Page 293 of Hunters and Prey

Roman firmly believed the disease had been given to Draga by the Neprijat. That the Neprijat had either convinced those who hated his people with nothing more than words, or had used their powers of persuasion to have a few in Draga infect his people with the disease.

The Neprijat had planned centuries before when they’d seen they would lose that first war. And they’d planned for the next one. They had sent that disease to the Drakesthai to soften the battlefield.

Because when the Neprijat—not Draga—finally arrived centuries later, and had given the Drakesthai Council a choice – cede their kingdom or commit genocide protecting it…the Council had handed over their way of life with only a few paltry skirmishes.

“How many Neprijat reported to run this outpost?” Leo asked, checking the holo of the layout on his gauntlet. “I don’t want any surprises.”

“Just one, but he controls those working here,” Roman told him. “Most outposts on the planet don’t have actual Neprijat. Be careful not to harm our own people.”

Both his brothers nodded and the second the transport touched the ground he and his team of warriors leapt out. They ran in tandem and Leo reached the building first. He slapped a grenade on the door and they all took cover.

It took seconds to get in, a few more seconds to toss small metal balls into the building and set off the tasers. Then they cleared the first floor in less than a minute. Roman indicated that he wanted the team to split up and sweep the second and third floor.

They had enough warriors to overtake one Neprijat. And thanks to Draga tech the small devices in their ears sent out a wavelength to counteract the Neprijat’s power of persuasion. Too many had succumbed to that horror over the last decade.

He and Leo found the one controlling all the Drakesthai on the top floor in the command center. Another little taser and the Neprijat was completely unconscious. Keeping him from sending out word to anyone else before Roman and his team could do damage control.

Keeping these missions from the Neprijat wasn’t easy, but Queen Adelina had insisted they be as subtle and careful as possible until everything was ready. Just a few more days, she’d said. Roman hoped she realized how much work it was to keep up appearances in the meantime.

But he wouldn’t say anything – not even to Kaiden. After he had met her in person and the way she’d handed him his ass in the training ring…Roman wouldn’t challenge. Not when the rumors about the Draga royals had been true.

“Kill it?” Leo asked, eyeing the male on the floor.

Roman wanted to immediately agree and slaughter the thing before it could wake up. He studied the male that looked so similar to his own people.

So much the same, yet so different.

It wasn’t just the lack of wings. It was the pale white skin – so white it was nearly grey. He hated the depthless black eyes they possessed. No iris. Just black on black on black. But the most disturbing thing about the Neprijat, other than their power of persuasion, were the rows of shiny white teeth – sharp enough to tear through skin like warm butter.

“Put it in stasis,” Roman ordered. “I believe it will make a good present for my new mate to study.”

“Know her that well already, huh?” Alexei asked, eyebrow raised.

To an outsider it may sound like his brother was jealous of the situation, but Alexei was indifferent. If he found a mate then he would be happy. Until then he lived in the moment – he served and protected.

Alexei set an example and Roman wished sometimes he could be half as selfless as his brother.

“I still can’t believe the first Draga female to let you scent her was your mate,” Leo scoffed, tapping out orders to their warriors still sweeping through the outpost.

“Well, now it will all be done by tests,” Roman said. He placed two metal bands on the Neprijat’s wrists and activated them. Ice crackled over the male’s entire body. “Chiara placed boundaries on the mating. Everyone who wants to be tested will submit and she will run pairing tests in the background while working on the cure. Said that otherwise it would distract from the real work.”

“She’s a piece of work,” Leo muttered, hauling the Neprijat up.

Roman shrugged and sent out an order to round all the Drakesthai in the outpost up. Gods-damned Snatchers. Why couldn’t anything ever be simple? He checked the consoles and saw to it that their warriors were following orders.

“I don’t know about that,” Roman said quietly. “But I do think she sees the world differently than most people.”

Leo huffed and lugged the Neprijat out. “Good luck with that. All I can say is I’m glad she’s not my mate.”

“Don’t be an ass Leo,” Roman finally snapped. “If she accepts the bond she will be family. We don’t treat our family like that. Even if they are from Draga.”

His brother looked away first and then took the Neprijat with him to the transport.

“She is different,” Alexei said quietly when they were alone in the command center.

“I think I like that about her,” Roman admitted, considering his first encounter with her.

At first he’d been angry because of her behavior, but once he’d realized it wasn’t personal it had been a little easier to accept. The way she looked at the world, the way she handled things – it was like nothing he’d seen before.

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