Still holding Dream Man's stare, she stood. She took a moment to contemplate Gunilla. Something about the worry in the older witch's expression again touched on the uneasiness that had been building these last few months. She faced Hradi once more.
"Thank you. I gratefully accept your offer."
"No! You cannot! Girl, you have no right to make this choice! Not while you serve me!"
Gunilla's fingernails felt like steel blades cutting into her skin. She faced her mistress. Leaning close, she whispered in the older woman's ear.
"He holds great power, even as the second son of the jarl. I will explain when I gather my belongings."
With her free hand, she loosened the woman's grip. Understanding crept into Gunilla's steely eyes. Katrin held back another smile. Perhaps she could fool them both and gain her freedom, sooner than planned. How had that devious thought arisen? When Gunilla's hold eased further, Katrin once more met Dream Man's gaze. Hradi. She must remember his name. He was no longer just a dream. Now he was real.
His lips quirked and for a moment, a sharp image from her first vision seared into her thoughts. His lips. On hers. And everywhere else. She sucked in a deep breath, taking control of the scattered reflections. Gunilla might use Katrin's gifts to her own advantage, but over the years, Katrin had learned not to reveal all she had seen. Whatever instincts had driven her to keep certainportions of her vision concealed spurred the urge to learn what those portions meant. Her future depended on it.
"There are conditions."
The deep pronouncement cut into her thoughts. When his meaning sank in, she accepted that she'd expected as much. Did her gift give her the ability to read his thoughts as if they were her own? Or was he simply bargaining? She held back her smile. Knowing what was to come gave her an advantage. And in using that advantage, not only could she protect the others in her peculiar family, she would finally be able to carve her own future, beholden to none. The wish she'd not fully recognized in her childhood bloomed now, reminding her how dearly she wanted to be truly free and answerable only to herself. Now the chance to actually do so, even before her time of servitude was over, lay firmly in her hands. No one else's. She glanced toward Gunilla. The older woman's face remained lined with anger and worry. Returning her attention to Hradi, she smiled.
"As I have my own."
Hradi leaned back, his smile widening. "And what might those be?"
Those gathered around them fell silent, apparently straining to hear over the sounds of the ongoing celebration. Katrin held Hradi's dark stare, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling of so many curious eyes upon her.
"While I will accept the use of your bed, I will decide when, and if, I willshareit."
He let loose a sharp laugh and stood. Freyja's blood, he was tall. Resting his hands on the table, he leaned over.
"You would expect me to find somewhere else to sleep?"
She lifted her chin. "Yes."
"You are bold." He grinned. "I like that. But I will not be turned away."
"How can I give proper thanks if I don't know if your bed is restful?"
Shouts of laughter echoed around her, but she ignored them. Hradi chuckled as well. Her heart seemed to pause while she waited for his answer.
"Very well. I will give you one night. In the morning, I have no doubt you will be willing to properly thank me."
More laughter, accompanied by several lewd suggestions for her to thank Hradi left heat flaring in her cheeks. Once more, Gunilla's hand clamped on her arm.
"You cannot! You know what will happen!"
Judging from the narrowing of his eyes, Hradi had also heard Gunilla's whisper. However, he said nothing in acknowledgment, merely returned his expectant stare to Katrin.
"Do you agree? One night?"
She hesitated, her decision already made, but wanting him to think she still considered the choice. After several moments, she nodded. His demeanor softened, as if he had worried she might decide against him.
"I must speak with Gunilla first and gather my belongings."
"Of course. When you are ready, I will show you the way." He resumed his seat, his gaze never leaving hers.
Katrin turned to her mentor. "Come, let us have some privacy."
She made her way toward the doors, holding her head high as she strode through the gathered clan. She'd barely gotten two steps outside when the older woman grabbed her arm, spinning her about.
"Are you mad? You know what will happen if you lay with him!"
