Page 109 of Blood and Fate

Tessa swept through the sheer flowing curtains out onto the balcony. “What are you doing? You’re supposed to be getting ready for your wedding!”

Satori closed her eyes again, throwing her head back and letting the breeze wash over her. She was getting married today. To a prince, to the man she loved more than anything. To her blood mate. She grinned. Shala and Miram had not forsaken her, and she would spend the rest of her days thanking them.

Of course, Kais had essentially invaded her country. Thankfully, she was the Princess and held a rather large amount of sway with the King. Everything was cleared up and after many inquiries as to whether or not she was sure she truly wanted him, Kais was given permission to marry her.

Tessa’s hands came down on her shoulders. “Alright, swoony, that’s enough of that. Time to get ready.”

Tessa guided Satori back into the room to a seat in front of a large mirror. Satori’s eyes met her friend’s in the reflection.

“You look really happy.” Tessa smiled.

“I’ve never been so happy, Tess.”

Satori couldn’t keep the smile from her face. She bit her lip to try and tamp down her grin, but it was useless. She truly had never been happier.

For the next few hours Satori sat through skin and hair treatments until her face glowed and her hair shone. Tessa had worked Satori’s hair into a full loose braid that began on one side of her head and curved around to fall over the opposite shoulder. An ornament of thin braided leather was worked through it all. It was perfect.

Her gown was fit for a queen. She couldn’t stop looking at herself in the mirror. It didn’t have layers and layers of tulle; it was a simple satin gown covered with a layer of chiffon. Lace trimmed the bottom, and patches of it dotted the skirt before weaving intricately through the bodice. The neckline created a deep, but not too deep, V, and the sleeves were sheer and fitted to just above her elbow. All of it was a gorgeous ivory.

“Wait until he sees you.” Tessa smiled at Satori’s reflection.

“What about you?” Satori turned to take in the other girl’s plain dress. “You need to get ready! Stop worrying about me. I assure you I will be fine. Go.”

“Okay.” Tessa threw her arms around Satori, careful not to crush anything. “I’ll be there, waiting for you. And not like last time.”

“Good.”

In an hour, Satori once again stood outside the large double doors to the room where she would be married. But this time the sunshine and a soft breeze filtered through the open windows, and the love of her life stood on the opposite side of the door, just a short walk away.

Hordes of people had turned up for the marriage of the Princess of Dunleigh to the Prince of Evandor. People who showed up because they wanted to and not because someone paid them.

Satori’s father stepped up beside her, and when she looked at him she found his brow knotted in concern.

“What is it?”

Her father reached out and took both of her hands in his. “Satori, is this what you want? Is this the man you want? Because if you are not certain that this is your wish, I will walk in there and send them all away. By Shala. The last time we were here— Satori, I’m so sorry. Even through what he was doing to me, I should have known, I should have seen.”

Satori placed her hands on her father’s arms, looking him in the eye. “You are forgiven. I’ve told you that. You were his victim as well, and he had so many people fooled. But this time—“ She glanced at the door beside her, the only barrier between her and Kais, and a grin spread across her face. If she wasn’t careful, her cheeks would become sore. “I promise, by Shala and Miram, this is what I want, and Kais is who I want. And he could never be anything like Henrik.”

“You’re happy?” The look on her father’s face was still skeptical.

“Ecstatic, Father.”

She leaned up and kissed his cheek even as the trumpets began to play and excited butterflies danced in her chest. She faced the doors, schooling her movements so she wasn’t bouncing on her toes when they opened.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

KAIS

The doors opened, and every person and thing in the room faded to nothing. There was only her. The sunlight filtering through the door behind her lit her golden hair, causing it to shine like a halo around her head. Never in his life, in his wildest imaginings, had he expected to find what he had with this woman. It was as if his own life’s blood flowed in her veins, and he supposed, in a way, it did.

Satori and her father began the walk down the aisle toward where he stood, and he simultaneously wanted to rush to her and to crumble to his knees as the warmth of her presence enveloped him.

“Are you doing okay?” Teague’s whispered words revealed his smile without even having to see him.

“I’ve never been better.”

She held his gaze as she made her way toward him. He grinned at her, wanting to tell her to hurry up.

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