Page 37 of Blood and Fate

Somewhere in the camp a gong rang out, signaling dinner was ready, and Satori was grateful to see Bram lay down his work and begin to pack up the supplies.

She stood and stretched. “Thank you for allowing me to help you with this.”

Bram stood. “Thank you, Princess, for stopping to help an old man.”

She smiled. “Satori, please. And it was my pleasure.”

Bram returned her smile and held out his arm so Satori hooked hers into the crook of his elbow, and together they walked to the food tent. When they arrived, there was already a line, but the men immediately parted for Bram, their respect for him clear.

“See how they move to allow a Princess to the front?” Bram tightened his grip on her arm for emphasis.

“I’m sure these men are moving for you, not me.”

She eyed the gathered men, no doubt in her mind that she was correct. Especially considering the looks she sometimes caught them sending her direction, mistrust and sometimes dislike clear in their eyes.

Then he was there. She straightened, looking up, but didn’t see him. Bram gave her a quizzical glance which she ignored. He must have been behind her, but he was there, she was certain. Warmth dripped over her, and after the dampness of the log, it wasn’t entirely unwelcome.

“Princess.” The deep baritone of his voice penetrated into her, and the hair along her arms and neck stood on end. “Bram.”

“General.” Bram turned, causing Satori to turn as well as he responded with the slightest tip of his chin. “The Princess and I repaired four of those tents today.”

Kais’ eyes drifted over Satori before returning to Bram. “I’m sure the men will be pleased to hear that. I’ve heard nothing but complaining from Asher and Hunter for days now. They’re no use to me like that.”

Bram laughed, and Satori couldn’t help but smile at the sound. When her eyes moved to Kais, she found him watching her, studying her face like he was working out a dilemma, though the look was soft and not harsh. She blinked and looked away, unwilling to hold his deep brown gaze.

“Princess, you had a hand in this work as well?”

Before Satori could say anything, Bram spoke up, “She’s quite handy with a needle, this one. Her stitches were better than mine. Though that may be due to her young hands.”

Kais looked at her hands, and even more heat seemed to radiate from him. She fought the urge to clasp her fingers behind her back.

“You sew, Princess?”

“I may not have knowledge of swords or,” she nodded at the whip coiled at Kais’ waist, “whatever that is. But I was certainly taught to sew. Apparently, it is a necessity for young ladies.”

Kais watched her for a moment before dropping a hand to his waist and popping the snap that secured his whip to his belt. “This is a whip.”

He held the coil out to her, and she disentangled herself from Bram’s arm to accept the braided leather. It was heavier than she expected, and she held it closer to examine it. It was just a long strip of braided leather. How was this efficient at any sort of self-defense or offense?

“It can be quite handy,” Kais answered the thoughts that must have been apparent on her face.

She handed it back to him. “It doesn’t look very useful.”

Bram laughed again. “You should have him show you. It’s quite amazing. I’ve never seen anyone wield a whip the way the General does. I think he could remove a hand in one move and rescue a kitten in the next.”

Kais chuckled deeply as he reattached the whip to his hip, and the sound rushed around inside Satori. “I’m not sure that’s accurate, but I could show you if you really are curious.”

Bram shook his head and leaned in toward Satori. “Don’t let him act modest; he is proficient.”

Sensing her turn to speak but not knowing what to say, she finally settled on, “Maybe one day I’ll get to see how it works.”

With those words, an entirely unwelcome thought pushed into her mind. She hoped she wouldn’t witness the merits of the whip firsthand as it took her father’s life and then her own. Her heart stuttered at the image that had invaded, her father hanging from the end of Kais’ whip, and she blinked quickly, trying to clear the scene.

Kais, who hadn’t taken his eyes from her, now scrunched his brow, his head tilting to the side. “I assure you, if I show you how it works, you will be safe.”

She swallowed thickly and met his dark eyes. How was he doing that?

His expression didn’t change. “Are you well?”

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