Page 6 of Fate and Fury

KATERINA

The good news was, no one was paying any attention to Katerina whatsoever. The bad news was, she had created mayhem: a frothing river, a flood of debris, a shrieking crowd, who feared an attack of Grigori until Baba and the Elders assured them otherwise.

Though the kohannya gathering was downstream from the collapse, the river’s banks were wide. No one was hurt; the waterwitches had made sure of it, fighting together to tame the flow, even as the earthwitches, led by Baba, shored up the soil on either side. Gabiska and his crew had ridden upriver through the hard-driving rain to confirm the bridge’s demise, though the chunks of wood that the current carried past them were evidence enough. The carpenter had shaken his head on his return, saying it had only been a matter of time—and how fortunate they were that Dimi Ivanova and her Shadow hadn’t been crossing the structure when it fell.

Katerina had held her breath, scrutinizing Baba for any hint of suspicion, but found none. The elder Dimi had focused first on ensuring everyone’s safety, then on determining the extent of the damage. Bits of wood littered the riverbanks on both sides,tangling in the reeds that flanked the shore, and despite the earthwitches’ best efforts, the surging debris had gouged chunks of clay from the banks. It would be hours before the site was fit for kohannya—hours that Katerina and Niko didn’t have, if they were to make it to Rivki on time.

The storm had passed as quickly as it came, the heavy rain slowing to a trickle that fell, improbably, from a sun-streaked sky. Now, in the still-sodden clearing, Baba clapped her hands, and the riverbank fell silent. All eyes sought the elder Dimi in her cobalt robes, her salt-white braids coiled atop her head. Even the children ceased clamoring and stood still, bright-eyed and attentive as hawks.

“Today, a great disaster was averted,” Baba announced. “The Saints are truly with us, for had Dimi Ivanova and Shadow Alekhin been atop the bridge when it crumbled, Kalach would have lost their greatest champions.”

Katerina spared a glance for Niko, standing once again by Elena’s side. The Vila clung to his arm, eyes wide with the terror of what could have been, but he wasn’t looking down at her. He was staring straight ahead, his eyes locked on Katerina’s face.

“Thanks to the efforts of our own, the collapse of the bridge caused us no lasting harm.” Baba’s thin lips pressed together. “In gratitude to the protection of Sant Andrei and Sant Viktoriya, the kohannya ceremony will go on, though later than we planned.” She gestured at the river, where the water still foamed, agitated by the bridge’s collapse and the passing storm.

A cheer arose from the crowd, the children lifting their makeshift boats high, and Baba lifted a hand to quell it. “Alas,” she said, her gaze roving between Katerina and Niko, “Dimi Ivanova and her Shadow cannot stay. For with the bridge down, they must take the long way to Rivki, and they cannot afford to tarry.”

Even across the clearing, Elena’s gasp of disappointment was audible. But Katerina was still looking at Niko, and in the depths of his gray eyes she saw the most peculiar of expressions, there and then gone so quickly she might have imagined it: relief.

“Worry not,” Baba said, bestowing a smile on Elena. “For Shadow Alekhin and his Vila, the ceremony is a mere formality, as their union has already been assured. You will still cast your boat upon the waters, Vila Lisova, so it may follow your Shadow on his journey and give him luck.”

Elena gave a small, trembling smile in return. “Of course, I will.”

Raindrops spangled Baba’s braids, darkening them, as she nodded in approval. “Now we must bid goodbye and good fortune to our champions,” she said. “May they do their duty at the Trials and return to us once more.”

Murmurs rose from the crowd, some of assent and some of disagreement. The whole village was sworn to secrecy about Katerina’s abilities, but they knew well what she could do. While the more strategic among them understood that excelling at the Trials might well mean losing her to Iriska in twelve months’ time, others were less sanguine. Becoming one of the chosen pairs to advance to the second round of the Trials was an honor; failing to do so, a mark of shame. She’d heard rumors in the taverns that some people thought binding her magic was blasphemy, a perversion of the gifts given to her by the Saints.

If they only knew… Would they revile her, for clinging to her gifts despite Baba and the Elders’ demands? Or praise her, for doing what she must to protect Kalach and her Shadow?

She held her head high until the murmurs died to silence once again, and Baba spoke. “They have their duty, and we have ours. Go with our blessing and the blessing of the Saints, Dimi Ivanova and Shadow Alekhin. May you walk always in the Light.”

There was a beat of silence. Then the crowd exploded with applause. As it quieted, the Vila drifted back to the riverbank—all except Elena, who stood by Niko’s side, her brow furrowed with worry.

“I know you need to go. But I wish you could stay for the ceremony.” She peered up at Niko, her eyes wide and blue and guileless. “It…it’s tradition.”

“I’m sorry, Elena.” Niko’s voice was a low rumble. “I know how much this means to you.”

Elena tilted her head upward, her lower lip protruding in what could only be described as a pout. As Katerina watched, she extended her free hand toward Niko, doubtless expecting him to intertwine her fingers with his. But her Shadow didn’t move. His hands were shoved in the pockets of his leathers, his body leaned slightly back and away from the Vila. Her touch skirted the sleeve of his jacket, and then her hand fell back to her side once more.

Was it her imagination, or was her Shadow avoiding Elena’s touch?

Surely not. That would be absurd. It was coincidence, that was all, seeing what Katerina wanted to see. What shewished, in the depths of her wicked witch’s heart: that the Vila’s touch repulsed him. That he longed to share Katerina’s bed, and claim her heart as well as her soul.

Saints, how long was she meant to stand here, waiting, as her Shadow flirted with his betrothed? How much could her heart take?

“Niko!” she snapped, the word a whip. “Come.”

Her Shadow’s gaze flicked to hers. Was she imagining things once again, orwasit relief that showed in its depths?

“Calling me like a dog now, I see,” he said, tone laced with faux annoyance.

Katerina forced a smirk onto her face. “If the shoe fits…”

He made a low, amused sound, then bent his head toward Elena’s. Saints, was she going to have to watch him kiss the Vila goodbye?

Katerina braced herself, unable to look away. To pay the penance of watching Niko’s lips brush Elena’s, if she must. But her Shadow was nodding to the Vila, stepping back. Obeying Katerina, as he was sworn to do. Joining her under the trees.

As she untied Mika, Niko did the same with Troitze, avoiding the testy stallion’s bite as he tossed his head. “Katerina,” her Shadow said, low-voiced. “The bridge. Did you?—”

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