Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Returning to the chamber, I shut the door and pressed my back against it. Uneven breaths escaped my lips, and I could feel my heart pounding. I placed a hand on my chest, trying to calm myself.

He kissed me. Erik kissed me.

I rubbed my fingers over my lips, and the memory of Erik's touch flooded my mind. Slowly, I walked toward the mirror, and when I saw my reflection, my cheeks were burning red. I brushed my hair aside to examine the wound.

My brows furrowed as I searched for it—but it wasn't there. Where was it?

I was certain I had felt pain when Erik dabbed the towel against the wound. But now, it was completely gone. Had he applied some kind of magical ointment that healed it?

If he had, I would have seen him do it.

I looked at the blue-eyed girl staring back at me. Having seen twenty summers, I had grown into a beautiful woman. I had a slender body with porcelain skin, long, light blonde hair, and lips the color of strawberries.

The sound of footsteps caught my attention, and I slowly turned my head to see the door open. Erik stood at the entrance.

"Where is Knut?" I asked, swallowing softly. How had he found me here?

"At the gallery."

"I think you should go meet him since you promised to speak with him later."

"I know," he said, scanning the chamber before his gaze returned to me.

Minutes passed as we stared at each other, and I could feel my blood turn cold.

"Do you need something?"

His eyes traveled to my forehead. "Does it still hurt?"

"The wound… It's gone," I breathed in shock. "How did it happen?"

"Ah, the wound. It's healed," he said. "Does it frighten you?"

"It wasn't supposed to heal this fast."

"Perhaps the gods favor you," he said, stalking toward me.

I instinctively stepped back, only to collide with the wall. Erik stood in front of me, reaching out to touch my face, but I quickly turned away.

"Jarl Erik—"

"Not Jarl," he murmured. "You ran away from the room before I was finished with you."

"I—" I tried to speak, but the words caught in my throat.

He brushed his fingers over my lips, sending a shiver down my spine. Goosebumps rose on my skin. He leaned in closer when, suddenly, a knock at the door made me push him away.

"W-what are you doing?!" I stammered, holding my lips where he had touched them with his gloved fingers.

He took a step back. "The full moon celebration will begin tomorrow afternoon and last until midnight. For three days."

"Is that why you came here?"

"Aye, to remind you."

"Why would you need to remind me of that?"

"Because I know you can be stubborn and step out of the house," he said. "The celebration is dangerous for someone like you."

"How dangerous?"

"Other tribes will attend," he replied. "There will be killing… and other things I do not want you to see."

Before I could respond, another knock sounded, followed by Aslaug's voice.

"Freydis, are you there?"

Had he locked the door?

My eyes widened at the thought of Aslaug finding us here. I started toward the door, but before I could reach it, Erik had already opened it.

Aslaug's eyes widened, but she quickly bowed her head.

"Jarl Erik," she greeted.

He turned to me. "I will be taking my leave now."

As the door closed behind him, I turned to Aslaug, who was watching me closely.

"You're shaken," she said. "What happened?"

"Nothing," I answered quickly.

"He was in here alone with you, and the door was locked. That is not 'nothing,'" she said.

I turned away, trying to hide the blush creeping onto my cheeks at the memory of his kiss. I walked toward the mirror.

"He kissed you, didn't he?" she asked.

"What?" I snapped my head toward Aslaug.

"I can see it on your face," she replied.

"He only came to remind me of the full moon celebration."

"And he decided to come here himself?"

"Why are you asking me so many questions?"

"Because I care for you," she said. "Whatever is going on between you and Erik will not work. He is a Jarl, and you are…"

"A thrall," I finished for her. "I know. And there is nothing going on between us."

"I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to speak to you that way."

I turned away from her. "He said the celebration would be dangerous."

"It always is. The men fight each other to death for entertainment."

"They fight to death for entertainment?"

"Aye." She nodded. "They say the blood spilled that day is an offering to the moon goddess. The strongest challenge the leader to lead the clan, while the weak hide themselves."

My stomach twisted. How could fighting be considered entertainment? And what was this strange way of worshiping the goddess? Yes, my people served her, but nothing like this.

"What about the women?" I asked.

"The women fight alongside their mates, but most are used for pleasure. The mating ritual begins, and once the moon goddess blesses them with one, the women are taken—with or without their consent."

I exhaled sharply, not wanting to think about it.

"What about the Jarl? What does he do about it?"

"There is nothing he can do about it. This is the tradition of the North that was passed down since many years."

"He won't be the only Jarl attending," she said. "There will be others. Those who seek revenge often wait until the full moon to strike. It's not just a celebration. It's a night of bloodshed."