Page 308 of Hunters and Prey

“I’m a doctor,” Chiara told her, straining not to roll her eyes and disrespect her mate’s mother. “It is clearly written in the genes for me – as easy to read as words on a shreve for you. Why does my question frighten you?”

The princess got up and started pacing. “Because, my dear, we can barely survive the birth of a female as it is. I don’t want any daughters of mine to die in childbirth. But yes I know about the trait. We are descended from the first queen after all.”

“Daughters?” Chiara frowned in confusion. “You won’t. That would be impossible now based on your tests.”

Zoya walked over to her with a sad smile and placed her hand on her cheek. Chiara flinched at the contact, but she didn’t push the other female away. Somehow she could sense…motherly concern? It was a feeling she recognized from a very long time ago.

“You and Adelina are my daughters. Or you will be once the bond is consummated. But I want you to know, Chiara, if you don’t want children I will support your decision and stand against the Council for you if I have to.”

Chiara was too shocked to do anything other than blink as she took in this female – this princess who was a warrior in more ways than one. “Why?”

“Choice is vital.” There was a knock at the door and Zoya smiled. “Now choose which gown you would like to wear.”

A male Chiara didn’t know or recognize on sight walked into her office and she stiffened when she saw what he carried.

Gowns.

So many of them and in so many different colors. This was going to be torture.

Zoya must have sensed her discomfort because she waved the tailor forward and grabbed three of them. “These would all suit you best. I think this one would especially set off your unique eyes.”

Chiara took the aubergine colored dress and inspected it. “I can’t wear this. It’s the color of a Draga royal.”

“They don’t own colors here,” Zoya said with a laugh. “If you like it you can wear it.”

Chiara eyed the tailor again, not looking forward to having him poke and prod at her. Zoya stepped between the tailor and Chiara’s line of sight like she knew how uncomfortable the male made her.

It made it easier for Chiara to focus on the choice before her and she would be forever grateful to Zoya for somehow understanding what she needed.

“Dante, can you step outside for a moment please?” Zoya asked.

The male obeyed without question and the second he was gone Chiara breathed a sigh of relief.

“Do males make you uncomfortable?” the princess asked, rifling through the dresses as Chiara watched.

She put her hands in her pockets so she wouldn’t mess with her hair. “No,” Chiara said. “People touching me is what makes me uncomfortable. Especially ones I don’t know.”

The princess nodded like she’d already known and then picked out another gown. “What about this?”

It was a dress such a deep red that it looked nearly black. It would complement her amber eyes nicely. Chiara took a step forward and rubbed the fabric between her fingers. It wasn’t coarse, which was a good sign. Fabric that didn’t make her itch had to be soft, like jersey-knit.

Zoya let her take the gown and inspect it more closely. Not too many ruffles. The seams on the inside were well done so they wouldn’t scratch her. It clasped in the back simply – she’d be able to put it on and take it off herself.

“This is perfect,” Chiara told her. “I will wear this one. Thank you for lending it to me.”

Her mate’s mother smiled. “It’s a gift. Try it on so I can hem it for you. You’re quite a bit shorter than me, Chiara.”

She looked up at the princess in surprise. “You’re going to do the alterations? Why?”

Zoya started separating the other gowns into piles. “I’m just going to mark what needs to be done on the dress, because you don’t like strangers touching you. So I will do it. I want you to be comfortable here, Chiara.”

Emotion filled her and Chiara didn’t know what to say as she felt her throat close up with those damning tears that always came at the most inopportune moments.

Goddess, she missed her mother.

It had been cycles upon cycles since she’d last felt a mother’s affection and care. Now Zoya was trying to do that for her. Had Roman told her about Chiara’s parents? Either way it didn’t matter. Chiara knew that no matter what happened, Zoya would be there to support her.

And it made such a massive difference – being on this strange planet, in a strange place, with only a few doctors and scientists that were familiar. Chiara could lose herself in her work, but some of the constant anxiety she’d had since being on this planet with only a handful of her people eased.

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