My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 364

Fenris

"...and may the gods of war have mercy on his soul."

I smirked. The gods didn't give a damn for anyone's soul.

The two of them were back up, circling each other, hands up, snarling like dogs. Ossian came at him with a wild swing, and Fenn caught the arm and yanked it down, trying to flip the bigger man onto his back.

Ossian caught himself, and the two of them were tangled together, fighting for grip.

I watched them, half amused, while Jace stared like a man seeing a wild bear for the first time. His eyes were wide, and I could smell his heartbeat. I wasn't sure whether it was fear or excitement. He didn't know this kind of fight was good for the pack.

The crowd had formed a full circle now, a dozen men on each side, all shouting, and the two fighters in the center. The fire crackled and spat, and I could smell the roasting meat, the smell of the forest and the pine trees and the fresh air.

I could smell Jace, a strange scent for these woods, like smoke and citrus and salt.

The two fighters had fallen again, wrestling in the dirt, trying to pin each other. Fenn was smaller and faster, but Ossian was stronger. I'd seen them both fight, and Ossian could break a man's back if he caught him right.

Suddenly Fenn had him, catching his arm and twisting it up behind his back. Ossian struggled against the hold, snarling, trying to shake free, but Fenn held tight, his legs locked around Ossian's waist. "Yield!" Fenn growled, and Ossian let out a choked cry.

The crowd roared, I could hear the silver pieces being collected. Ossian struggled to his feet, shaking off the dirt, and spat a wad of blood. He grinned at Fenn and clapped him on the back, hard enough to make him stagger, and laughed. "You got me," he said, and Fenn grinned back, a red stripe down his chin.

The winner was hauled up on his packmates' shoulders, and the liver was declared settled. Fenn had earned it, and he had earned a small pile of silver besides. It was a good thing the deer had been a big one.

I watched Jace watch them. He was breathing harder than he needed to, and I could hear his pulse hammering.

"You all right?" I said quietly, and he turned his head to look at me. For a moment our eyes met, and I could see him wondering what I'd seen. Then he shook it off.

"Fine," he said, but his voice was tight. He turned back to watch the fighters. "Is this how you settle everything?" he asked.

"Sometimes," I said.

"No," Jace said stubbornly. "I can handle it. Fuck all of you."

The skin continued its circle, and the men began to eat. Meat had come off the fire, and they tore at it with their hands, unrefined. I ate the same way, unselfconscious, at home in it.

"Ossian," Yvara said quietly, "you have night watch with Fenn and Jace. Let them eat."

Ossian gave a two-fingered salute. "Aye, aye, commander." But I noticed he made sure Jace's portion was double-sized, and laughed outright as the Southerner choked on a charred rib.

Yvara raised an eyebrow at him, and Ossian just winked.

I felt her eyes on me. "Fenris?" she said, and I shook my head. I'd had enough of the drink for the night.

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