Page 94 of Blood and Fate

Henrik’s chin lowered as he took in Satori’s hand in Kais’ once more. His features finally changed. The change was subtle, but with a slight shift, his look grew menacing.

“This man,” Henrik pointed his sword tip at Kais, “is your enemy.”

“He’s ten times the man you are,” she sneered at him.

“Is that so?” Henrik looked between the two of them, considering. “Do you think he can keep up that shining reputation when he’s dead?”

Henrik’s head tilted slightly to the side, and the archer raised the bow once again.

Fear, love, bravery all poured over him as Satori wrenched herself from Kais’ grip and jumped in front of the arrow, out of his reach. “No! No. Please!”

“You’re bargaining?” Henrik asked her.

Kais couldn’t see her face but he felt the surge of hope rise inside her. “Yes. Yes, what do you want? I’ll give you anything. Just don’t harm him.”

Kais’ stomach bottomed out. No.

Henrik dismounted his massive white horse and moved toward her, pushing the arrow out of the way so he could move to stand directly in front of her. Raising his hand, he touched her face and ran a finger down her cheek, her neck, sliding it over the top of her corset.

“Anything?”

Disgust and shame crashed through Kais. Hers.

Kais could stand this no longer. “Satori, don’t do this. This isn’t worth it.”

She turned her head to look at him. Pain pooled deep in her brown eyes. “You’re worth anything. I love you.” And then she turned back to Henrik. “What do you want? What will you take to spare him?”

He bent toward her, voice low. “I will take so much. Including you, as my wife.”

Kais’ heart plummeted. He would rather die. What good would it do him to live in a world where he knew Satori suffered at the hands of this man?

“Satori, no,” he begged.

She ignored him, speaking through clenched teeth, “You’ll spare his life? Your word?”

“My word,” he nearly sneered the words at her.

She lifted her chin and turned to meet Kais’ gaze. “I’m so sorry.” She faced Henrik again. “Fine. Yes, you can have me if that’s what you want. But you will spare him and his men.”

Henrik studied her for a moment before holding out an arm. She slid her hand through the crook, the fear practically dripping off her. Henrik kept his eyes on Satori as he spoke to his men, “Fall back; we have what we came for.”

All of Henrik’s men lowered their weapons, backing carefully away from the rest of Kais’ men. Henrik turned his back and began walking away, Satori’s arm in his like a vise.

Agony cracked Kais’ heart into pieces. Bile churned in his stomach, and he thought he might vomit as the distance between them grew. At one point, Satori tried to turn but Henrik did something that nearly caused her to yelp.

Kais was about to lunge toward them when Teague caught his arm.

“Live to fight another day,” he whispered.

He certainly would. He would not give her up so easily. Henrik’s men mounted their horses, Henrik hauling Satori up to sit in front of him. He laced an arm around her middle and placed a kiss on her cheek. She did her best to turn away, but seated on a horse, there wasn’t anywhere for her to go. Kais’ breath heaved out of him.

Henrik turned his horse, as did each of his men. Each but one.

As Kais watched, the men began to gallop away and then Henrik called, “Kill him!” before kicking his horse into a gallop, Satori’s screams tearing through the forest.

There was no time to react before the archer sent the first arrow through the air with a whoosh and a thud. Searing pain ripped through Kais’ shoulder and then again through his chest as three arrows, one after the other, lodged inside him.

Shouts erupted around him as his men gave chase. Then he was in Teague’s arms, being lowered to the ground, the clouds above him swimming and fading.

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