Page 1 of Blood and Fate

CHAPTER ONE

SATORI

“Your Highness.”

Satori didn’t need to turn around to know who had addressed her. Henrik’s smooth voice sliced through her like a blade of ice, making her skin crawl. And that was just his voice. When he touched her. . . The thought sent a slight shudder through her, and she shook it off. She would not let him ruin this evening.

She squared her shoulders, plastered a polite smile on her face for the sake of their guests, and turned to face him, speaking through clenched teeth. “Lord Henrik, how are you this evening?”

“I am well, and you look breathtaking, Satori.” He bowed slightly at the waist as he spoke, his pale blue coat brushing his thighs. She didn’t miss how his eyes dipped to her chest.

She resisted the desire to take a deep, calming breath. Satori. Yes, it was her name, but she was also the Princess and his superior. Advisor to the king or not—Duke or not—he ought to use her proper title. Though he certainly didn’t see her as his superior, did he?

“Thank you.” Maybe her clipped tone would be enough hint for him to leave her alone.

He held a hand out to her, the full white sleeves of his shirt peeking from the arm of his jacket and brushing his knuckles. “May I beg a dance?”

A shiver rushed over her. Henrik was not one to miss any reason to touch her. Though it wasn’t like he ever acted as though he needed a reason. She glanced around at the swirling couples creating undulating rainbows on the dance floor, the busy waiters carrying trays of savory hors d’oeuvres, and the orchestra with its strings and lively soaring melodies. There had to be some excuse somewhere. Then she saw the mass of red curls, Tessa, on the balcony waving at her. Thank Shala.

“Apologies, Lord Henrik. I was just going to meet Tessa. Maybe later.” She said nothing further, but she didn’t miss the slight narrowing of his ice-blue eyes or the side glance he shot Tessa.

Satori would no doubt pay for that later, but at least here, in public, she could pretend she was the one in charge. With her chin raised, she brushed by, leaving him standing with his hand still outstretched. Smiling to herself, she lifted the hem of her skirts, the shining rose gold material reflecting the glow of the candles, and climbed the grey marble stairs to the balcony.

She met a servant at the top of the stairs bearing a tray of tall, thin champagne glasses. Carefully she plucked one up.

“Thank you,” she said before lifting it to her lips and drinking half of it in one pull.

“You’d better be careful with that. Your head will be all bubbles when our guests arrive.“ Tessa’s giggle was sweet and musical and caused her mass of red curls to bounce around her head.

Satori rolled her eyes again. It probably wasn’t the best habit for a Princess, but she just couldn’t find it in her to care. Instead, she raised the glass, and with a pointed glance at her friend, she drank another quarter measure.

Tessa laughed. “Maybe they’ll surprise us all.”

“First, I’m insulted, and my father should be too. If two countries are to form an alliance of this magnitude, no matter how small they are, the rulers should meet.” She took another sip of her drink. “It should be the king and his heir arriving tonight. Instead, we get a contingent of soldiers? Barbarians, most likely. They’ll probably be half naked, carrying clubs.”

Tessa’s brow rose. “Wouldn’t that be interesting?”

Satori ignored her. “How can either party know how an alliance will go under these circumstances? This is a truce for the holiday. Everyone knows that when this party is over, their country will return to stealing our resources, attacking our outlying cities, and trying to gain the upper hand.”

She drained her glass.

“What do you really think they’re like?” Tessa asked, sending the subject in a slightly different direction.

Satori waved her glass in dismissal. “As I said, barbarians, the lot. They don’t deserve all this—“ She waved a hand at the green garlands, the tables at the far side of the room piled with food, and the Covington roses that decorated the space. “That’s for sure.”

Tessa leaned over the balcony rail, stretching on her tiptoes to accommodate her shorter stature. “It’s all so grand.”

She smiled and waved at someone below.

Indeed, the Great Hall of Satori’s home was decorated to the fullest extent of the word. Torches and candles lit every corner, and garlands of deep green branches hung along the wall and from every balcony. Large bouquets of their country’s unique, autumn-blooming cyan roses broke up the monotony at regular intervals. Satori inhaled deeply, the scent of flowers permeating the air. The orchestra played lively tunes, and people crowded the dance floor. The annual Rose Festival had been one of Satori’s favorite holidays since she was a child. Twenty-three years later, it still held magic for her. No other place had the beautiful blue roses that Covington did. Indeed, few other places had any roses at all that bloomed so late in the season.

Satori watched the swirl of people. She longed to join them, but it would not be on the arm of Henrik. Of course, hiding on the balcony, it might not be on the arm of anyone else, either. She shivered at the thought of the Duke. He had everyone fooled. Every one of them, including her father. Even Tessa could only see his charm and wit and good looks. Satori had kept everything that he’d done to herself. She could never tell them what occurred in the dark; would never mention that he visited her rooms. And even if she wanted to say something, Henrik had subtly hinted more than once that it might be harmful to those around her should she tell anyone. And she had no doubt he would follow through with those threats. She could never tell anyone.

“There’s Dimitri.” Tessa waved again down toward the swirling crowd below.

Satori looked to where Tessa was waving, grateful for the distraction from her thoughts. Indeed, Dimitri stood below, a broad grin on his face.

“He likes you.”

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