Instinct had her body tingling a mere breath before his mouth crashed onto her, his tongue demanding entry. She had no resistance, the moment his lips touched her, her body had been set ablaze, no matter that he had just tied her up like a captive.
He drew away, his eyes narrowed. Senses slowly clearing, Katrin finally found her voice.
"Hradi, please, you must listen." She winced at the husk in her words, knowing it revealed more than she preferred. Judging from the glint in his eyes, he recognized it as well.
"I spoke of something with you that I have spoken to no one else about. Ever. You must have been laughing, knowing I had been fooled again."
She shook her head, eyes stinging to hear the hurt in his voice. She had to make him understand. If only she had her hands, to touch him, soothe him.
"Whatever you heard, whatever she said, it isn't true."
He shook his head, eyes closing. She sensed that he wanted to believe her. Was it pride that kept him from listening?
"Hradi, listen to me! Please! My service to Gunilla ends when the summer begins. Why would I agree to wed someone before that, especially knowing the risks?"
"I won't discuss this further."
He dragged her toward the far end of the room, to a bunk tucked in the darkest corner. A peculiar fear took root, confirmed when he pushed her onto the furs, shoving up her dress. His hands roamed her thighs, fingers finding her sex. He stroked her roughly and terror, like ice, seemed to freeze in her veins. A moment later, the fiery burn of agony suffused her. Her heart felt as if it cracked to feel such anger and bitterness directed at her. Until a little while ago, she'd entertained the notion that perhaps when she was free, she might decide to stay with him a little longer. Now, for reasons she still didn't quite understand, he hated her. When all she wanted was for him to love her, as she did… Her thoughts slid to a halt. She loved him. How had that happened? In only a few short days, she had lost her heart to this brave and caring, alluring and dangerous man. Now, he wanted to destroy her. Sobs rose and settled in her throat, making each breath rasp painfully through her. She somehow managed to contain her tears, in the hopes of getting through to him.
"Hradi, please. Don't do this!"
Though he appeared to ignore her, his hands stilled. She took advantage of his hesitation, certain that his anger drove his actions. This was not the man who spent the nights teaching her about dark and carnal pleasure, while abiding her wishes and conditions. The man who playfully trained his horse, earning the animal's, and her, respect and affection. She pressed on.
"I beg you, please! You must believe me, I know nothing about what you saw and heard. Let me tell you what I do know."
He leaned back. The faint flickering light of the fire revealed the indecision lining his expression. Finally, he faced her. Though her view was shadowed, the anguish in his stare somehow roused a relieved acceptance. Now she must assuage his pain and regain his trust. She had no proof of any of Gunilla's wrongdoing, only hunches. And visions. She had to hope they believed the truth of her gift. She had nothing more to offer.
Finally, his gruff voice broke the silence. "You will have one chance to prove that you are not part of Gunilla's plans. If you lie …"
She nodded, her heart racing, both in relief and fear. He hadn't taken her. Hope rooted in her heart. His fearsome anger had been terrifying to face, yet he had not let the urge of cruelty guide him.
While she had no way to dispute what he heard, she must convince him of her complete lack of knowledge of any of Gunilla's plans. If she shared what she had seen about Gunilla's fate, surely they would believe her.
Once again, Hradi grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. Without another glance her way, he headed not toward the great hall as she expected, but to the rear exit and into the back alleys.
She made no protest, though she feared she might be forever lost.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Katrin shivered in the tiny hut tucked behind the maze of small buildings near the outskirts of the village. She wondered how much longer Hradi would leave her here, alone and bound, secured to the chair before the firepit. No flames flickered, the chill in the hut leaving her shivering. She wondered if her wand still lay on the floor of the bunks of the longhouse. Her heart felt as if it had been ripped asunder, and a sense of naked vulnerability suffused her veins.
At the same time, her frustration and anger grew stronger. After his obvious dislike of Gunilla, which he had displayed openly several times over the last days, why did he suddenly believe her and not Katrin? Why did he refuse to listen to her?
The door slammed open. Hradi filled the frame, his fury still palpable. Oddly, fear didn't take over; instead an ache to sense the hurt only she could see twisted her gut, her anger briefly forgotten. At that moment, she wished she did not possess empathic abilities, for feeling Hradi's pain was worse than she had ever imagined possible.
His mouth set in a grim line, he said nothing when he approached, withdrawing a dagger from his belt and slicing the rope securing her to the chair. He did not release the rope binding her wrists.
He moved to stand over her, his broad and powerful height imposing, yet at the same time thrilling. She knew the pleasures of his body and could never pretend they didn't exist. If she was meant to die in the coming hours, so be it. She had experienced pleasure, with Hradi, and for that she would always be grateful.
He ran a finger along her cheek, the touch sizzling despite the fear that he now hated her and was about to send her to her doom.
"Hradi –"
He covered her mouth with his hand, shaking his head. He turned, yanking on the rope keeping her bound. She didn’t resist,allowing him to pull her behind him while he made his way out of the hut and to the longhouse.
The hall fell silent when he banged the doors open. The handful of villagers, as well as servants still gathered all turned to stare. After several heavy seconds of silence, a buzz of whispers soon overtook the entire room. The curious stares left her with a strange sense of vulnerability. Along the far wall, the girls in Gunilla's retinue watched wide-eyed. Where was Gunilla? Why wasn't she here to witness Katrin's humiliation and stand in defense? When Hradi gave another rough tug on the rope, Katrin stiffened and pulled against his hold, concern about Gunilla forgotten. How dare he parade her like this!
He turned to face her but she refused to back down, holding her head high. Whatever might occur in the next few minutes, she took comfort in the fact she had done nothing wrong. Of course, not fully understanding the betrayal Hradi believed she had committed tore at her confidence. If only she knew just what he had heard. Having seen many other innocents executed based on rumor alone, she truly feared she faced her last day here in Midgard. Nonetheless, she would greet her fate with dignity, even though the thought left her stomach rolling, so much so that she feared she would lose her meagerdagmálin front of everyone scrutinizing her.
