My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 427

Sera

Mina's words hung in the air. I kept my face still, eyes locked on hers. It took all my will to hold that silence, to give nothing away. Every muscle in my body wanted to speak, to demand the truth from her. But I would not be the one to break.

Mina watched me, searching for some hint in my expression of where I stood. But I'd learned to school my features a long time ago. I gave her nothing.

She shifted, fidgeting with the edge of her tunic. I remained utterly motionless, a statue of a woman. The stillness built like a physical force, the tension stretching between us until it seemed to hum in the air.

Finally, Mina could bear it no longer. "Are you going to tell Fenris?" she asked, her voice tight and urgent.

I met Mina's desperate gaze and gave her back three tight words.

"Lie for you."

"I do not want you to lie, I want you not to tell him the truth!" Her hands shook and her voice came fast and high. "You're my friend, you're a better friend than anyone in my whole life, you're my sister, I love you, you're my sister. Oh gods, you're my sister."

"And you hid this from me every day."

"I did not hide anything!" Her hands were fists at her sides. "I didn't say anything, that's not the same! Being quiet is not a lie!"

"Jace lied," I said. "To Fenris. To my face too. I was standing right there."

Mina's eyes darted away and back. She took a breath. "He was protecting me. He knew what Fenris would do, he knew what you would think, and from the look on your face, he was right!"

I closed my eyes. "He is my mate," I said. "He is your brother. He deserves to know."

Mina turned on me like a wolf. "You don't even trust me, you think I'm some stupid bitch, I waited for you and listened to you, I've never lied to you, but you don't care! You think I'm just some weak girl who could be worked by any shit-faced boy!"

I swallowed. I opened my eyes and met her gaze. I could feel my heart beating in my ears. But I did not answer.

"You never trusted me," Mina spat. "Because you think I'm some bitch who can't see it when a man is using her!"

I said nothing and she took another step forward.

"I begged you!" she cried. "I begged you not to let them take him! I begged you in the snow and you stood there and you did nothing and now you want to make sure he never comes back!"

Mina sobbed, the last of her rage spent. She slumped against the wall, chest heaving.

I kept my silence. Let her words wash over me.

Her breathing slowed. She sank to the floor, spent. I watched the fury drain from her face, leaving only despair behind.

"Mina," I said quietly. "Your words. To me, once."

She looked up, wary. "I told Fenris about the baby. Because you said..."

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