Page 46 of Blood and Fate

He finally looked around to find Satori. She was still with Bram, having made friends with the older man. Kais looked at Teague, but his eyes soon found Satori again.

“Check on her, please? Let me know if she needs anything.”

“And you’re not asking her... why?”

Kais bit his lip as he watched her. She looked up, and he looked back at Teague. Why look away? It wasn’t like it was a secret he was drawn to her.

“I told her.”

Teague’s eyes found Satori and he smiled at her, giving her a quick nod. “Told her what?”

“Everything I told you.”

Teague’s attention snapped back to him. “The blood thing? The bond?”

“That’s the one.”

Teague’s eyes darted between Satori and Kais. “And how did that go?”

Kais raised his brow. “Better than I expected, actually. But I think she already knew. I knew. I knew before I ever talked to Kezia. It’s just there, inside. I think she wanted to deny it, but it’s just there.”

There was no big meal that night. They pulled out their packs and ate dried meat, hard cheese, and crusty bread. The men still chatted and talked among themselves, but there was something different in the atmosphere of the camp. A seriousness rested on them all. The knowledge that while they hoped everything would go well in the morning, there was no guarantee they would all make it across the river.

Kais made his way from group to group, greeting the men and chatting with them. While he interacted with many of them daily, some were just quieter and he didn’t often hold conversations with them. That evening, he made it a point to speak to every one of his men.

Finally, he made it to where Bram, Satori, Sawyer and Teague sat around a small fire. Bram was telling a story about crossing the river as a boy. A bridge stood then, and getting from one side to the other had been much easier. Satori’s back straightened as he approached, and he knew she was feeling him—that same feeling, or similar, at least, to what he felt. It was a comforting feeling to him. Was it the same for her? Judging by how her back went rigid and her shoulders squared, it still made her uneasy. Would that ever change? She didn’t turn around to face him, and he took the opportunity just to watch her.

Her blonde hair was braided in one long, thick plait down her back with shorter waves free and falling to frame her face. In her delicate hands she held a length of yarn that Bram was teaching her how to crochet with. Her fingers worked the long hook easily, like she’d known how to do it all along.

The voices became quieter as he approached.

Teague moved to make room for him, a grin on his face and the fire reflected in his blue eyes, making them glow. “Kais, sit. Bram is teaching us to knit.”

“Crochet,” Sawyer corrected.

Then Kais noticed they all had hooks and yarn, and a quiet laugh escaped him. He seated himself between Sawyer and Teague, across from Satori. “It doesn’t look too hard.”

“No? No offense, sir, but if you think that, maybe you should try it yourself,” Sawyer said, and then as if to punctuate the words, a frustrated groan issued from his mouth.

Satori glanced over, and an exasperated smile curved her pink lips. “That’s because you’re doing it wrong. I told you, like this.”

She leaned over and touched his hand, her fingers moving his hook and rewrapping the yarn.

Kais watched her skin glide over Sawyer’s and was amazed that the other man didn’t even seem to notice the touch, too caught up in his project. Kais would have lost all concentration if those hands had touched his. Was that jealousy or longing he was feeling? Or both?

Satori must have sensed the sudden rise of emotion in him; her head snapped up to his, their eyes meeting. Her eyes burned in the light of the fire, the red and orange flames making her brown eyes appear almost red. The sight stole his breath. Mine.

He quickly looked away with a shake of his head, slightly ashamed at the sudden possessive thought. She was not his. They were subject to some ancient bond, but that didn’t mean anything would come of it.

When he looked up again, she was no longer looking at him, but a blush seemed to redden her cheeks.

Teague’s elbow bumped into his arm, drawing his attention. “Kay, have you ever crocheted before?”

He put extra emphasis on the word, shooting a pointed look at Sawyer. Though the other man was far too lost in his work to notice.

Kais took the opportunity to slip into the group and into the conversation. “I have. Let me see that.”

He held out his hands, and Teague eagerly handed over his hook and yarn, an amused smile dancing on his lips.

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