My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 358

Sera

"I know you're not listening," Mina said.

But before I could respond to that, we ran into someone rounding a turn in the stone corridor.

Taya.

She stood there, alone, blocking our path. There was no one else in sight this early. The corridor stretched far behind her, empty and dim, the only sound the distant clank of the keep's kitchens.

She inclined her head to me with exaggerated politeness and said, "Luna." The word was too formal, too careful. It certainly cost her something to say.

I stopped because I had to, not because I wanted to. I was too tired to want this conversation.

"Taya," I responded flatly.

Taya turned most of her attention to Mina. Her voice was polite, but I knew her too well. There was a tension in her jaw, in the tight line of her shoulders, that said this was no accident.

"Oh, you look good," Taya said to Mina, a false sweetness in her voice that made me more nauseous than I already was. "When's the last time you slept? It's been a while since I saw this light."

I felt Mina bristle beside me. “A week ago," she said, her voice flat.

Taya's eyebrows shot up. "Oh?" she said, like Mina had offered her some kind of prize. "It must be so hard with your little boyfriend gone, huh?" She paused, letting the words hang there. "I wonder how many of us will even get a goodbye, if something happens to him out there."

She said it without looking at me, her eyes fixed on Mina, but I heard the edge in her voice. A double-edged sword also aimed at me, a knife-thrust aimed past my shoulder, and it hit.

Mina's growl was low and furious. "I thought we had an understanding," she hissed, stepping forward. "I thought you were supposed to leave her the fuck alone."

Taya's eyes flashed. "Oh, you want to go another round for her sake, little omega?"

I caught Mina's arm. "Not today," I said. "I need you in the kitchen." I turned to Taya. "I'm not doing this with you," I said, my voice as flat as Mina's had been. "I have no patience for your shit. Don't block my path again. That's a warning."

Taya's smile tightened, but she did step aside. As I brushed past her, she said softly,

"Oh, this isn't over. I'm not finished with you."

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