Knightqueen - Page 90

“Don’t touch him,” Ashtin warned. “He’s infected.”

“Why did you do that?” she breathed. “Why?”

When he’d seen that Gek’Dragar throw the Blue Death at her, Sten hadn’t hesitated. He’d always known he’d give his life for her.

“Save…you. Always.” Gul, everything hurt.

Tears welled in her beautiful gold eyes. “You cannot die!”

“Carys…you’re my reason for being.” He dragged in a shuddering breath and realized he couldn’t feel his hands and feet anymore. “I love you.”

Her lips parted.

“Should’ve…told you a long time ago.”

“I love you too, Thorsten Carahan.” She reached out like she wanted to touch him, then her fingers curled into her palms. She looked up at the others. “Get the knighthealers here. Now!”

But Sten knew there was nothing the knighthealers could do. He could feel the Blue Death working through his body. The healers didn’t have an antidote for it.

He gasped in air. It was working deep into his cells. Disintegrating his insides.

“I can’t lose you.” Her voice cracked. “You’re my heart. My soul.”

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

She sobbed. “And I am Knightqueen Carys, the woman who loves you. My loyal guard. My protective lover. Mine.” Then her jaw tightened, and she shook her head violently. “I won’t lose you. I won’t lose anyone else I love.”

She leaned forward and pressed her hands to his chest.

He heard the others shouting.

“No, Carys!” Ashtin gripped her shoulder. “You’ll be infected.”

She shrugged him off, then lifted a palm. A wave of energy pushed Ashtin, and he fell back into Kaden.

Sten watched as energy swirled around Carys, sparkling a brilliant gold. Her skin glowed gold, and he heard exclamations from the others.

His mouth dropped open. She was stunning. Beautiful. “Carys…”

The gold energy poured out of her and ran over him. It hit him hard, and his back bowed.

It coursed through him, and he gritted his teeth against the powerful sensations.

Then he felt his body lifting off the ground. He opened his eyes and saw Carys was rising off the ground as well. Her hands entwined with his.

The gold wound around them, like ropes. The energy was warm, and it poured into him, washing away the frigid cold.

“Carys.” He could breathe again. He wrapped his arms around her as they hovered above the ground. “My love.”

Then he kissed her.

She gripped him hard and kissed him back. She molded herself to him, stealing his breath, making his heart beat faster.

He kept kissing her. It took him a while to realize that the gold energy had dimmed, and their feet touched the ground.

He looked down and saw his skin had returned to its usual bronze color. Then he looked at Carys. The gold glow on her skin was fading.

“You’re all right?” Her voice was tight, her face filled with hope.