Page 11 of Blood and Fate

CHAPTER FIVE

SATORI

“Good morning, Your Highness!”

Satori groaned as she pulled the pillow from beneath her and slammed it down on top of her head. Morning came far too early, especially when she had been up half the night trying to calm her panic.

“Go away.”

“I’m afraid I can’t.” Tessa threw open another curtain, allowing more of the offensive sunshine into the room. “Your father is asking for you.”

Satori groaned again. Her father wanted to discuss suitors. Again. She did not want to discuss suitors, especially not after the previous night. Would he be there? Watching her as her father planned her future? Or worse, had he already been there and convinced her father that he would be the best choice for her? Her stomach turned as something attempted to crawl up her throat. She pulled in a long breath, swallowing it, pressing the panic down along with it. She absolutely hated how Henrik made her feel. How helpless he made her seem to herself.

“Satori?”

“Yes.” She threw the pillow onto the bed and sat up.

Might as well get it over with. It would happen eventually, whether she was late or not. She stood and heaved a sigh.

“Blue or yellow?” Tessa stood in front of her, a dress draped over each arm.

Which dress did she want to wear when her father told her she had to marry Henrik?

“Don’t you have a black option?”

Tessa’s shoulders dropped, and her head tilted to the side. “No.”

Satori reached out and snatched the blue dress, tossing it on the bed before she pulled her nightgown over her head. She slipped the dress on and allowed Tessa to help lace a light brown corset over top of it.

“Don’t I get breakfast?” Satori glanced at the small table that sat empty in her room.

“Your father said he’ll have fruit while you speak.” Tessa tied off the last of the laces. “And after, if you’re interested, some of us are going riding.”

A few hoursoutside, enjoying nature, far from the castle walls and those who inhabited them? Sounded like bliss.

She met Tessa’s eyes. “Don’t leave without me or I’ll have you flogged.”

Tessa’s mouth broke into a grin. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Your Highness.”

Satori’s lip curled. “Let’s get this over with.”

She stopped outside her father’s door, hand outstretched toward the latch. Was Henrik in there? Her stomach churned at the possibility, and she hated him for it. Hated him with everything in her for making her feel this way.

She couldn’t stand there all day. She took the latch in her hand and pulled the door open. She did a quick scan of the room and found only her father standing behind his desk, studying some parchment strewn across its wooden surface.

“Good morning, Father.”

The King looked up. “Ah, Satori. Good morning, dear.” He gestured toward the seat on the opposite side of the desk. “Sit, sit. I ordered fruit.”

Relieved to be alone with him, she moved to a chair in front of the desk and sat. “Is everything alright? Tessa said you were looking for me.”

Her father lowered himself into the large chair behind him and waved a hand toward the parchment. “It’s another offer of marriage.”

She straightened, casting her eyes anywhere but at that cursed letter.

“Oh, Satori, why don’t you just accept one of them? Or, better still, just marry Henrik.” Alarm filled her as her gaze shot to his, and in his eyes was a concerned confusion. “He’s here, he’s willing, you know him.”

Which is exactly the problem. She shook her head slowly at first, and then harder. “I can’t.”