Page 108 of Blood and Fate

KAIS

She was disheveled, her hair pulling from where it had been piled on her head, tiny flower petals crunched in the chaos. Her dress was torn, hiked up over her thighs, and her hands were wrapped around the ends of a whip, her fingers purple. The middle of the whip was coiled around that advisor’s neck, and it was clear she had not needed anyone to rescue her.

Pride mixed with horror bloomed inside him as he carefully sat on the edge of the bed. Her eyes stared at him wide and surprised, and he wondered if she was even seeing him or if the shock had been too much for her.

Slowly, he reached out, curling his hand around hers and unwrapping the whip from her fingers, the air sparking with that familiar sensation as their skin brushed. She seemed to register the touch, finally blinking.

He reached for her other hand, unwinding the leather braid. Kais moved closer, shoving the body of the purple-faced man, sending it off the edge of the bed. He took her fingers in his own, massaging them lightly, urging the blood to flow again.

When she spoke, her voice was a whisper, pitched high with disbelief. “Kais?”

His heart tightened at the sound of his name on her lips. “Princess.”

She lifted one hand and brushed it across the short scruff of his beard. “Are you real?”

He covered the hand with his own, bringing his other palm to her cheek. “I’m real, Princess.”

There was no warning as she dropped her hand and lunged for him, nearly crawling into his lap. Her arms encircled him, and her fingers dug so tightly into his back that it hurt. He welcomed the pain as he pulled her close, pressing her into his chest and burying his face in her neck. She sobbed into his shirt, and he held her, waiting for her to release all the emotion that coiled inside her.

He could feel it as she cried, like a rope pulled taut, slowly slackening. He moved his face to her hair, inhaling her scent, allowing his own heart to slow and breathing to return to normal; to relax at the feel of her in his arms, at the warmth her presence brought.

He’d woken in his tent, cold, filled with terror, knowing she’d been taken by a monster and thinking he was dead. He’d been up and on his way in moments, ignoring the protests of his men, telling him to take it easy. He wasn’t going to waste any time getting to Satori.

He could only guess what she’d been through by the sight that had greeted him when he had entered the room, but he could feel the trauma wound inside her. He wanted to hold her until it was gone, until all she felt was his love.

“How?” The word was muffled in his shirt, but he heard her. He knew what she meant.

How was he there?

He couldn’t stop the slight chuckle. “You know how. You left your blood for me.”

He’d been shot through with arrows. At first, there had been no feeling, then blinding pain, and then nothing. The last thing he remembered was watching that vile man ride away with Satori in his arms as she screamed.

He’d been told that when his men had taken him back to his tent, he was too far gone for any treatment.

Teague had been distraught and angry. He was the most level-headed person Kais had ever known. Something that could send Teague over the edge left no doubt that hope was truly gone. He’d cleared the surface of Kais’ desk with a swipe of his arm, sending everything flying. One item landed at Bram’s feet. A vial of blood.

The men had stared at the item in a daze before Teague pulled himself together and snatched it from the ground, knowing immediately what it was.

They found the note later. “Just in case. Thank Teague for the idea.“ Satori had left him a small vial of her blood.

He had been on the very brink of death; as far as anyone knew, he was dead, and she had saved him. Again. The words of Kezia’s prophecy filtered through his mind, and he nearly laughed. He had died, and he had been brought back by this woman in his arms.

He held her tighter.

“Satori, I love you,” he breathed the words, feeling them deep inside. “My soul loves you. If you’ll have me, I never intend to be parted from you again.”

She slid farther into him, pressing herself as close as she could. “Forever and ever.”

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

SATORI

Her hands rested on the rough stone balcony rail as she closed her eyes and turned her face toward the bright sunshine. In the three months that had passed, the air had grown much warmer, and the soft spring breeze blew through her hair, causing her light dressing gown to billow around her. Far above, flying on each parapet and along the wall, were a hundred small dark cyan and ivory pennants. It felt like a wedding day. She smiled.

“Satori. Satori?”

“I’m out here.”