Page 87 of Blood and Fate

She loved the relationship Kais and Teague shared.

It was Teague’s turn to embrace Marta. “You know it’s the other way around.”

“I know, I know,” she said, patting his back. Marta released Teague and turned to Satori. She tossed a thumb in the direction of Kais and Teague. “You no doubt will have to keep them both in line.”

Satori laughed, her cheeks heating at Marta’s implications. Ignoring it, she stepped up to the woman and hugged her. “Thank you again for the clothes. All of them.”

Marta stepped back and rested a gentle palm on Satori’s cheek. “I’ll always have clothes for you, all you need to do is show up.”

Emotion flowed through Satori. She was touched by Marta’s kindness and also saddened when she thought of how she would most likely never see the woman again after today.

“Thank you.”

“Alright, alright, Marta,” Teague teased, stepping up beside Satori and offering her his arm, which she accepted. “Leave the Princess alone.”

Marta slapped playfully at Teague as he led Satori away from the woman and toward Kais.

“Ready for another walk?” Kais asked.

“I suppose I have no choice.”

She pulled in a deep breath, squaring her shoulders for the journey. Not only for the walk, but for what seemed like the first step toward her separation from Kais. How odd to her that it even mattered. It wasn’t that long ago that she would have done anything she could to run away from him, and now she only wanted to run into him.

“I’ll meet you both at the front.” Kais moved around them, presumably to talk to his men.

As he passed Satori, he rested a hand on her arm. It was only for a second, but that feeling—she would miss that spark.

She held Teague’s arm as they walked.

“He’s had female friends, he’s not a monk,” Teague began. “He’s thirty. I mean, it’s expected that he would have some experience.”

She turned her head toward him, slightly bewildered at where he was going with this line of thought.

“What I’m trying to say,” he continued, obviously sensing her confusion, “is that I’ve seen him with other women. None of them affected him the way you do. And I don’t just mean physically with the bond.”

Satori sighed. “Teague, what am I supposed to do? What would you expect someone who was to inherit a throne to do? Throw it all away to be with a soldier in the woods?”

Teague looked down at her, leveling his serious blue gaze on her. “He’s more than just some soldier, and you and I both know it. And you and I both know that if Shala and Miram planned this connection that’s so very rare between the two of you, you could at least give them the benefit of the doubt that they would know what they’re doing.”

“But do they?” Exasperation filled her. “A Princess from one country and a soldier from another? The two countries themselves at odds? It’s unthinkable, Teague. Why?”

Teague glanced over his shoulder at the same time that Satori felt the comforting warmth cover her.

He stopped and disentangled her arm from his. “Talk to him.”

Teague moved his gaze behind her, where she knew Kais was standing. He nodded once and then turned to disappear into the large group of men behind them.

Kais stepped into the place Teague had vacated. “I’ve known Teague a long time. Truly, he is a better man than I am. But if you would allow an inferior substitute, I would be honored to escort you, Your Highness.” He held his arm out with a warm smile.

Satori slid her hand through the crook of his arm, smiling. “You could never be an inferior substitute.”

She let the spark of contact wash through her as she nestled closer to him, uncaring of what those who saw them might think.

After a moment of silence, Kais spoke, “What did you and Teague talk about?”

She smiled. “He told me you were not a monk.”

Kais cleared his throat. “Indeed? I’ll have to have a discussion with him.”

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