Knightqueen - Page 91

“Yes,” he said. “Thanks to you.”

“Good.” Then her eyes closed, and she collapsed.

Sten caught her in his arms and lifted her. “We need the knighthealers.”

“We’d already called them,” Ashtin said. “They’re arriving now.”

Sten saw three knighthealers making their way down the path to the pumping station. They were led by Knighthealer Taera. The female knight rushed toward them, her eyes locked on Carys.

“Set her down,” Taera ordered.

Taera served aboard the BlackBlade, and was one of the very best healers. Her implants were geared toward healing.

Sten laid Carys on the ground, but he was reluctant to let her go. He stroked her hair. Please be okay, sweetness. Please.

The knighthealer pressed her palm to Carys’ chest, energy swelling in the air. She moved her hand over the queen’s body, then sat back.

“She’s fine. Her vitals are all normal. After some rest, she’ll wake.”

Sten sagged, his hand clenching in Carys’ hair.

Then the knighthealer’s gaze switched to Sten. “Now you, Knightguard. I’m told you were exposed to a deadly alien chemical weapon.”

“I’m fine.”

Taera smiled sweetly. “I don’t care.”

She lifted her hand, energy pulsing off it.

He glanced at Ashtin. His friend just crossed his arms. “If Carys was awake, she’d order you to get checked.”

Sten sighed and nodded.

Taera pressed her hand to his sternum, and he felt a warm glow of energy.

“It appears you’re a lucky man, Sten. Whatever the chemical was, it’s been neutralized. I detect no sign of it in your body.”

“The Blue Death is gone,” Nea said, leaning into Kaden.

“Oron is safe,” Ashtin breathed.

Emotion shuddered through Sten. “Thanks to our queen.”

He lifted Carys into his arms and held her tight.

Something he wanted to do the rest of their lives.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

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.