Page 97 of Blood and Fate

She couldn’t continue. Her throat ached; she couldn’t talk about Kais just then, the chasm inside her ached too much.

“They were kind to you?”

“So kind. So much more than kind.”

She’d met the other half of her soul with those brutes. And then he was ripped away, and she was left with the monster in the next room. She brought her hands to her face as a sob punched out of her unbidden.

Tessa’s hands came down softly on her arms. “I’m so sorry you’ve been through so much. Here.” Tessa gently turned Satori toward the waiting tub, “a bath will help you feel better.”

Satori finished undressing and climbed into the steaming water, sinking down to her neck, wishing it could wash away the pain in her heart.

She closed her eyes as Tessa dipped a pitcher in the water and poured it over Satori’s hair. Immersed in the warmth, she could almost imagine the evening she had spent with Kais in the pool in the woods. Could almost feel his hands running over her skin. The image was quickly replaced by the sound of Henrik’s order and Kais’ men screaming.

There was no knock or warning as the door opened, and Henrik stepped into the bathing chamber.

Both Satori and Tessa jumped, Satori, trying in vain to cover herself, was thankful that the water at least was deep.

“Leave.” He stood in the doorway, his tunic sleeves rolled past his elbows.

Tessa jumped to her feet, the half-filled pitcher clattering to the floor. “How did you get in?”

She shot Satori a fearful look, and Satori actually felt bad for her. She knew the girl didn’t want to leave her. She also knew Henrik would give her no choice.

“I have a key.” He stepped to where the pitcher had fallen and retrieved it. “I can take over from here.”

“Your Grace, I don’t believe this is-”

Henrik turned the full force of his attention on Tessa, and she shrunk under the weight of it. “If you continue to question me when I tell you to do something, you will find yourself permanently in the stables.”

Tessa’s face fell as she again looked at Satori.

Exhaustion pressed on Satori. She was tired physically, tired mentally, tired emotionally. She didn’t have it in her to fight Henrik or reassure Tessa. She simply looked at the other woman.

“Go, Tessa. Just go.”

Henrik stood, turning the pitcher over and over in his hands, waiting. Finally, tears brimming in her eyes, Tessa fled the room.

Henrik said nothing as he knelt behind her, dipping the pitcher and pouring it over her hair once more before setting it down. Then his hands landed softly on her shoulders, and she shuddered, her stomach rolling as they slid over her and below the surface of the water. The contact was gone just as quickly as it had been there as he picked up the shampoo bottle and dumped some on his hands. He worked the soap into her hair, his long fingers kneading her scalp. Normally she loved having someone wash or fix her hair, but every touch of Henrik’s fingers caused her muscles to grow tauter.

“You’re so tense, my dear,” Henrik said, moving his hands to her shoulders. “Relax.”

She ignored him, praying that he would finish his task quickly. He dipped the pitcher in the water and rinsed the suds from her hair.

He stood and strode to where her robe hung, lifting it from the peg and turning back to where she still sat. He held the robe out, waiting.

“I wish we had more time together, but it is almost time to eat.” He gave the robe a slight shake. “Come now, Satori, let’s not keep your father waiting.”

The promise of seeing her father was the only thing that could drag her out of that tub and into Henrik’s waiting arms. But while she shook on the inside, she would not give him the satisfaction of seeing it. As confidently as she could, she stood. She held his gaze, chin high, before he broke off their stare to allow his eyes to crawl slowly over her soaking form.

She needed to wash again. “May I have my robe, please?”

Slowly, Henrik’s eyes came back to meet hers. “If only we had more time.”

He stepped forward, and she slid her arms into the sleeves as he draped the robe over her shoulders. He moved to the door, holding it open for her.

Tessa stood nervously beside Satori’s bed, hands clasped so tightly in front of her that her knuckles were white. Her voice shook when she spoke, “I laid out a dress for you, Your Highness.”

On the bedpost hung a silk and tulle dress with full skirts and a built-in corset, all the color of a cerulean blue lake. It was beautiful.

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