My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 341

King Aldric

"She keeps strict hygiene."

Odile nodded along, clearly approving. "The boys are the opposite – rough, never wash. Had to bathe Rennick myself a few days ago. Man was starting to smell like a corpse," she said matter-of-factly.

I raised an eyebrow, looking down at her. "I think they're old enough to fend for themselves now," I suggested.

But Odile refused flat, shaking her head. "Uh uh. Leave them alone for one moment and no one around them makes it out breathing. So no, King Aldric - can't leave them." Her expression was earnest, almost pleading, as she spoke about her brothers. It made me smile, this girl who was so fiercely loyal to her family.

"Such a big sister," I observed, looking down at her.

Then I turned my head slightly, addressing Lyra and Irina both, my voice dropping to a murmur. "Sera's just like that. I genuinely miss her."

I caught the flash of pure, seething hatred that moved across Lyra's face. No matter how Lyra felt about the situation, I genuinely miss Sera.

The moment Odile's eyes settled on Irina, something shifted in the girl. Her gaze grew wider, her smile faltering just slightly. She startled, catching herself, and bowed quickly, her words tumbling out in an easy, careless gesture of respect.

"I'm sorry, forgot my manners again," Odile said, her voice tinged with apology. Then she grinned, her earlier playfulness returning, and spoke to Irina, her words as effortless as the breeze. "For a wolf, you've kept yourself really well. You should be proud of that."

I could see Irina bristle at the words, her gaze narrowing, even as she smiled through it. Odile's remark had hit too close to home, and I knew my wife well enough to recognize the tightening of her lips and the flicker in her eyes. She knew better than to let any true reaction show on her face, but I could see the tension in her shoulders, the sudden stiffness to her posture.

"Where are your parents?" Irina asked abruptly, her tone sharp with an edge I recognised. A misstep. I sighed silently, knowing this ground, and Odile's response came swiftly, her words quiet now, genuine.

Silence settled, causing an awkwardness in the air. Irina caught her misstep.

"I'm sorry if I overstepped; didn't mean—"

She shook her head. "No, it's not that," she said, the ease draining out of her voice. "It's just still hard, that they're gone." A moment's pause. "My parents were killed in a fire when I was fifteen. Rennick and Gero were nine, then. It's just... I miss them."

I could see Odile's face soften as she spoke, the truth in her words a brief, shining thing. Then she caught herself, her gaze sliding away for just a moment before she turned to Lyra, her voice bright once more.

Lyra's gaze widened, and she pulled against her mother's grip, but Irina held tight, staring at Odile as if trying to read her intentions. "What are you doing?" Lyra demanded, her voice rising in pitch and volume. "Mom?"

Odile looked as startled as Lyra, and her gaze darted to me, searching for a response. But I was calm, unperturbed, as I stepped forward, placing a hand on the small of Irina's back.

"I think Lyra can handle herself," I said softly, turning her toward the waiting elders. "Time to prepare to leave. We must return to the castle soon, my dear. We cannot keep our court waiting."

I could feel the fear drop off Irina's face like a curtain falling, and she turned to Lyra with a bright smile. "Have fun, Lyra," she said. "I'll see you when we return."

With a final squeeze to Lyra's arm, Irina let go, turning to follow me. I could sense the relief in her as she moved away and could almost smell the fear still rising off her skin.

"Come on, then," Odile said to Lyra, her voice warm and inviting. She tugged my daughter forward. "Let's hurry before they walk that horse back into its pen."

I watched as Lyra moved after her, Odile leading her away with a grin. Then I turned, my hand still at Irina's back, and guided my wife toward the waiting rides.

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