Page 2 of Blood and Fate

Tessa shot Satori a look out of the corner of her eye that said, yeah, sure. “He’s literally royalty.”

“Distant cousin.” Satori tried to sip from her glass and remembered she’d finished it. She needed a refill. “Besides, you might as well be royalty. I know you’re a lady’s maid, but I love you like my sister.” She rested her arm around Tessa’s shoulder.

Dimitri waved an arm, beckoning them down.

Satori sighed and turned her back toward the throng. This really was a ridiculous, pointless affair. It would have been fine just to have it with their people, but no, they had to invite the enemy. Why? What good would it do?

She was scanning for another servant with more champagne when she felt it. A shift in the air. No, that wasn’t right; it was more akin to the sensation of someone breathing on her neck. The tiny hairs on the back of her neck and her arms stood on end, and she looked to find her skin prickled with goosebumps.

She straightened, glancing side to side. “Did you feel that?”

“There they are,” Tessa spoke at the same time as Satori, and her inquiry was lost in the exchange.

A hush had fallen over the room, even the orchestra had stopped playing, and Satori turned as the large wooden doors at the front of the room opened fully.

Tessa leaned slightly over the balcony rail, “Is that the leader?”

“What?”

“Satori, what’s wrong with you?” Tessa stole a glance at her but quickly returned her attention to the group of men who had just entered the hall. “I said they’re here. Is that the leader?”

The Princess looked at the men—large men—who had entered the room. There were fewer than she expected, fifteen, maybe. They were well-dressed, with clean black pants and tunics, shining boots, and large swords that seemed to be more ornamental than combative. They all wore deep blue sashes across their chests with what appeared to be an insignia pin at their shoulders.

She scanned the men, trying to figure out which one Tessa was referring to, then she saw him. The force of his presence hit her like a sack of grain, and she reached out to steady herself on the railing. The air left her, and she scowled at the strange sensations that danced through her stomach. She tried to pull a breath in, but it was as though no air would flow. She swore under her breath. Was she getting ill? Now was a terrible time for sickness.

The man stopped, his dark waves of hair swinging against his forehead. The blonde man behind him bumped into him, though the dark-haired one didn’t even seem to notice. Instead, his eyes ran over the room, sweeping from side to side as though he were searching for someone. And somehow, the Princess just knew who he was looking for.

When his eyes reached the balcony, Satori finally found the ability to move again; spinning, she ducked behind the pillar beside her, making certain she was out of sight.

Tessa turned a slightly amused gaze on her. “Are you alright?”

Satori stared at the space where he had been standing.

“Satori?”

Her eyes snapped to her lady’s maid. “What?”

Tessa turned toward the Princess, her amused expression shifting to concern. “What’s wrong?”

“I . . . I . . .” Words, where were her words? “I don’t feel well. I think I need some air.”

“Now? They just got here.”

“I know, I’m sorry.” She reached out and squeezed Tessa’s hand. “I won’t be long, I promise. I just need to catch my breath.”

She was already turning to leave, not waiting for Tessa’s reply. Satori could barely keep her stride measured as she found the stairs and descended, leaving the balcony behind. As soon as she hit the ground floor, she picked up her pace, though not enough to draw attention to herself.

The tingling sensation at the back of her neck remained, and she didn’t dare turn to see what was happening behind her. Her stomach did another flip, and she laid a hand on it, covering her mouth with the other. She needed to get outside.

She slipped behind a pillar and found the servant’s entrance from the kitchen to the Great Hall. The passage was full of people carrying trays, both full and empty, back and forth from the kitchen. The temptation to reach out and snatch another glass of champagne was strong, but with the way she felt, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to keep it down. What in Shala’s name was happening to her?

The passage emerged into the kitchen, and she skirted the edges of the hot room until she found the door that led to the courtyard. A blast of cool night air hit her as she pulled open the door. She inhaled deeply, gulping it down as though she had been drowning. What in Helias was wrong with her? She had never felt anything like this before, and it had only started when those men had entered the castle. Maybe Shala was trying to tell her something, to warn her? She had never been one to give much stock to the stories of the old gods, but right now, she might entertain anything.

She couldn’t stay away all night, that much was certain; she was the Princess, and someone would no doubt notice her absence. But she wasn’t ready to go back in so soon. Instead, she chose to take a long walk around the castle. She would enter again through the front door. She was only about a quarter of the way around, just long enough of a walk to clear her head but not so long that she would be worn out or gone too long.

She folded her arms across her chest, wishing she would have thought to bring a shawl. The sleeves of her fluffy gown were barely there, and her cleavage was also slightly more on display than usual. Not to mention the feeling of hyper-awareness still followed her.

When she finally reached the front door, she paused, still not ready. Instead, she slipped into an alcove near a side entrance. It was unnaturally quiet outside the castle. Everyone was inside at the dinner, dancing and waiting to see what would happen now that their guests had arrived.

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