Page 282 of Hunters and Prey

And Chiara had to prove that Queen Adelina and Prince Ian had not made a mistake in choosing to bring her instead of another physician. So she would keep her mouth shut and do as they asked even when she wanted to push her own point.

“I’ll keep studying and testing the pheromones,” she promised.

Prince Ian wasn’t listening to her anymore though. He was watching a female approach with a hungry look in his eyes. Chiara studied him out of the corner of her eye as she pretended to read the files on her shreve.

With what she now knew about courtesans, she wondered if the female courtesan Nadyah was his mate. It was a bit awkward because Nadyah was also romantically involved with the queen, or at least she had been until recently.

The speed with which gossip spread never ceased to surprise Chiara.

“How is everything progressing?” Nadyah asked no one in particular. She had no official title as a courtesan, but courtesans ranked equal to nobles so Chiara stood and bowed, keeping her eyes on the ground.

The courtesan nodded her head in acknowledgement but she only had eyes for the prince.

Too much sexual energy.

Courtesans – well, except for Ian – exuded this insane intensity that had Chiara questioning her sexuality every time Nadyah was in the same room as her. And now that Prince Ian was on Hai Delta, the frequency with which she saw the female had increased.

Chiara cleared her throat and scooted down the table even though it was her table. Why the prince didn’t go back to his own office was beyond her.

Ian reached out his hand, and Chiara’s eyes widened in shock. The prince never initiated physical contact. But Nadyah took his hand like it was the most natural thing in the world. Something between them was different.

Her eyes narrowed and she turned to study them both more closely. Even rank and protocol couldn’t stop Chiara from getting answers. Then it suddenly occurred to her. “You two have been mated,” she blurted out.

Nadyah blushed prettily, but Prince Ian simply shrugged with a small smile on his face. “It’s been a few days now,” he admitted. “We’re still adjusting.”

“And you’ve told this one all our secrets it seems,” Nadyah teased.

Chiara rolled her eyes and went back to her shreve. Love made people stupid and these two were no exception. The way they stared into each other’s eyes made her want to gag.

“Only enough to help her do her job,” Ian muttered, pulling Nadyah into his arms.

She winced and scooted even farther away. “Do you need me to go elsewhere?” Chiara asked.

“Actually no,” Nadyah said, stepping out of Prince Ian’s embrace. Suddenly the air shifted and the courtesan was the queen’s advisor and not a lovesick female. “Your request has been granted Ian. You may send physicians out to the various planets in Hai to gather data on the males who’ve been mated, as well as the mates themselves. Orders and signatures from the queen and the Drakesthai Council have been sent to your simulcast.”

Chiara perked up at that. More data would be invaluable.

“Excellent,” Ian said, turning to Chiara. “How would you like to visit Anarr?”

Her mouth dropped open. “You want to send me to one of the other planets?”

Prince Ian shrugged and looked up at the ceiling of her lab, more rock from the mountain. “You are one of the best physicians here. I want to send a team to each planet and gather data. Work on the cure from there and process the information. There are many Drakesthai and to get the proper numbers for comparison and testing we need to start gathering data from all Drakesthai. You can choose a team and staff of one hundred. The royal House of Skye will host you. But if you’d rather go to another planet?”

Chiara could barely process. She looked around at her office. It had become a familiar, comfortable space. Moving her work to another planet would slow things down, potentially cause problems but…she’d be able to get more data. She’d be able to see more of the Hai System.

And despite how lovely she heard Anarr was, Queen Adelina had recently fought a battle there while visiting her soon-to-be in-laws. She had barely escaped with her life.

She looked down at her shreve while she considered all the possibilities.

Signing on to this fool’s mission in the first place had been a risk. Chiara had known she may never make it back to the Draga System whether it was because of the Neprijat or pirates or the Drakesthai.

Chiara knew she’d never see the war unless it was brought to her location…and soon they would be freeing Hai from Neprijat rule based on the whispers she heard after each council meeting.

No, she wasn’t afraid of potential battle, but she would be a liability. “I don’t know how to fight,” Chiara confessed. “I’ve only learned what the king consort had us learn. He’d made everyone start training the moment we left Draga Terra. All of us on the queen’s starships.”

Nadyah and Ian shared a look. “I don’t think that will matter too much,” Nadyah said gently. “The Drakesthai are very protective of all females. And you can keep up your training. I’ll make that a part of the package we send over. Though I heard from Adelina that the female Drakesthai are trained as well. You can speak with Princess Zoya of House Skye about that.”

Her talk to royalty? Chiara almost scoffed, but then she looked to Prince Ian. Well, perhaps she could speak with the Drakesthai princess. She would have to anyway to perform the necessary tests on her and the Skye family.

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