Page 4 of Blood and Fate

“You should not drink so much, my darling,” her father chided through grinning teeth as she took her place beside him.

She took another sip.

“I do not drink so much, Father; this is only my second glass,“ she assured him through her own smile.

“Mmm,” was her father’s reply. “Have you seen our guests? Handsome group of brutes.” His eyes moved over the room. “I seem to have lost track of them.”

Satori looked up at him, a golden circlet resting on his greying hairs, the look in his eyes the same as she’d become used to recently. He’d started to seem off to her in the past few months, as though he was always slightly confused, a faraway look glazing his eyes. It had begun to worry her, especially since he’d seemed to be relying more and more on Henrik’s advice. She’d mentioned it to Tessa, but the lady’s maid didn’t spend enough time with the King to notice. She even brought it up with Henrik, much to her discomfort. He also dismissed her concerns, assuring her that he would take care of everything, including the King and herself.

“No, I have not seen them.” She sipped again, her eyes wandering the room.

Was it too much to hope they’d all left?

“Ah, here he is.”

A flush passed over Satori. All the tiny hairs on her arms and neck stood on end as she turned.

The large man stepped in front of her father, flanked by another large blonde man. He offered the barest of bows.

Her father made a sound, hesitated, and then faltered into a cough. Clearly he had forgotten the man’s name. Satori realized then that she hadn’t learned it, either.

“Kais, your Majesty,” the man answered, with a glance toward her.

She looked away, but not before realizing the flush that she had felt was the same strange warm feeling from earlier once again seeping over her. It unnerved her.

“Yes, yes, General Kais,” her father repeated. “Have you met my daughter, Princess Satori?”

Kais turned toward her and offered a slightly deeper bow than he had given her father. “Princess.”

She wanted to roll her eyes and look away, but that wasn’t exactly the reaction a Princess should have in a diplomatic situation. So she squared her shoulders and stood tall like a Princess would be expected to. What she really wanted was to run away.

“Actually, your Majesty,” Kais continued, “I was wondering if I might beg a dance of the Princess?”

No, no. Surely her father wouldn’t just pass her off to an enemy? She shot the King a pleading gaze, not even having the presence of mind to hope no one else noticed. But he wasn’t even looking at her.

“Of course.” Her father’s hand extended toward her, taking the champagne glass. “The Princess loves to dance and is quite good at it.” He leaned very close, whispering in her ear, “Don’t worry, darling, he wouldn’t try anything here.”

Kais turned to her, his smile growing wide, accentuating his darkly handsome features. He extended a waiting palm toward her. “I shall endeavor to keep up.”

Satori didn’t school her glare as he stepped aside, unfurling the fingers of his other hand toward the already full dance floor. “May I, Princess?”

Her father placed a hand of encouragement on the small of her back. “Go on, my dear, don’t be shy. Show him how we dance here in Dunleigh.”

Satori looked toward her father, hoping he was right about them not trying anything.

She forced her features to smooth out, pulled in a breath, and lifted her chin. “Yes, Father.”

She stepped off the dais and descended the few stairs, though she made sure to offer Kais a withering stare as she walked past, ignoring his outstretched palm.

His response was a knowing sort of smile, and the hairs on her arm returned to their standing positions. Why did he look at her like he could see inside her? Arrogant idiot.

The crowd seemed to part for them, and Satori wished the people would just go on dancing. Instead, every eye was focused on her and Kais. When he reached the center of the floor he stopped and turned, waiting for her. She stopped in front of him, craning her neck up to properly glare at him. So what if others noticed? He wasn’t exactly their closest ally. It should be expected that she would be wary of him.

“Relax, my Princess.” The half smile turned up his mouth again. It was attractive, and it annoyed her. “I can dance. I promise not to embarrass you.”

He extended his hand. She glanced at the waiting palm and then back up to his face. Her neck was beginning to ache from looking up. Helias, the man was tall. She relaxed her neck, looking straight forward instead, pinning her gaze to his chest. The longer she put it off, the longer it would be before it was over. She lifted her hand and placed it into his.

The sensation was immediate. A jolt that, at first, reminded her of touching something far too hot. She snatched her hand away. Her alarmed gaze shot to his, even as she realized it hadn’t actually hurt.

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