Cravr (The Mating Games Book 8) by Catty Diva

both ran ahead, opening the door and rushing into the center. They both had friends they were excited to see.
    “You were right.” Annie admitted. “It was best to bring them here where they would see their friends.
    They followed the girls in just to be certain everything was fine, which of course it was. Now it was time for breakfast, the girls would eat here. He took Annie to the only place in town that served food. This time they ordered from the breakfast menu as a young male fussed over them seeing to all their needs. They both ordered steak and eggs, but he wondered if Annie would have ordered it had she known it was all native ingredients.
    The eggs were sized similar to ostrich eggs, but came from a native lizard. The steak was from a bovine, or at least that was how scientists had classified the large horned creatures. Cravr loved their meat, would Annie notice the difference? Would she be mad he hadn’t told her? The plates were brought out to them steaming and the food smelled good.
    “This looks yummy.” Annie commented.
    “It does.” Cravr cut his steak and blood pooled on the bottom of his plate.
    “It looks like they forgot to cook yours.” Annie observed.
    “No, I like it this way. Many of us are in touch with our primitive side. Our males like the added nutrients we get from the meat, overcooking removes.”
    “Oh.” She said as she wrinkled up her nose watching him eat his nearly raw food.
    “It is part of who I am. You will discover more in the Temple.”
    “If you can eat it like that, I can deal with it. Just don’t expect me to convert to eating raw food.”
    It made Cravr wonder if Annie would be one of the mates that craved raw meat during pregnancy and nursing. Since he wasn’t sure, he said nothing. Right now he just wanted to get through breakfast and take his mate to the Temple, where they were expected. Annie took small bites giving no indication of whether or not she liked it.
    “How is your food?”
    “It’s good but it taste different. Maybe a spice you use here?”
    “No, our spices are from Earth. We’ve not begun to grow much here yet. You’ll get used to the food in time.”
    They finished eating and they headed toward the Temple. It was a large building made entirely from native stone. There was a host of priests, nearly thirty of them lived here. It was acceptable for them to mate, but until that time, they lived here learning and serving others.
    Kavan looked up from where he’d been working on his laptop. “Cravr, it’s so nice to see you. Is this your female?”
    “Yes, Kavan, this is Annie. We are here so the gods can bless our union.”
    “Annie, nice to meet you. Has Cravr told you much about what will be happening here?”
    “He’s not told me much.”
    Kavan went on to explain what the purpose of the test was. He didn’t go into much detail about how it was done. The priest led them to a room as he explained, leaving them to clean up first. Once they washed and drank a potion, they would enter the heated waters, and where they would see hidden secrets. Those would tell them if they were meant to be together. Not every ritual was the same, they were customized by the priest to the couple that was seeking the blessing. So far his and Annie’s ritual wasn’t starting out like Razar had described his. It made him wonder, would anything be the same?
    It was weird that the first time he would see his mate naked was in the Temple shower. They looked at each other, both suddenly shy about undressing in front of each other. By the goddess, Cravr would start things. Pulling his shirt off over his head, he undid his belt. Unsnapping and unzipping his pants, he pulled them off grabbing his underwear to slide down with it. His cock popped out of his pants, long, thick, and unapologetic for its aroused state.
    Annie stared, her eyes wide, and glazed with passion. “Mate, do you plan to shower dressed?” He asked his voice deep with his demon’s presence.