Knightqueen - Page 80

“And what does my queen want?”

“She wants you in her bed.” The corner of her lips curled in a sensual smile. “You’re sleeping here, Sten. I have a very large bed, and I won’t lie, I’ve imagined you in it many times.” This time, she bit his lip hard.

He slid his palms more firmly under her ass and carried her to the bed. He laid her on it.

“I’ve imagined being here with you, too.”

On the bed, Carys smiled. Then she whipped her loose dress over her head.

All she wore beneath it was a filmy, nearly transparent nightgown that ended at mid-thigh. His stomach clenched. The fabric clung to her breasts and made him hard in an instant.

She held out a hand to him. “You have too many clothes on, Thorsten.”

He started unfastening his shirt. “That can be remedied.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The emergency alert blasted through Carys’ implant.

All senior knights to the war room. All senior knights to the war room.

She jerked awake. She was held in Sten’s arms. For a second, she thought she was back on Ti-Lore. But as he sat up and turned on the bedside light, she realized they were in her room at the castle.

She had a naked Sten in her bed. She almost smiled, but she knew he’d heard the emergency alert as well.

He quickly rose and dressed.

“Do you have more information?” She knew he’d be in contact with Ashtin. She slipped off the bed and hurried to pull on some clothes as well.

“Sensors picked up an anomaly. A cloaked ship was spotted near the Kreora moon.”

That was close to Oron. She felt like a fist formed in her chest. She quickly pulled on some black trousers and a white wrap shirt that she tied into place.

Let them come. She and her knights would stop them.

Once they were both dressed, Sten pulled open the doors and strode out. There were two guards outside, and two of Carys’ maids, who’d clearly rushed from their beds. Everyone froze, startled gazes falling on Sten.

“We need to get to the war room.” Carys waved her maids off. “Please, go back to bed.”

The maids eyed Sten, then her, then the two of them smiled. Carys couldn’t worry about gossip right now. She half jogged to keep up with Sten as he marched down the corridor.

Moments later, they stepped into the war room.

Ashtin was leaning over the light table, frowning. Kennedy was beside him, tapping on a handheld device, with Nea and Kaden. Another pair stood with them.

“Davion,” Carys said. “Eve. I didn’t know you’d arrived.”

War Commander Davion Thann-Eon and his Terran mate Eve looked up. The brunette woman smiled, but her mate’s face was set in serious lines. His sleeveless black outfit showed off his brawny arms.

“We arrived an hour ago,” Davion said. “We will not leave you to deal with the Gek’Dragar alone.”

“Thank you. I hope your son is well.”

Eve smiled. “Kane is healthy, far too mobile for his age, and delights in getting into everything.”

“We have more warships on the way,” Davion continued. “Gayel ordered several to your secondary fleet at the border. In case the Gek’Dragar try to attack on two fronts.”

“You have the gratitude of all the Oronis,” Carys said.