Page 304 of Hunters and Prey

“What are the other tests?” he asked, reaching out to take her hand.

Chiara let him. She couldn’t help but want more from him now that she’d had a taste. “Compatibility in personality, lifestyle, dreams, and goals. We do not have to be perfectly matched in those as long as we give each other allowances to be the way we are.” She grew silent and looked down at their joined hands. Roman had intertwined his fingers with hers and they were just…holding hands. It still felt incredibly intimate.

“What else?” he asked softly, sensing her change in mood.

“Well, our situation is complicated. You are a prince of Hai. I am only a physician – one from Draga. Not only that I am…the way that I am.”

He yanked on her hand and she was pressed up against him once more. Roman gripped her chin hard with his other hand and it hurt, but not enough for her to pull away. Chiara was too mesmerized by the fury flickering in his eyes.

“You are the way that you are and it is beautiful,” he told her. “Don’t ever think that just because you are different, that you are less.”

Heat pooled between her legs and tears pricked her eyes. It was a strange combination of reactions to his possessive, dominating touch and the kindest words she’d ever heard from a stranger’s mouth.

“My mother used to say something similar,” Chiara whispered, barely even breathing as she felt his cock pressing insistently against her. “But I never believed her.”

“Why?” he demanded.

“She died when I was a child along with my father.” Chiara wrapped her arms around his middle. She needed the comfort and contact for this confession.

“There was an accident with a hov-tram,” she told him. “Well, I ended up in an orphanage. People aren’t usually kind toward those who are different.”

“Your quirks are the reason I like you so much,” Roman admitted, releasing her chin.

Chiara would never admit to herself, let alone him, that she missed that vicious grip once it was gone.

“Well,” she said a little breathily. “That works in my favor I suppose. The last test would be love. But I don’t know that it’s necessary if everything else is compatible. I know the mate bond will take care of most of the emotions.”

“To a degree,” Roman said, wrapping his wings around her again. “But having feelings beforehand helps make the bond stronger. It doesn’t have to be love, but…intense like?”

Chiara couldn’t help but laugh at that, ducking her head and pressing her forehead against his chest. Kienz help her, she liked him. And she was attracted to him – far more than any other male she’d ever been with, or been around.

“Would you join me and my family for dinner tonight?” he asked, rubbing his chin gently over her hair.

She hesitated. Despite all they’d learned this morning, dinner with a royal family…it was frightening. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why not?” he asked, pulling back so he could study her face.

Chiara hedged, not knowing how to explain to him that this was going to be the hardest part. “I am not royalty. I don’t know much about the Drakesthai let alone how your people handle protocol between citizens and royals. No doubt I would make a fool of myself. And I don’t have anything to wear.”

Roman smiled. “I can fix most of that. And it doesn’t matter that you aren’t royalty. You are my mate. That trumps everything here, even duty. It’s why Kaiden is off with a Draga queen instead of preparing to take over the ruling of Anarr.”

It was strange to hear him talk so casually about such things. Even though she’d spent weeks on the same starship as the princess, Chiara had only ever met her once and that was in a large group when everyone had been greeted by her and Prince Varan.

So much had changed since then.

“Would you mind if I send my mother here later? She can help with protocol and a gown.” Roman stepped back and tucked his wings in tightly to his body.

Suddenly Chiara realized she was late. Jumping onto the bed she crawled across it to grab her simulcast on the nightstand. “Shikta, I need to get to work. Yes, send her to my office. I needed to get her tests anyway. And send her mates.”

Roman smiled sadly. “It’s just Eduard. The others died cycles ago in various battles.”

That made her pause. No wonder Roman, Kaiden, and Alexei looked so alike, but so different from Leo. “I’ll make sure not to bring it up though it will skew the data.”

Then she rushed to the washroom. A shower was definitely necessary, but she’d probably have to skip breakfast. Maybe she could get an underling to bring her something.

“Our family physician should have their data on file. I’ll send him a request.” Roman cleared his throat. “May I kiss you goodbye for the day?”

Chiara stopped rushing about and looked back over her shoulder at him. “Is this a custom, or a personal request?”

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