Page 288 of Hunters and Prey

Chapter 3

Chiara

Skye Palace

Planet Anarr

The Hai System

The only thought in Chiara’s mind was how typical this entire situation was. Of course Prince Ian had sent her here to study the Drakesthai only for her to end up mated to one – a prince no less. She didn’t think there could be worse timing.

Roman still knelt before her, looking up at her in wonder and Chiara felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment at the attention from her team and the servants…

“Get up,” she hissed. She hated being embarrassed and for once her mind was completely blank. This whole revelation had completely thrown her mental processes out of sync.

“You’re my mate,” Roman insisted, but at least he stood.

Chiara glared up at him, annoyed at how much taller he was than her. She hated how beautiful he was, the muscles that flexed with every movement. And most of all she hated how gorgeous his wings were. They were distracting and she was having a hard time focusing.

This whole goddess damned planet was distracting.

So, like she always did, Chiara avoided the situation she didn’t know how to properly deal with. “May I take your sample now?” she asked, holding out a hand without looking.

One of the physicians on her team placed the syringe in her hand and Chiara reached out for Roman’s arm, but he pulled back out of her reach.

“That’s all you have to say on the matter?” he asked incredulously.

“For now, yes.” Chiara held out her hand and raised an eyebrow at him. “You agreed to be tested. Are you going to keep your word?”

Roman shared a look with his brother that conveyed a number of things she chose to ignore, but he gave her his arm. Quickly pressing the syringe to his arm, the device hissed and the vial filled with blood.

“Excellent. Would you mind taking us to where we will be doing the majority of our work? I’ll be able to do your scans there, as well as Prince Alexei’s.”

“Are you denying me?” Roman asked. He didn’t budge from his spot and Chiara had no idea where she was supposed to work.

She supposed she could find some place and simply figure it out on her own like she had everything else in her life. But…Roman would follow after her. This was going to be a problem. Chiara needed to find a way around this without ending up like Prince Ian and Nadyah.

“I am trying to do my job,” she told him, avoiding his question. “That is the priority. If I do not cure the sterility I will let my queen down. And she is relying on this alliance.” Chiara glanced back at Gabe, one of the scientists who specialized in tech more than medicine.

He nodded and took a step closer. Chiara had to remember, she was not alone here. She had her entire team who were loyal. They would back her up.

None of them had quite been prepared for the potential discovery of mates, but it had been inevitable. Every single one of them had known a bond could occur at any time after only a cursory study of the Drakesthai biology. But on paper was so much different than in reality.

Chiara hadn’t thought it would happen to her, not really. The chances had been so small after all.

“The bond is not something my people can ignore,” Roman insisted, stepping forward and flaring his wings ever so slightly.

Chiara felt her blood boil in embarrassment as every single person within earshot now stared at them, waiting to see how this confrontation would end. She couldn’t tell him to go suck vacuum. Chiara was in charge of this operation. Being purposefully rude would not set a good example for her team.

Her mind raced as she studied the strange blue eyes that were so like Prince Kaiden’s, the queen’s Drakesthai mate.

“Prince Roman,” she said. Her words were clipped and she used his title as a shield. “I would rather not discuss this now, and certainly not in public. Do me the honor of allowing me to finish my job for the day and ensuring my people are properly cared for. I will continue this conversation once that is done.”

Everything she’d said had been perfect. Learning every nuance of protocol in school had certainly served her well. As it would now. Royalty always liked to push people around, pulling rank. But even if one was not as dominant, or did not have the higher rank, there were ways to protect oneself – to use protocol and submission as a weapon, not a weakness.

Roman bristled, but Alexei placed a hand on his arm. If she had to be mated to one of the Skye princes, why couldn’t it have been the one who didn’t push her so much?

“Of course, Doctor,” Alexei said, making sure to use her title as well. “Let me show you where you may set up and finish our tests. I’m sure my brother won’t mind waiting until nightfall. After all, he’s waited his entire life. A little longer won’t kill him.”

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