My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 401

Bram

I stepped into the dining room with a practiced smile, careful to keep the weariness from my eyes. Taya was already seated, a vision in candlelit silk, her hair unbound. She stood as I entered, a smile breaking across her face. "Father," she said warmly, crossing the room to embrace me.

I kissed her cheek, breathing in the delicate scent of rosewater. "Daughter. You look beautiful tonight."

Her arms tightened around me for a heartbeat longer than usual, and I knew I shouldn't press my luck. "Thank you," she said, pulling back. "I'm so glad you could make it tonight. I know you have a lot going on."

We took our seats at the table, and the servants brought in the first course, a consomme of wild mushrooms with a hint of thyme. I took a sip, studying Taya across the table. Something about her seemed different tonight, warmer, like she was glowing from somewhere underneath.

"I ordered this myself," she said, as if reading my thoughts. "Mama always said it was her favorite dish when she wanted to impress guests."

I swallowed carefully, choosing my response. "She had excellent taste."

Taya beamed, reaching for her wineglass. "I'm so glad you approve."

Conversation moved easily after that.

"Is Verrin still going on about the eastern grazing rights?" Taya asked, reaching for the bread. "He cornered me at the market last week over it."

"Every session," I said. "Give the man a decade and he'll find a way to complain about the weather in the same breath."

She laughed, easy and unforced, the kind of laugh that told me this was an old joke between them, something Kael would have said a hundred times before I ever put on his face. I filed that away and let myself enjoy it regardless.

"And the eastern roads? Still bad past the second bridge?"

"Bad enough I've told the trade parties to add a day to the crossing." I reached for my own glass. "Nothing that won't hold until spring."

"Small mercies." She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I heard Ashcombe's been prickly again about the border markers."

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