Page 163 of Whisper of Nightmares

Afraid to do or say the wrong thing.

If Dagfinn doesn’t recognize her or feel the same way…she doesn’t know what she’ll do.

She waits for a smirk or any sign of recognition, but he just stares at her wide-eyed, like he’s seen a ghost.

Finally, he speaks. “I worried I hallucinated you.”

The breath whooshes from Euphemia’s lungs.

She squeezes his hand tighter, leaning closer. “I worried the same.”

His fingers tighten around hers, pulling her closer. And though Euphemia knows he did not use enough strength to bring her all the way down atop him, she folds forward, pressing her lips upon his.

Beside them, Kelda gasps, but Euphemia hardly notices.

Dagfinn’s mouth upon hers is warm. He tastes of moss and dirt, but she does not care. She lets him steal the air from her lungs as his hand comes behind her head and presses her nearer. Holding her firmly. As if he is worried she will disappear.

There is no disappearing this time though.

He is here.

And she will not let him leave again.

As they pull apart, Kelda’s voice is quiet. “You were telling the truth then. All of it?”

Embarrassment creeps into Euphemia’s chest. She starts to pull away to be more modest, but Dagfinn holds her close.

“She was,” he tells his mother.

Kelda’s head bows with shame. “Then I owe you the greatest apology ever, Euphemia.”

Euphemia shakes her head. “It’s alright. I don’t blame you. I’m not sure I would’ve believed someone if they had told me the same thing.”

The four of them stay like that for a while, sitting around Dagfinn’s bed and soaking in each other’s company. Kelda smacks him upside the head only once, and tells him that if he ever does something like this again, she’ll kill him herself. And though most adult children might roll their eyes at such parental ferocity, Dagfinn’s eyes only glitter with gratitude.

The conversation veers through all sorts of topics. Dagfinn asks about the war, about famine and disease. He asks after Asvald’s family, eager to hear everyone remains in good health.

In time, Kelda tells him about some of the harder things that have happened in his absence. She tells him of Maryam’s cooperage burning. Of Percival’s coercive attempt to get Kelda to marry him. And about the threat to their lands.

It reminds Euphemia she’s still holding onto the deed.

She pulls it from her breast now, handing it to Dagfinn.

“What is that?” Kelda asks as he unfolds it.

“This is the original deed to Thorfell Manor. The one Old Man Reynar signed. The one Euphemia found buried in the garden.” Dagfinn hands Kelda the deed and stares at her with hurt piercing through him. “Did you know about this?”

She takes the deed, sounding incredulous. “Why would I know about this?”

Dagfinn glances at Euphemia, uncertainty in his eyes. “Because it was father who buried it.”

Kelda’s eyes snap to his. “Otho did?”

Dagfinn nods.

For a moment, Kelda just shakes her head. “Why would he do that?”

Dagfinn tells her then about finding Otho in the dreams, how he confessed to burying the deed at Percival’s behest, and how he had helped Otho forge a new one to help keep Thorfell Manor protected.