Page 78 of Blood and Fate

“Helias,” he breathed the word. “Princess, how are you alive?”

Satori glanced up at Kais and reached out to take his hand. She turned it over to show Teague the slice down his palm. The only thing that remained was a long pink mark, her blood having healed him as his healed her.

A laugh punch from Teague. “That’s a handy little trick the two of you have.”

“Yes it is.” Kais shot Teague a pointed look. “Especially handy when you hit your head on a rock and nearly die. Much more trusty than some friends who refuse to tell you how close you were to your own mortality.”

Teague had the good sense to look at least a little sheepish as he exchanged a look with Satori, she tossed her eyebrows. Kais couldn’t stay angry with them. He was far too grateful that both he and Satori were still in the realm of the living to be very upset with her or Teague.

“So...” Teague shook his head slowly as he surveyed the area around them, taking in the bloody ground as well as Satori and Kais’ clothes. His eyes met Satori’s. “You saw a hog.”

Satori gave a tired-sounding laugh. “Up close.”

Teague looked again at the ground and then back between Kais and Satori. “You two ought to carry vials of each other’s blood at all times.”

Kais huffed an unimpressed laugh. “We’ll get right on that.”

Then Teague gestured toward the enormous dead animal. “Who won the whisky?”

“I did.” And Kais fully intended to collect his winnings after the day he’d had.

Teague’s eyes turned serious, moving between Satori and Kais. “How bad was it?”

Kais’ chest tightened at the thought, his imagination taking him to what could have been a grim reality. He pressed his lips together and looked down at Satori.

She reached up and took his hand, looking at Teague. “It was very bad, but thankfully, for some reason, Shala and Miram chose to bind us together, and it’s saved both our lives.”

Kais scoffed, saved them? “It’s put both our lives at risk.”

“I don’t think so,” Satori said. “I would have been attacked and kidnapped on the road either way. Then again, maybe you’re right. The only reason you saved me was because of the bond.”

Kais was quick to respond to that one, “That’s not true.”

Was it though? Would he have decided to trade away so many supplies to save her if there hadn’t been a connection? If he hadn’t walked up to that wagon and felt her heart thundering in her chest and the terror radiating from inside like it was its own entity?

Satori offered him a knowing smile. “Even now, you’re not sure.”

He studied her for a moment, her brown eyes, her hair, and clothes matted with blood. “So how can you trust any emotions with regards to me? Aren’t we being played by the gods?”

Her eyes dropped as though she was thinking before she returned her gaze to his. “Don’t you trust the gods?”

“With the crops? The weather? Sure.” He could say that because gods or no gods, there would be crops, and there would be weather, and life would go on. “With my life?” He could only give her an uncertain expression.

“If Shala and Miram can handle the crops, weather, and the state of the world, then I think they can handle two insignificant people.”

“Insignificant?” Teague scoffed, reminding them of his presence. “I would wager neither of you is insignificant.”

Kais shot Teague a look, speaking up before the other man said anything more, “Certainly not you, Princess.”

Out of the corner of his eyes, Kais saw Teague roll his eyes. It had been a long day, and he wasn’t interested in delving any further into his own life story.

Bitterness permeated her. “And what good will it do me? I will return home; you will return . . .” Her eyes swept over him. “Wherever it is you came from, and that will be it.”

“Do you really think that after Shala and Miram connected you, gave you a chance to meet, threw you back together, and allowed your connection to grow, you would both be able to just go your separate ways and forget this ever happened?” Tegaue’s eyes moved unbelieving between the two of them.

Was he right? Kais took her in again, this woman who had been on the brink of death in his arms only a short time ago. Did the gods have bigger plans for the two of them? Could he convince her father that he was a worthy option for her hand, despite the tension between their lands? And was that what was best for him? For her? For their countries? She had asked if he trusted the gods. He had never given it much thought before, but now that his actual life was wrapped up in the answer, he realized maybe it was something he should settle on. Could he have her? Could he have her legitimately? He cleared his throat, trying to clear his thoughts as well.

“What I do know is that we should go. I’ve been staring at this blood for long enough. I need to wash.”

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