Page 294 of Hunters and Prey

But it was incredibly impressive.

The way she operated, the way her mind worked, allowed her an intense level of productivity and focus. She’d already organized everything in the west wing of his family’s palace to her liking. The physicians were prepping and setting up to start their work the very next day.

Chiara had even scheduled time for her team to rest and relax – knowing they would need it, knowing they would all need the time to adjust.

The tiny things weren’t lost to her even if she seemed easily distracted – or hyper focused. Roman hadn’t been able to figure out which yet. She’d also set up the system for everyone to be tested for the mate bond.

Chiara needed those scans and blood regardless. Comparing results for the bond didn’t seem like too much of an extra step and it would keep her physicians focused on the task at hand. Mates would be discovered privately and those involved would be notified. From there they could figure out what to do next.

As the females were from Draga and not Drakesthai, Roman assumed the mating would be like how it was with the Unchanged. One male to one female instead of one female to three or more males.

What did that mean for his chance at offspring? At least with other males in the picture he would have been able to have children even if they weren’t his own. But now?

Roman shook his head. It didn’t matter now. He trusted Queen Adelina to keep her word and find a cure – for his mate to find a cure.

“They’re all lined up,” Roman muttered, watching the others on the team corral them into one location through the vids. He hated this part. “Let’s get them checked out for the signs of a Snatcher.”

Alexei followed him out of the command center and down the stairs to the first floor. “Do you think whoever tipped off the Neprijat to the queen’s location is in this lot?”

Inspecting the fifty or so Drakesthai males waiting to be checked, Roman didn’t think so. Whoever it was had been on their island high in the sky. They had to be, to know the queen had been there – to confirm with their own eyes that it was her and not some other Kalan.

“I don’t think we will find them in these raids,” Roman admitted. “They were too crafty. They’re most likely still hiding somewhere in Skye City. There have been no unauthorized departures from Anarr. Though there is the possibility they were a Snatcher and removed their consciousness back to their own body.”

He and Alexei started inspecting the back of each of the males’ necks. The Queen of Draga had given them that terrifying bit of information when she had visited. Apparently the Neprijat had spies who uploaded their consciousness into any body they wished. No one had known, and Roman often found himself wondering who had been a Snatcher that he’d never been aware of.

The thought haunted him.

At least there was one small mercy in that it left a mark. Fractals, the queen had said. Black lines that looked like the roots of a tree from the way it spiked down from the top of the spine down the neck.

Leo came back and helped them check each and every one of those Drakesthai who had been stationed in the outpost. Each one who passed got a permanent mark that could only be removed by a royal. Though Roman wondered if they would ever remove them. It was hard to trust his own people without it.

He certainly didn’t want to remove his.

There was a shout and Alexei started struggling as one of the Drakesthai ran.

“Get him!” Roman shouted.

There were still more Drakesthai to check and his team brought out the rifles, pointing it at those still lined up.

What a nightmare. His people were turning on their own.

Something else the Neprijat had no doubt planned for. It was too easy to hide the marks from the upload.

Roman checked the rest of his line as quickly as he could, marking them as he went. He watched as both his brothers brought down the runner, tackling him to the floor. They seemed to have the situation under control but still, he didn’t dawdle with those who needed to be examined.

They couldn’t afford to have more runners. If just one Snatcher got loose their secret would be out and the Neprijat would know what they were up to. Then Queen Adelina would come back to rip his hide from his body with those wicked claws of hers.

One more line and his brothers were struggling. Roman eyed the line and made a snap decision. “Check your comrades,” he roared and then ran to Leo and Alexei, using his wings to gain more speed.

Then he slammed into the Snatcher and gripped him tight. One quick twist of his neck and the Snatcher was dead – as was the male trapped in his own mind. Grief and rage warred inside Roman.

Everything the Neprijat had done to his people – and on top of it all they forced him to kill his own. Roman couldn’t wait for the order to rip them all to pieces. He couldn’t wait to meet them on the battlefield and show them no mercy.

They certainly had none for his people.

“Anyone else?” he snarled.

One male he didn’t know stepped out of the line. “All remaining are clear, your highness. They await your mark.”

Roman breathed heavily as the adrenaline poured through his body. Every piece of him wanted to find another fight – to rip and tear until his bloodlust was satisfied.

“Alexei, give the rest the mark. Leo, take this body and load it up with the other. We need to send word to his family.”

He turned back to the transport and marked the outpost in the City of Orun as clear.

Still no sign of who had warned the Neprijat and one more of his comrades was dead.

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