Page 57 of Tamed By Her Touch

“I told you to wait until I made sure it was safe,” he growled under his breath.

“No you didn’t—you just said stay behind you—which I did,” she pointed out brightly. “Now come on, we’re being rude. Let’s introduce ourselves.”

“Fine.” Kaelus gave her a warning look and then turned back to the group who had come to greet them. He noticed that the older male’s smile of greeting had faded slightly. Had they done something to displease him already? Kaelus hoped not. They needed full cooperation of the Titus Four scientists to make this mission a success.

“Doctor Kaelus?” the older male asked.

“Yes.” Kaelus inclined his head. “And this is my mate, Doctor Clair Donovan.”

“My wife and I are honored to welcome you.” The male placed one hand over his heart and bowed. “I am Doctor-Magistrate Varell, Chief Medical Magistrate of Titus Four and head of the Council of Biological Inquiry. This is my wife and goddess, Doctor Maera Varell.”

The female beside him smiled.

“It is a pleasure to meet you both,” she said warmly. “I have read some of your work on xenobotanical symbiosis, Doctor Donovan. Your paper on the medicinal pollination cycle of the Avarian moon orchid was particularly interesting.”

Clair’s face lit up.

“Oh! You read that?” she exclaimed.

“I did,” Maera said. “I’m a physician and epidemiologist, but I have always been fascinated by the way environmental biology affects disease.”

Clair was already halfway down the ramp by then.

“That’s one of my favorite areas too,” she said eagerly. “I’ve always thought people separate botany and medicine far too much when really they’re completely interconnected.”

Kaelus watched her descend, carrying both her bag and the large scientific case, and was about to suggest that she slow down when Varell cleared his throat.

“Doctor Kaelus,” he said.

Kaelus looked at him.

“Yes?”

Varell’s violet eyes moved pointedly toward Clair…then toward the case in her hand…then back to Kaelus.

“Are you injured?” he asked.

Kaelus frowned.

“No.”

“Your arms are functioning properly?”

“Of course.” Kaelus nodded.

Varell glanced at Clair again.

Kaelus still did not understand.

Beside him, the younger male’s lips twitched as though he found the situation—whatever it was—amusing.

Clair, however, did understand. Kaelus could tell by the way her mouth suddenly pressed tightly together as though she was attempting not to laugh.

“Oh,” she murmured.

Kaelus looked at her.

“What?”