CHAPTER TEN
Hradi woke with a jolt. The soft glow of the lamp told him it was still dark.
Another dream. He didn't remember, but based on the anger and betrayal lingering in his sleep-clouded thoughts, he knew who he had dreamt about. Oddly, this time, no remorse or guilt mingled with the anger, as it usually did.
He glanced at Katrin, curled against him, one arm slung across his chest. The feel of her breasts, shifting with each of her breaths, burned against him.
His cock stirred and he wished to wake her, but didn't. His attempt to block the recollection of her soft lips and hands stroking him failed.
He stifled a groan and forced his thoughts back to the dream.
Why had he dreamt of Dota now? Tonight? Was Katrin somehow the key to his redemption for his part in Dota's death?
He rubbed his hand over his face, but the confusion remained.
He'd thought of his former slave in passing the last few days, but to dream of her while he had Katrin in his bed, in his arms, seemed somehow wrong.
"What troubles you?"
Katrin's soft whisper cut through the dark thoughts rioting in his head. He glanced down to find her staring at him with sleepy eyes. The sight made him hard.
"I…" He didn't know what to say. Telling her he had a troubling dream seemed somehow weak, yet the urge to share the tale with her grew stronger. He heaved a deep breath. "I had a strange dream."
"What was it about?" She shifted, folding her hands on his chest and resting her chin upon them.
He hesitated. "I don't remember it."
"Perhaps I can help."
"What do you mean?"
She sat up and he felt suddenly cold without her body against his. The chill passed when she reached out for his hands.
"Tell me what you do remember. I might be able to help you recall the rest."
He shifted his hands so he enclosed her fingers in his grip. "I don't remember anything. I just feel… angry."
She stared into his eyes. "It was about a woman."
He nodded. That was the only thing he was certain about.
"She is dead?"
He nodded again. Uneasiness crept along his spine, not sure if he liked the way she could read so much into his few words.
She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. He found himself staring at the rosy tips of her breasts, somehow resisting the urge to reach out and tease her nipples into hardness.
Surely the strength to hold back must have come from the gods themselves.
When she opened her eyes once more, he read the curiosity there. "Tell me about her."
His growing desire now halted, he heaved another deep breath. "She was a … slave."
"Yours?"
"Yes. Though I had planned to free her, perhaps even take her as wife."
He noted the odd gleam creeping into Katrin's eyes. He held back a smile. "Are you jealous, Little Witch?"
She shook her head. "No. But if you had wed her, I suppose I would not be here with you now."
"You are right about that."
"She died before you could free her?"
"No, I decided not to free her and sold her to someone else."
"Why?" Katrin's eyes had grown wide and frightened.
"She betrayed me, and my clan."
Several moments of heavy silence passed before Katrin spoke.
"Tell me."
"It is a long tale."
"We have several hours before Sól rises in the sky."
"Nosy little witch, aren't you?" He softened his words with an affectionate smile.
"Perhaps. But it might do you well to share it with me."
He nodded. "Very well. Dota was a slave. We took her in a raid led by my brother. She was part of the spoils."
A brief pause calmed the familiar turmoil accompanied by thoughts of the slave. "I didn't take her, another did. He treated her terribly. Geira, my brother's slave, was her friend and put herself in danger to protect her."
"Geira? Your brother's wife?"
Hradi twined his fingers with hers, noting the way her touch soothed his agitation. "Yes. But that is a tale for another time."
"Tell me more of Dota."
"She almost died from being beaten. My father gave her to me in an attempt to save her life. And for a time, she seemed grateful."
"Did you love her?"
He shrugged, his gaze darting away from hers. He wasn't sure he had ever loved Dota, but she had been an obedient slave who had pleased him well in bed.
"I thought at one time, I may have. But she betrayed us all when Geira's first husband, who we all thought was dead, came for her." His jaw clenched, recalling the day Geira's family had sailed into Grindafell.
"There was a battle?"
"Not really, no. Kori killed the husband.
Dota… she revealed the truth of her betrayal just before, swearing her loyalty to our enemy.
Even after all Geira had done to protect her, she blamed Geira.
She even threatened us all. I… was furious.
Her actions disgusted me and I gave her back to to the one who originally stole her.
He beat her to death several months later. "
More silence enveloped them. He caught Katrin's gaze once more, finding compassion and sadness in her wide blue eyes.
"You feel responsible. Your dreams are where the gods make you see the truth of your feelings."
He searched her face, looking for any hint that she might be mocking him. But all he found was understanding.
"Feelings are for the weak. There is no time to consider feelings when facing your enemy in battle, hoping to find yourself in Valhalla when it is over. Feelings will only earn you the gods' contempt and mockery."
She shook her head, the flame-colored locks flowing around her head like an exotic cloud. He wanted to bury his face in the silky strands. He willed his cock to calm.
"If you did not have feelings, you would not fight for what you believe, or to protect those you love."
He narrowed his eyes. What did she mean? He demanded she explain.
"Do you not love your father, your brother?"
"Of course, but – "
"Do you not always wish to protect them, and your clan?"
"Yes, but – "
"Those are feelings, Hradi. And there is no shame in having them."
"I know, but – "
"Let me ask you this. Your anger at Dota comes from your wanting to protect your family. Your disgust comes from the truth that she was not an honorable woman. But your hurt? I think that comes more from you not seeing the truth about her. You are angry with yourself."
Hradi shook his head, vigorously. He'd done nothing to betray his clan. He had been the one betrayed. He jerked his hands from her and shoved back the furs. Her immediate scramble away made him still. Wariness filled her stare.
"You will not leave," he ordered.
Something about the way she gnawed on her lower lip made him wonder if she laughed at him, rather than fearing him.
"I am not leaving, although I may sleep better if I did so in the next room."
He reached for her, catching her arm before she evaded him. Pulling her close, he noted the mirth in her gaze.
"You mock me," he accused.
She shook her head, lowering it, but not before he saw the smile upon her lips. She kept her head down when she spoke.
"Every one of us has made mistakes in our lives. Some of them are simple. Meaningless. Some are more important. But you did not choose to ignore Dota's false acceptance. It was not a mistake. She succeeded in hiding her own truth, and not just from you. She tricked you."
Katrin finally lifted her head and met his gaze. "Blame her for her death. Not yourself."
"You don't know all of it. You were not there."
"No, but perhaps that is why I understand."
"Understand what?"
"There is no shame in being tricked."
"I should have known! Seen her for what she truly was. I will never be betrayed in such a way again!"
Katrin laid her hand on his once more and the surging anger faded.
At the same time, he realized she was right.
His anger was directed at himself for not seeing the truth about Dota.
He squeezed his eyes shut, but confusion no longer muddied his thoughts.
He knew clearly now that he had done nothing wrong in trusting Dota.
She had brought her death upon herself and nothing Hradi might have done would have changed that.
He met Katrin's stare. How did she understand him so well, understand Dota's behavior? She was truly a Seeress. Any lingering doubt melted away.
"You are a witch."
A brief nod accompanied her half-smile. "It is a gift."
"You are a temptress as well!"
"Me? How have I tempted you?"
He let his gaze roam her bare body, smiling at the blush creeping up her chest and neck, and into her face.
"Just by being you."
Her eyes widened, her mouth forming a surprised O. Before she had a chance to speak, he claimed her mouth with his and pushed her back to the furs. He could wait no longer. Leaning back, he brushed a a fiery curl off her cheek.
"Let me teach you more about the various ways to find pleasure."