Page 31 of Blood and Fate

“I’m twenty-three.”

It was nearly unheard of for a Princess to reach that age and still remain single. Other countries were selling their daughters off at the age of sixteen or younger in order to form alliances.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but aren’t you a bit old to still be unwed? No one’s caught your eye, Princess?”

His chest tightened with the thought. His mother used to tell him not to ask questions that he didn’t truly want to know the answers to. But why wouldn’t he want to know the answer to this one? She was nothing to him, only a nuisance at this point. That’s what he told himself, and then he glanced down at the top of her head, and his chest tightened further. He needed to get his head on straight. Teague was right, he was too distracted.

“My eye has nothing to do with it.” A scoff edged Satori’s words. “I have no say in the matter. I’m a bargaining chip. I’m currently on the table for two separate countries.”

An unmistakable and sudden spike of anger hit him and he physically coughed when Satori’s head shot up, her eyes meeting his with a confused look. She must have felt that one.

Thankfully they had arrived at the tent with the food. Kais raised a hand, holding two fingers up. Jed, their cook, was quick to grab and fill two plates.

Kais gestured to a small table set with two chairs. “You’re welcome to join me here. Or, if you’d like, I’ll carry your plate back to your tent for you.”

She pulled in a deep breath as her eyes moved between him and the table. “I’ll eat here, no need to carry it back. Thank you.”

Kais held the back of the chair as she seated herself before he took the opposite seat. In moments, Jed delivered two plates.

“Thank you, Jed.”

“Thank you,” Satori echoed.

Jed only nodded before leaving them alone again.

“What do you mean you’re on the table for two countries?” Kais speared a bite of sausage with more force than he intended, and his fork scraped across the plate with an unpleasant sound.

She flinched slightly before she looked up at him. Their eyes met, and a spark seemed to spring between them. Satori’s eyes widened slightly for a moment as though she felt it as well. She lowered her gaze to her plate and spooned a bit of oatmeal in her mouth, taking her time swallowing.

“Deshan’s ruler is a grey-haired, bearded man with a wrinkled face and hands. He is sixty-seven years old and has been petitioning my father for my hand for three months now.”

Kais’ stomach turned, immediate visions of those wrinkled hands pawing at Satori’s skin dancing in his mind.

“The other is Apolonia. Their ruler is a twelve-year-old boy who is run by his advisors. They’ve been advising him to take a wife. Apparently, there are no prospects of his age, only me.” With those words, she looked up. “And if I refuse them, my only other option is . . .”

She paused and swallowed thickly, and Kais was struck with a sudden fear. Was it hers? His?

When he spoke, the word was choked, and he had to clear his throat and repeat it. “What?”

“My father seems to think it would be best if I chose Henrik, his advisor, to marry.”

“And which is your choice?”

Her gaze snapped to his. “None of them. I would rather remain unwed than marry any of them. Especially . . .”

Again, her words halted, and the fear hit Kais’ chest. It was hers, not his. He remembered the night they had met and danced. That advisor had tried to cut in, but she had tensed, and Kais refused. And when he gave her the option of going back to him she chose instead to dance with Kais, her perceived enemy, rather than move into that man’s arms.

Without thinking, Kais spoke, his gaze narrowed, his words slow and clear, “What did he do?”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

SATORI

Her stomach turned. She had taken one bite of sausage and it was now threatening to reappear. Why would Kais think Henrik had done anything? She had to get her features and self under control.

She pulled herself together and looked him in the eye, ignoring the jolt his gaze sent through her. “What are you talking about?”

Kais’ jaw clenched as irritation and anger seemed to roll off of him. She felt them so strongly, like they were her own emotions.

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