Page 12 of Blood and Fate

“Satori,” her father chided her as though she’d stolen the last cookie, not as though she was refusing a man’s—a monster’s, really— hand in marriage.

She looked again at the letter on the desktop before she reached across the surface and snatched it up. “Give me the rest. I’ll make a decision.”

For a moment he just watched her, and then he moved back behind his desk, locating the other letters from suitors. He handed them to her, and she nearly ripped them from his grasp.

“Henrik, Satori. Marry Henrik. Marry someone you know.”

No, she would never marry him because she knew him. Not ever. Not under any circumstances. She would have to be dead. She couldn’t be in the room any longer, the walls were beginning to close in, and the longer she sat there the more chances there were for Henrik to walk in. She stood.

“If that’s all, Father.” She worked a smile onto her face. “One of the kitchen servants told me that there are kittens downstairs, and I would so love to see them.”

It was a lie. Well, there were kittens, but she wasn’t going to see them. Tessa’s offer to join their ridewas at the forefront of her mind, but she wasn’t sure her father would approve of her spending the day with the servants.

He released a soft sigh, leaning back in his chair. “Go see your kittens.”

“Thank you, Father.”

She had made it all the way to the door and had it open before he called out, “Satori?”

She turned to look over her shoulder at him.

“Please reconsider Henrik.”

Just his name alone made her skin crawl.

“Have a good day, Father.” She swept from the room, pulling the door closed behind her.

She started toward her room to change but paused, glancing down at her dress. The skirts were thin and extra full. She would have no problem riding a horse and saw no need to change. Instead, she turned and headed toward the kitchens and the servant’s entrance.

Smiling servants greeted her as she passed by them. Many people had left after the ball the previous night, but a number had stayed and would still be staying for some time, so the kitchens were far busier than normal.

With no desire to be in the way, she swiftly found the exit, pausing to snatch some sugar cubes from a large ceramic canister. She pushed open the door and was greeted with bright sunshine, blue sky, and a warm breeze. The scent of chrysanthemums hung in the air, emanating from the various multicolored bushes that grew around the castle. Even well into the autumn the flowers still bloomed in gorgeous rainbows around the grounds along with some of the roses from Covington. It was one of her favorite things about her home. She closed her eyes and turned her face toward the sunshine, pulling in a deep breath.

Loud laughter came from the direction of the stables. Immediately she could pick out Tessa’s musical laugh and Dimitri’s answering voice. Satori smiled. A few hours with no worries, only the company of those around her age who knew when to address her as the Princess and when to allow her to be one of them. She picked up her pace, eager to reach the stables.

“Satori!” Tessa called out when she saw her. “We have your horse ready. Though, Dimitri thinks it’s having a bad day.”

Satori came to a stop beside them, addressing Dimitri. “How can you tell if a horse is having a bad day?”

“That sounds like the start of a joke.” Clinton, another servant, approached, leading Satori’s horse.

Pepper was a dappled grey mare who lived for sugar cubes. She could be moody, but if you had treats, she warmed to you immediately.

Satori held out her hand, and the horse dug in greedily. “She looks to be in a fine mood to me.”

“Well, of course.” Dimitri waved a hand toward her. “You have sugar. I’m telling you, she tried to eat my head.”

Satori pressed her face against the horse’s soft cheek. “She would never.”

As if in agreement, the horse gave a soft whinny.

Dimitri stepped up to the horse, a look of betrayal playing on his features. “Are you calling me a liar?”

Satori glanced at Tessa who was giggling again in her musical way. She took the reins from Clinton who disappeared back into the stables to collect his own horse. He emerged with two other female servants behind him.

“Ready?”

Satori mounted Pepper, her full skirt flowing up and over the horse easily with plenty of room to spare. “I am.”