My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 373

Taya

Rurik stared at me, unmoving, the water around him still. He seemed frozen, unsure whether to believe me or not. Finally, he spoke, his voice shaking.

"You're joking. Please tell me you're joking."

I said nothing, holding his gaze steadily. The smug little smile from my laugh still lingered on my lips.

Rurik heaved himself out of the tub, water streaming off his naked body. He grabbed a length of linen from the ledge, wrapping it hastily around his waist as he moved.

"There has to be a way out of this," he said urgently, striding to me. "You can't actually go through with it."

"There isn't a way out," I replied flatly, not looking away. "I said it in front of the whole pack. In front of her. Backing out now would be worse than the fight itself."

He kept pacing, still damp, as he tried to argue me out of it. "Say you misspoke. Say you were still shaken from the fight with her, not thinking straight."

I shook my head. "That's worse. That makes me look weak on top of it."

Rurik stopped, staring at me, his jaw working. He was out of arguments, his mind racing for some other way. But I knew there was no other way. I'd said it too loudly, in front of too many.

I watched him struggle, a part of me relishing the sight.

"I challenged her to a duel," I repeated calmly. "And she accepted."

Still, he stared at me, a last desperate attempt to make me take it back. I kept my expression impassive, my eyes level on his.

"My father could talk to the council. Maybe there's a way to have it postponed or called off."

Something in me went cold and tight, a muscle in my jaw flexing. But I said nothing, just watched him.

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