Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Shock rushed through my whole body.

"I'm not sure what you are trying to do," he murmured, "but I can assure you it would end very badly for you."

My heart started to beat fast, and I tried to pull away from his grasp. Who was he?

His hold around my waist and arms only made it harder for me to leave. And for some odd reason, I felt my powers retracting back.

I attempted to kick him from behind, but that was unsuccessful. Panic gripped me, and I wondered how things were going to end for me. The sensation of his hand around my waist was nearly overwhelming.

"And stop trying to fight back because it also won't end well for you…"

With his hands still around me, I tried to control my breathing. The man was strong, able to hold me down even with my powers.

His chest was hard, and I could feel his thick muscles against my back. It brought warmth to my skin.

"On second thought," he murmured, his breath falling on my skin. His voice was thick and deep. "I am very interested in seeing what you were about to do."

My eyes widened as I slowly began to realize what could happen if he found out about my powers. Was he going to report me to Erik?

"Let go of me," I said, kicking him from behind. He grunted, a chuckle following after.

He pulled me closer with little force, and I felt every inch of his hard body.

"You stubborn little thing."

I frowned.

"You ought to be grateful that I saved your life," he continued.

Grateful? Saved my life?

Air became very tight in my throat. I made an attempt to kick him again, but he was holding me too tight.

"They would've killed you before you even thought of doing anything with that little brain of yours," he continued.

My hands curled into fists, and I ground my teeth. His body stiffened.

"Is she the one?" a voice spoke up from outside the willow tree, and I saw the two men still standing near the bodies.

"No," the first man shook his head. "Not at all."

"Then who is she?"

"She is nothing. Not part of the prophecy," the first man said.

The second man ran his fingers through his hair. "The priestess said we would feel the bond from her once we were close."

"We must be close then because I can feel it."

There was a beat of silence, and then the first man spoke. "Bo, you must know what to do with the bodies."

"Aye."

I wasn't familiar with these men, and I had no idea what tribe they were from.

"If I let you go, do you promise you won't do anything like escaping?"

I nodded. Trying to run would only draw those men's attention, and only the gods knew what they would do to me if I was caught.

His hands were still on me. "I have a feeling you are not going to do exactly as I said."

"I am not going to run."

He hesitated before slowly taking his hands from me. I dragged in a long breath and took a step away from him.

He stared at me, and in the darkness, I could only see glimpses of his features. His features were sharp, and the scent of rosemary around him wouldn't leave my nostrils.

"You were planning to do something to those men," he muttered. "Why?"

That was a good question, and it was only now that I began to realize the penalty of what I was about to do. I was nothing but a thrall. "They killed two maids."

He was quiet for a moment. "You are a thrall, aren't you?"

I was silent.

"What tribe are you from?"

"If you think I'm from the North, then you're wrong," I said.

"The death of those thralls should not be your concern," he said.

"It should be the concern of everyone. They had lives."

"But it is not," he said. "You know what those men are, don't you?"

I turned my head to see that the men had left. But the bodies were still there.

I returned my head to the strange man. "Are you going to let me go now?"

He looked at me straight. "What do you think?"

I frowned. Why should I be taking permission from him to leave?

I quickly moved from the willow tree, and my eyes widened as I came face to face with Knut.

"By the gods," I whispered, placing a hand on my chest. "You almost gave me a heart attack."

He stared at me for a long time and then slowly turned to look behind me. My eyes followed to see the strange man now standing there.

"What are you doing here?" Knut asked. His jaw was clenched tight.

"Never mind, we should return to the house now."

"I wasn't done with the girl yet."

Knut frowned and began walking towards the man.

"Knut?"

"Freydis, get back to the house now. I'm behind you."

"Freydis," the man said, testing my name in his mouth.

"What did you do to her?" Knut asked, closing the distance between them.

"Here we are, back in the same spot where we parted ways last time," the man said, and he was grinning.

"Sigvarr, I would cut you down from where you stand."

"We both know how things would end if you try," the man said. "I am only curious about this thrall."

"She is no concern of yours," Knut said. "Now leave."

They stared at each other, and neither of them looked away. I stood there in silence, and it almost felt like it wasn't going to end. Until Knut stepped backward. Then he took another step.

Sigvarr smirked, and I shot him a hard glare. He said nothing as Knut grabbed my arm and began walking away. I followed him, having only taken a couple of steps before I turned around. The place where Sigvarr had been standing was now empty.