blue.
“Carys, you’re awake.” Nea leaned forward in a chair beside the bed. “Take it easy.” The knightmaster held out a glass of water.
Carys ignored the water and gripped the woman’s arm. “Sten? Is he all right?”
“He’s fine. You and your supercharged energy healed him.” Nea shook her head. “I’ve never seen anything like it, and Kaden can do some weird things.”
“I think it’s the power of the royal bloodline.”
“Makes sense. Anyway, Ashtin and Kaden bullied Sten into seeing the knighthealers when we got back to the castle. So they could thoroughly check him out. He was still grumbling about it when I left.” She smiled. “He asked me to sit with you.”
Releasing a breath, Carys dropped back on the pillows. “Thank the knights that he’s okay.”
Nea’s lips twitched. “And thank the knights that the Blue Death was neutralized, and our planet is safe from the Gek’Dragar.”
Carys felt heat in her cheeks. “I’m very glad about all of that too.”
“The Gek’Dragar fleet tried to come across the border. Our ships, and the Eon warships intercepted them. The last report was that they’d been destroyed, and the few survivors had been driven back. More allies are sending ships. They’re going to help the Knightforce free all the planets the Gek’Dragar enslaved.”
Carys’ chest swelled. “I knew we could do it.” She thought of Azulon, Malthor and the others on Ti-Lore. Soon, they’d be free.
But right now, she was tired of being the knightqueen. All she wanted was her knightguard.
“I need to see Sten.” She swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She was wearing a robe and she cinched it tightly.
“You fell in love with your knightguard.”
Carys looked up at Nea, unable to read the woman’s tone. “I fell in love with a loyal, noble man—”
The knightmaster held up a hand. “I’m well aware of all of Sten’s good traits.” She paused. “Maybe not all of them. I know he keeps a lot hidden under his stoic fa?ade, but he’s a good man. And personally, I think he’d make an excellent king.”
Carys’ pulse skipped, then she pulled a face. “So do I, but he doesn’t believe that.” A cold shiver washed through her. “How can I ask him to do something that he doesn’t want?”
“He wants you. He risked his life for you. I think he just hadn’t ever pictured himself as a king. He just needs time to adjust, and you need to help convince him. He’d do anything for you.”
Yes, he would. “Take me to the knighthealers.”
Nea took her arm and helped her out of her room. The palace workers all bowed and called out excited hellos. A few glanced at her bare feet and robe, but didn’t comment. She felt a happiness in the air.
As they reached the knighthealers’ wing, she could hear Sten complaining from down the hall.
“No more tests. The last ones were all negative. I’m not infected and my heart is still beating just fine.”
Carys stepped into the airy room. When the knighthealers saw her, they all bowed their heads. Sten sat on one of the wide beds, his arms crossed over his bare chest. He had two sensors stuck to his temples, and another two on his chest.
When he saw her, his arms dropped.
She strode to his bed.
“Carys. Are you—?”
She didn’t stop. She climbed onto the bed and into his arms.
She wrapped her arms around him, and his brawny ones closed around her body. She kissed him. Right in front of everyone.
He was stiff at first, and when she pulled back, she saw he was looking at the people behind her.
“You told me you loved me, Thorsten. Was that true?”
“Yes.” His voice was gruff. “You know I love you. I’ve loved you for years, even when I wouldn’t admit it to myself. And I’ll love you for as long as I have breath in my body.”
“And I’ll shout my love for you from the rooftops, for everyone to hear. You are the right man for me. And for Oron. Look around.”
She watched him as he scanned the room. Everyone was smiling at them.
His hands clenched on her hips.
“Be mine,” she murmured.
“I am. I always will be.”
She swallowed. “Be my king?”
He cupped her cheeks. “As my queen commands.”
One week later
Sten lookedin the mirror and fiddled with his suit. He tugged at the neckline of his doublet. He hated wearing formal gear.
And he hated balls.
This one would be even worse because he’d be the focus of everyone’s attention. It was being held to celebrate his and Carys’ betrothal.
Gul, soon he’d become the King of Oron.
The thought left him a little queasy.
But it also meant that Carys would be his wife. The queasiness eased. It would be worth it. He’d walk through fire, and across alien planets, and battle the Gek’Dragar a thousand times to be with her.
Surprisingly, his knightguards had all been thrilled at the news that he was becoming the knightking. They’d even thrown him an impromptu celebration.
He realized now he had their respect and loyalty. Both Ashtin and Kaden had told him that there was no one else who’d make a better king for the Oronis. Because he’d always put the people first.
And he’d always put their knightqueen first.
He left his quarters and strode down the hall, his boots thudding on the marble floor. As he passed people, they bowed their heads to him.
Okay, that would take a little getting used to. He tried not to scowl.
He reached the Grand Hall.
The hall had black stone walls that shone in the light, and were shot through with veins of white and gold. The high ceiling soared overhead. It was covered in an elaborate web that was laden with white vines covered in gold flowers.
The hall was already filled with guests. Thankfully, he spotted Ashtin and Kaden. Both men were wearing similar outfits to his.
They both exaggeratedly bowed their heads at him.
“Your Highness,” Kaden drawled.
“Knock it off,” Sten growled.
His friends grinned at him. He knew they were teasing, but he still didn’t like it. And it was going to take a really long time to get used to anyone calling him Your Highness.
“Is Carys here yet?” He scanned the hall but didn’t see any sign of her.
“Not yet,” Ashtin said.
“Relax,” Kaden said. “You look tense when you should be happy. You’re marrying a beautiful queen, and you’ll soon be king of a prosperous planet.”
Sten grunted. “All I want is Carys.”
“We get it.” Kaden gazed over to where Nea was chatting with some other knights. “Every day I wake up beside Nea and I’m grateful. She’s everything. I’m fucking blessed.”
“You and your Terran words,” Ashtin said.
The knighthunter scoffed. “You use loads of Terran words. I think Kennedy is rubbing off on you in more ways than one.”
Ashtin’s face filled with pleasure. “I thank the knights every day that she came into my life.” He looked at his lover as she crossed the room. She was talking with King Gayel of Eon and his Terran wife, Queen Alea.
“I feel like the three of us should thank the Gek’Dragar,” Ashtin said. “Without them, we might never have ended up with our women.”
Sten made a sound. “Let’s not go too far.”
The Gek’Dragar had been routed by the Oronis fleet and their allies. Sten had gotten word today that Ti-Lore had been freed, as had so many other worlds that the Gek’Dragar had invaded.
This time, they would monitor to ensure that the remaining Gek’Dragar didn’t grow into a ravening army again.
There were gasps and people in the hall turned.
So did Sten, and everything inside him stilled.
Carys entered the ballroom. She wore a stunning gold dress that lovingly followed the lines of her slender body. It had touches of black and green. Silky dark fabric and gold chains draped out to the beaten metal bracelets on her wrists. It almost looked like she had wings.
Her platinum blonde hair was loose, and she wore her delicate black and gold crown on her head.
She looked stunning.
She was always beautiful to him. It didn’t matter whether she was naked, laughing in bed, smiling at her people, or dressed in something magnificent like this.
She nodded and smiled at people, then her gaze lifted. When she saw him, a huge smile crossed her face.
Love swamped him. How had he gotten lucky enough to have this woman fall in love with him?
“Hello, my knightguard,” she said.
“My queen.”
“You look very handsome tonight.” She smoothed a hand across his shoulder. “And I have something for you.” She gestured to one of her servers. The man hurried over, carrying an ornate wooden box. He opened the lid.
Sten saw what was inside and grimaced.
Carys was watching him, amusement on her face. “It’s only a crown, Sten.”
He made a non-committal sound. Thankfully, it wasn’t overly large or ornate. It had a simple, masculine design and was made of black and gold metal to match hers.
She lifted it out of the box.
He knelt in front of her. “You’re lucky that I’d do anything for you.”
She settled the crown on his head, her lips curving. “I am.” Then she raised her voice. “Rise, my consort.” She leaned closer. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Carys.” He rose and pulled her into his arms.
She tipped her head back. “You’ve given me everything I’ve ever dreamed of, Sten.”
He took her hand. Around them, everyone cheered and clapped. “Have I told you how stunning you look in that dress.”
She shot him a private smile. “Thank you. And just so you know, I still feel you. Between my legs, from when you interrupted my bath earlier.”
He fought back a shudder. Desire filled him, bright and hot.
“Now, shall we dance?” she asked.
“If we have to.”
Her laughter sounded like gold. “It really is lucky that I know you’ll do anything for me.”
And he would.
He would be her king and consort. Her knightguard. He’d be her sword and shield, and always her devoted servant. But most of all, he would be the man who loved her for the rest of their lives.