Page 106 of Blood and Fate

“Come, darling,” her father whispered, encouraging her to move as he attempted to do so himself.

She released the breath she had been holding and drew in another quick one before allowing her father to lead her up the long aisle.

The walk was both too long and terrifyingly swift. She looked anywhere but at Henrik, even though she could feel his attention on her. Mostly she searched for Tessa. Henrik had said she would be there, but so far Satori hadn’t seen her. Though, it was difficult for her to see anything past the number of people standing in honor of her.

She refrained from rolling her eyes at the looks on their faces. Smiles, tears, joy—their Princess was finally marrying. Had they not noticed the wedding was announced only days prior? Did they not think there was something odd about that? What about the fact she was marrying her father’s advisor and not a prince from a neighboring kingdom? The thought brought Kais to her mind. It should be him. It could have been him, her prince. Tears pricked her eyes. Shala and Miram were cruel.

They reached the end of the aisle, and her father stopped, turning to her and lifting the veil from her face. He kissed her once on each cheek, and she dipped into a deep curtsey before the King. Then her father placed her hand in Henrik’s, and her skin crawled with the touch of his warm fingers.

The king moved to his place in the front row, and Henrik took her hand and slipped it into the crook of his elbow. Pulling her along with him, he moved to stand before the High Rector.

Henrik tilted his head toward her. “You are lovely, my dear.”

She ignored him, facing the High Rector.

Henrik’s voice dropped in volume even as his arm closed tighter on her hand and he pulled her closer to his side. “Do not make a fool of me, Satori. Tessa wouldn’t want you to.”

Her resolve snapped as she whipped her attention to him, her eyes meeting his. He held her gaze for only a moment before moving it up and behind where Satori stood. She followed it, turning her head to glance behind her.

The sight that greeted her knocked the air from her lungs and weakened her knees.

Tessa was there, dressed in a simple white shift, the garment not quite covering her knees and certainly not fit to be worn in public. But she neither stood nor sat. Instead she hung, arms stretched far over her head, suspended from a beam. The rope was just long enough to allow her bare toes to brush the ground. A length of purple cloth wrapped around her face, gagging her. Tessa’s eyes met Satori’s, and she wanted to scream.

Satori had only enough time to take in the sight before Henrik’s fingers were on her jaw, turning her attention back to him. Her breath heaved out of her in great gulps as she fought to control them.

He spoke quietly, his eyes on hers, “Calm down, Princess. It would be a shame if you made a scene and Tessa was forced to suffer further. After the ceremony, she will be dealt with, and then we can put this all behind us.”

Dealt with? She gulped, her voice shaking. “What do you mean?”

“She must be punished for what she’s done.” Henrik’s eyes glanced toward Tessa, and Satori thought she saw a smirk. The beast. He looked back at her. “Fear not, she will live.”

She wanted to be relieved, but cold fear washed over her at the thought of what Henrik might put Tessa through first.

The High Rector, clearing his throat, brought Satori’s attention back to the present. “If you will both respond when I ask the question.”

“Of course, apologies.” Henrik straightened his shoulders, still not loosening his grip on Satori’s hand. “Please, continue.”

“Do you, Henrik, promise to love and respect this woman, to protect her with your life and honor her authority as Princess of the realm?”

Henrik tensed beside her at the words “honor her authority.” As if the man would honor, respect, or love her. He certainly wouldn’t protect her. That much was certain in the way he already treated her and that he’d sold her to kidnappers.

“Of course I do.” His words were soft, dripping with sweetness.

Satori wanted to be sick.

“Do you, Your Highness, promise to love and respect this man, and give him the honor due his position as your advisor?”

Not even remotely. Did she dare lie before the High Rector and before Shala and Miram? To Helias with Shala and Miram. They had given her Kais and then taken him away. She no longer cared what they thought of her.

“Of course.”

She felt Henrik’s attention on her, but she ignored him. She needed this to be over. So she could end it once and for all. They were nearly there.

The High Rector raised his hand, drawing an arc over the top of their heads. “I proclaim this man and this woman bound together in this present life, in the presence of Shala and—“

The High Rector’s words were cut off as alarm bells began pealing outside the castle. Every head in the building turned toward the doors where shouts could be heard. Soldiers shouting orders and warning cries.

Henrik’s hand closed around Satori’s upper arm, squeezing like a vise. She yelped at the pain as he began to drag her away. Soon, the warning cries turned to full-out battle sounds. Metal on metal clashed, and people cried out in pain. In seconds, pounding could be heard on the doors.

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