CHAPTER FOURTEEN #2
"You lied to me. After I told you how I vowed never to be betrayed again, you knew. You came willingly to me because you wanted to learn our weaknesses. But your crimes have been discovered."
For a seemingly endless moment, Katrin believed he had gone mad. Searching his dark gaze, flaring with rage, she realized he truly believed she had committed a crime. What?
She swallowed and willed herself into calmness.
Without her wand, she felt oddly adrift, her senses unsteady and not recognizing the elements she needed from which to draw strength.
Though he didn't hold her as tightly as before, he still held her captive, but his embrace was far from welcoming.
Still, warmth spread through her, despite the impossible situation. She lifted her chin.
"Hradi, you must explain. I truly don't know what you speak of."
"Your mistress has an army that is about to attack Grindafell. Did you mock us when you saw my father in battle?"
Katrin's response died on her tongue. Gunilla had an army?
How was that possible? Only Katrin and the girls, along with various servants or slaves, such as those who had steered their most recently acquired boat, were the only people Gunilla had any control over.
Surely if she had been amassing an army, which seemed ridiculous, Katrin would have known.
A strange panic rushed through her, leaving her knees weak and threatening to collapse.
"There is no army. Gunilla does not have the ability –"
"I heard her myself. Along with the one you have been promised to."
Her mouth fell open. She shook her head. Had she heard him correctly? What had he heard, for surely he misunderstood. Where was Gunilla? Sweat beaded on her brow, her stomach sinking as if she had eaten stones.
"I am promised to no one!"
He squeezed her tight again. "Do not lie to me. I saw him. On the morning after next, you will be wed and on a boat away from here."
She shook her head. "No! You're mistaken! That's impossible!"
"Well, that is now true, for you won't be going anywhere.
I am keeping you." He drew away, still holding her wrists in one hand.
The room seemed to spin about her, but angry fear chased the lure of darkness when she spotted the rope in Hradi's free hand.
She tugged and tried to back away, but had no leverage to succeed before he turned her.
A moment later, the rope wrapped around her wrists.
Once more, he turned her, this time to face him.
She had barely a moment to recognize the fury in his gaze, before he caught her chin and pulled her closer.
With her arms behind her, she had no way to resist. He studied her, the anger in his eyes now flickering with something just as hot.
Lust. His chest heaved with each breath and her jaw burned where he held her.
She needed to try and convince him he had misheard, or that Gunilla was lying, but no words formed.
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.