Page 10 of Blood and Fate

Kais’ eyes flicked to him before returning to the glass in his hand. “Yeah.”

“Hey, are you alright? You seem a little distracted.”

Kais lifted the glass and swirled the amber liquid, studying it as it slid around the inside of the cup.

“That Princess...” He pursed his lips.

“What about her?”

Kais looked back at his friend. He’d been told when he was younger that the leader of an army did not get to have close friends. Did not get a confidant. But the damage had already been done. Teague and Kais had grown up together, inseparable, and Kais was continually grateful for the other man. Teague knew when to be a soldier and call him “sir” and when to be a friend and share a drink.

Kais opened his mouth to answer, but could not find any words that would make sense and not make him sound mad. He shook his head and shrugged.

“Got under your skin, did she?” Teague smirked, moving to sit in a chair in front of Kais’ desk.

Kais moved his arm behind his back and placed his glass on the desk. His brain tried to put together sentences that wouldn’t leave Teague looking at him like he’d lost his mind. Behind him, Teague sat quietly, waiting, most likely having learned long ago to give Kais room to form his thoughts.

Kais turned back to him, using his thumb to pop open the snap that secured his whip to his hip. He pulled the coiled length of leather off and laid it carefully on his desk.

“It was more than getting under my skin.”

Teague gave him a smirk, raising his brows.

“Not like that.”

At least, he didn’t think it was like that. He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth, pushing it out again. His next words were going to make him sound insane, but it was Teague, so he spoke them anyway.

“Do you remember the old tales of Shala and Miram?”

Teague leaned back, the chair creaking. “The stories we’ve been told all our lives? Our valiant warrior gods? A love for the ages?” he teased. “Yeah, I remember.”

“The stories of—“ Kais paused, and pulled in a long breath. He wouldn’t dare speak his next words to anyone but Teague. “Blood mates?”

Teague’s brow pinched and his lips moved as though he might speak, but then his mouth closed again. Kais waited as his friend processed the words.

He gave one small shake of his head.“It’s a myth.”

Kais nodded, but his voice was quiet when he spoke, “I know.” He swallowed. “But what if it’s not?”

“Kay, are you saying that—“

“I don’t know,” Kais interrupted Teague before he could go on. “All I know is that I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”

“And you’re not just infatuated?” Teague waved a hand toward the door. “Like you go, have a roll around, and get over it?”

“It’s not even that I wanted that. I mean, sure, she’s beautiful; that was there too, but...” He paused, well aware of how crazy he sounded. “It was like I could feel her thoughts. Or, more her emotions.” He shook his head. “I don’t know. I need to talk to someone.”

Teague studied him for a moment. “You could go see Kezia while we’re here.”

Kais turned toward him. “Kezia.”

He’d meant to make it a point to go see his old friend while he was in the area, but the Princess had driven everything from his mind.

Teague shrugged. “If anyone would know anything, she would.”

Kais nodded, he knew better than anyone the validity of Kezia’s words. “I was going to try to see her anyway.”

He would go in the morning as they packed up and left.

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