My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 39

Fenris

The leather bag was old. It was cracked in several places, leaking thin streams of sand onto the stone floor every time I hit it. The heavy chains groaned, a high-pitched metallic scrape that echoed in the small, windowless space. This was the belly of the mountain, a place the torches barely touched. The only sound was the rhythmic thud-thud of my knuckles hitting the hide.

I punched harder. I wanted the ache. I needed the sharp, white-hot sting in my wrists to drown out the memory of how Sera’s pulse had hammered against her neck when I leaned in earlier. I could still smell her—that Southern scent of citrus and something soft—clinging to my skin.

"What did the bag do to you?"

I didn't stop. I didn't turn around. I just drove a left hook into the leather, making the bag swing wild.

Dimitri walked into my peripheral vision. He leaned his shoulder against the damp stone wall and crossed his arms. He looked exactly the same as he did the morning he rode out to the battle that killed him. Same smirk. Same relaxed posture. And he hunts me. On purpose.

"You’re going to break your hands, little brother," Dimitri said.

I grunted, a short, ugly sound. I threw a right cross. The chain screamed as the bag jerked back.

Dimitri watched me. He was always patient. He’d wait for me to exhaust myself before he started pushing. I kept at it until my lungs burned and sweat was stinging my eyes. My arms felt like they were filled with lead, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. If I stopped, the silence would come back. And with the silence came her.

"This is about the girl," Dimitri said.

I swung a heavy blow. The bag flew away from me. "It's not."

Dimitri let out a low chuckle. "Brother. I’m dead, not stupid."

I finally stopped. I stood there, chest heaving, staring at the bag as it slowly came to a rest. I didn't look at him. I couldn't handle the knowing look in those eyes.

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