Page 14 of A Wrecking of Salt and Fire

Kora reached over, grabbing Katrin’s hand as she sat down. Two stunning thick gold cuffs lined each of her wrists. Jewelry Katrin had not seen before. Intricate carvings of an ancient language she did not recognize swirled along them. The Elliniká Glóssa perhaps.

“Your Acknowledgement is quite the day to celebrate, Katrin.” Her mother’s smile gleamed with pride, though Katrin could not help but notice a distant look in her mother’s eyes.

“And to celebrate the wedding between our two houses,” the king interjected. His toothy grin unnerving despite the seemingly positive sentiment. It didn’t matter how many times she saw him, tingling still inched down her spine. The king was dressed in a similar black jacket and pants as his son, except for the red stitching that replaced Kohl’s gold.

“Yes, and to celebrate the wedding. A magnificent time all around,” Kora added. Her eyes narrowed slightly toward the king. Iason eyed Kora, lifting his brow as if to agree with her pointed tone toward the king. He was never much of a fan of Kohl’s father. He was much too harsh in his pursuit of peace. Iason, being a member of the Spartanis, preferred stability.

They used to joke about the Viper when she was little, even around Kohl. When they were not around Kohl he would tell them stories of how King Athanas would slither into his enemies’ kingdoms at night and poison them all with his deathly venom. It was only a fabricated story, but most likely the reason Ember avoided the king at all costs.

Katrin was glad Iason was around, especially when her father could not be. Someone who she trusted to keep the king in line while he was here, and protect them against the harsh words that flung from his tongue. He winked at her from across the table.

For hours they ate and drank and talked and danced and ate some more. The music kept the entire courtyard lively well into the evening. King Athanas was still babbling about wedding plans that neither Katrin nor Kohl wanted to hear. Formalities and customs that were long since in practice in her court. It was not until he mentioned her sister’s name that Katrin snapped out of a wine-induced haze to listen.

“You can’t honestly think they will support Ember ascending to the position of Prytan, Kora. Of course, I mean no offense toward her,” King Athanas turned his gaze to Katrin’s sister, “but my dear, you are too small, too untrained, and much too young.”

Ember’s nails dug into the table so much so that Ajax took a step closer, assessing whether she would indeed lunge across the table at the king or not. Iason’s jaw clenched tight, but he did not speak, only nodded at the increasingly volatile Ember.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty, but I have been training and I am taking this very seriously. It is my duty as it is my right to be appointed to such a title.” Ember smiled right back at King Athanas.

“A few weeks of training does not make you equipped to lead one of the most highly respected legions in the isles.” Venomous words. True Viper form.

“It’s tradition—” she tried to continue.

“You think the men of the Spartanis will follow you? A girl of barely twenty over those who have served and fought and seen real bloodshed? Maybe it is time to see those traditions changed.”

Iason’s mouth opened to speak, but Ajax beat him to it. “I would follow her. I have seen her determination, her loyalty, and her skill even in such a short period of time. I have seen others more equipped, more learned, but none that have the will, the want that she does. My men would agree.”

Her sister stared at the commander, her eyes wide and sparkling.

King Athanas snorted. “You might think you would follow her, boy, but that is because you are thinking with a different head.”

Katrin caught Kohl slumping farther in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose and reaching for the bottle of amber liquor in front of him. He poured a tall glass and shot it back. Again. And again.

Kora cleared her throat. “My daughter will take her rightful title, as did those in the court before her, some more trained and some less. In Alentus, traditions matter, and it will serve you well to remember that if our houses are to be joined.”

King Athanas may have been outspoken, but he was not foolish. He would not push Kora further on the topic. Not this close to the Acknowledgement, this close to the wedding. Especially not with the threat of Nexos breathing down their necks.

“Of course, Kora. Again, I meant no offense to your daughter. We just go about these things differently in Morentius.” He smiled again, flashing those shaven teeth. “If you would excuse me, I am going to take that as my time to leave. Kohl, will you join me?”

Slumping his shoulders, Kohl pushed up from his chair and nodded at his father before walking over to Katrin. He placed a simple kiss on her cheek, slurring as he spoke, “I will see you in the morning then. For training. I love you, Katrin, even after the gods take us.”

“Even after the gods take us,” Katrin repeated.

Chapter Nine

Kohl

The moment flashed in his eyes again, a whirlwind of emotions that was the dance, and Katrin’s lips, and the feel of his fingers as they grazed her skin. How he nibbled his way along her neck and cheek and ear. How she pressed up against him, the sweetness of her skin. He could still feel the tingling of his lips even after he spoke to his father, even after he wobbled his way into bed.

Restless. Tangled in his sheets. Dreaming of her touch, her smell, her taste. Intoxicating. This person. This woman. This goddess was his and only his.

There were other women before Katrin, he knew what lay beneath the gowns and robes. But this was different. He would be her first. Her last. Her everything.

Katrin sitting there propped up against the wall in the courtyard filled his mind as he cared to his needs. The thought of her slipping that gown down off her body. Imagining her beneath him, arching her back to push closer to his bare skin. All the things he would do to her body if Katrin would only let him.

His control was slipping. Kohl would not make it to the wedding to have her—all of her.

Kohl woke up to the bright glittering of the sun through the balcony he left open—stupidly, he noted, as his head pained with the spirits he indulged in the prior night. The heat rolled in through the doors with a southern breeze that left him sweating rather than feel a cooling embrace.

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