Page 7 of Blood and Fate

“They live in excess while their land goes to Helias. I have many thoughts.”

Kais lifted his eyes to scan the dark stone walls of the castle. He also had many thoughts. He returned his gaze to Teague.

“Come, let us feast.”

The words tasted sour on his tongue.

CHAPTER THREE

SATORI

Adjoined to the Great Hall was another room, the twin of the one in which everyone danced. Rows of tables lined the room with enough seats to accommodate every guest. Instead of being set at the front of the room, the head table was set in the middle.

Her father was seated at the head of the table, and she was seated in the first position, to his right on the long side. Across from her, General Kais would be seated. She was so tense waiting for his arrival that her shoulders ached. It unnerved her tremendously that this man knew so much about her. It unnerved her more the reaction her body seemed to have around him.

She closed her eyes and drew in a few quiet, cleansing breaths. Nerves. It was only nerves. Her body was having no actual reaction to him, only the sight of him set her on edge.

As she was explaining this to herself, eyes closed, she felt it. Her eyes shot open at the oddly warm sensation that poured over her. She only had to glance to her right to see him making his way along the table to where he would sit opposite her. She would have no choice but to stare at him throughout the meal.

His eyes were already on hers, and she quickly glanced down at her hands in her lap, pretending to adjust the napkin that already lay perfectly.

“Satori.”

Her head shot up. She had been so focused on ignoring their guests that she had missed Henrik’s approach. He stopped beside her chair, reaching out to pull a few strands of her hair off her neck and back over her shoulder.

Just before she jerked away, she remembered all the eyes in the hall. Instead, she dropped her shoulder just enough that his skin no longer touched hers. Henrik did not stop what he was doing. In fact, he made a point of moving his hand so it, once again, brushed her skin. Her stomach turned, but still she schooled her features. Henrick was careful when in public, keeping his touch to her hair or a brush along the small of her back.

He removed his hand and pulled out the chair next to her. Helias. She should have assumed he would be seated beside her. She pulled her eyes from her lap, lifting her chin. She would not appear weak. Not in front of Henrik and certainly not in front of their guests.

Her eyes met Kais’. She had forgotten about him completely when Henrik had approached. Now he stood, eyes narrowed, observing her. Breathe, Satori. She felt like she was going to crawl out of her own skin. She reached for the water goblet in front of her and downed the entire contents in two long pulls.

Trumpets blew, and she jumped at the sound. She placed her goblet back on the table as all around her people stood. Henrik pulled her chair out and she rose to her feet along with everyone else.

“His Majesty, the King!”

Her father appeared, and two servants pulled out his chair as he sat. He lifted his hands. “Please, sit.”

Chairs scraped and rattled as they slid along the stone floor, the buzz of voices filling the room once more as everyone took their seats and resumed their conversations.

Despair poured into Satori. She was trapped there with Kais across from her and Henrik beside her and no means of escape. Through six courses she would have to sit and stomach Henrik’s hands beneath the table and Kais’ unnerving attention above. She tried to take a breath but only the slightest bit of air would come. She would not flee the room. She would stay. She would perform the duty that was required of her as the Princess. She pulled in a slow, deep, deep breath, letting it out in a long drawn-out exhale. She would not be afraid.

She met Kais’ eyes again, and the hairs on her neck stood. She would be afraid. But she would not show it.

“Did you see the one who was always with the leader— what’s his name again? Kais? The leader, I mean, not the other one.” Tessa had Satori’s hair ribbons in her hand and was twirling around the room as though dancing with them. “His eyes were like a jet stone. I’ve never seen eyes so dark. And the other one, the one I was talking about, tall and blonde.”

Satori’s head was pounding. She wanted nothing more than for Tessa to finish her hovering and leave her alone. But Tessa was far too engrossed in gushing about their guests to realize that.

Finally, Tessa spun to a halt, her skirts swishing about her ankle with the momentum. “Where did you go?”

Satori lifted her eyes to look at Tessa in the large mirror on the dressing table in front of her. She raised a brow.

“You disappeared twice.” Tessa turned to hang the ribbons in the cabinet that hung on the wall beside the other various hair accessories. “And you were terribly quiet at dinner.”

“There were so many people, I just needed some air. And I wasn’t feeling very well.”

It wasn’t a lie, not exactly. She certainly hadn’t been feeling well.

When their guests had left, Kais had taken her hand in his, sending a white-hot wave through her, even as Henrik rested a hand on the small of her back, causing her breath to seize further. It was too much. She had barely remained standing, and the moment Kais’ party had left, she fled to her rooms.

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