Page 315 of Hunters and Prey

Pulling her back in, Roman looked down at Chiara like she was the only thing in the world worth looking at. Chiara stared right back into those deep blue eyes that reminded her of a stone called azurite. She’d only ever seen it once, on Nadyah.

“I’ll fix it,” she promised him. “I’ll find the cure.”

“I have no doubt you will.” Roman paused in the dance and lifted his hand to caress the line of her jaw. “You really are stunning under moonlight, Chiara.”

She knew exactly how he felt. Partially because that flicker in her chest told her so, and partially because she felt the same. The moonlight made his eyes sparkle like that azurite she’d admired so much.

“There’s a stone,” she told him. “That reminds me of your eyes. I’ll have to find it one day.”

His gaze softened and Roman leaned down. His lips were soft and gentle as he kissed her. “I’ll have to take you to the jewel district at some point. Had I known the affinity for gemstones was an affliction across Draga, I would have shown you our trove earlier.”

“You have a trove?” she asked, eyes widening. “Does the queen know?”

Roman chuckled. “I’m sure Kaiden will show her once there’s time, but she’s rather choosy. I assume because she has access to whatever she likes.” He led her through the door from the patio and it took them into one of the more obscure parts of the palace.

“I believe she’s choosy because she makes her own jewelry,” Chiara told him. “I’ve spent a few months on her starships. One learns things in that kind of proximity. Even if I haven’t spent any time with her myself.”

“Well, that certainly explains her interest in my mother’s blue opal,” Roman said with a laugh.

He placed his hand on an innocuous-looking door and it slid open after scanning his DNA. There were even more doors as they continued down the small corridor. “So, I’m sure as a physician you have one set of feelings about my test results, but how do you feel as my mate?”

Chiara stopped in the middle of the second corridor and stared at Roman, shocked he would ask her something so straight forward. Normally people avoided such confrontation. “I know I can cure it so I have no particular feelings about it.”

Placing his palm on a third door Chiara studied some of the engravings in the walls. She looked up at the fire held in sconces that ignited as they approached. There was a female with a crown and wings carved into the stone – the original Drakesthai queen.

Based on the legend only a female born with wings could rule as queen which was why the Drakesthai Council ruled until a female with wings was born. The last queen lived for over three hundred cycles. But apparently she was the only female with wings for a very long time.

Sechya Skye had bequeathed her children and her children’s children to rule together with the others – and to never forget the Unchanged are who they all used to be – and to revere them for being able to change without the genetic alterations the rest of the factions required.

It was an interesting piece of lore and tradition, but Chiara thought it strange that all the royal houses ruling each planet would remain satisfied with allowing the Council to rule and not try to fight for power. That the eldest female still held the most power was a throwback.

Never would it work in the Draga System. Who would have thought her people more vicious than the Drakesthai?

“I doubt you feel nothing else on the matter,” Roman pressed, leading her into a third corridor and then turning right. “You don’t mind that I cannot father children?”

They were deep within the palace. Based on the path they were taking they would be going even deeper. Chiara suddenly felt nervous as she wondered if the bottom of the island would simply drop out and they would fall to their death if they went too deep.

But Roman had said he would catch her if she fell. Glancing at him again, Chiara knew he would keep that promise even if the island crumbled beneath them.

“What are you really asking me?” Chiara finally inquired as they approached a much heavier-looking door that was made of tempered steel.

Roman placed his hand on it once more but then placed the other over a sharp point. The smell of blood filled the room before the door slid open. Chiara took the small medpack from her pocket and sprayed his finger.

“Even in that gown,” Roman said with a laugh. “Why am I not surprised? Got anything else in there?”

“My scalpel.”

“Of course.” He grinned. “After you.”

Chiara went into the stone room that had three-sided cubes cut into the walls so as to display the various pieces in the trove. “I thought you valued knowledge above all else,” she teased.

“We do, but I believe something shiny comes in close second.” Roman wrapped his arm around her waist but otherwise let her lead them. “Find me that stone while you think of the answer to my real question. Do you want children?”

Diamonds, rubies, sapphires…where were the more obscure gems? “One day,” she said.

“Your own?”

Chiara turned to face him after dismissing some rather impressive opals. “I don’t care either way, although pregnancy concerns me. I’d planned to adopt from the same orphanage I grew up in.”

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