My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 492

Sera

"Where's my brother?" Vidar asked.

The question hung cold between us, the answer Vane would not give. I straightened my shoulders, took a step forward, and answered instead. "Kael isn't in the keep this morning, Alpha Sarn."

For the first time, Vidar looked properly at me. His eyes narrowed.

"Not in the keep? My brother invited me here."

I kept my voice reasonable. "Nobody at Ironmaw had word you were coming. If they had, you wouldn't have waited in the snow."

"Kael knew," Vidar said flatly, his eyes cutting past me to Vane as if I hadn't been the one to answer. It stung more than it should have, that subtle dismissal.

Vidar reached into his heavy coat and drew out a letter, folded. He held it out to me. I stared at it, heart pounding in my ears, blood suddenly hot under my skin.

I took the letter from Vidar's outstretched hand, my fingers brushing his. Kael's seal was broken, the wax cracked. Carefully, I unfolded the paper and read the words written on it. "Come quickly, brother. I need your help."

I read the words twice. But the hand that had written them was not Kael's. Did Bram write this?

I looked up at Vidar, my face blank. But my fingers tightened on the paper.

Vidar watched me, the set of his mouth unchanging. "You didn't know," he said quietly.

An icy drip of concern slid down my spine at the Alpha's words. I took a slow breath, steeling myself, and spoke softly to match his measured tone. "You have come unannounced, with armed men at your back, bearing a letter none of us have seen. I'm certain you understand our need for caution in these uncertain times."

Gunnar bristled, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword. "The Alpha of Ashfell does not have to show his letters at a gate like a peddler."

Vidar lifted a hand, silencing Gunnar. His gaze never wavered from mine. "Twenty men and a load of meat and stout, Luna," he said dryly. "If I'd meant you harm, I'd have brought more than supper."

"Then you'll understand, Alpha Sarn, that at Ironmaw's gate, when you ask after one of my chiefs, you ask me. Not Vane."

Vidar was silent for a long moment, then one corner of his mouth curled up. He inclined his head. "Luna."

He nodded at the parchment in my hand. "Tell me. Is that my brother's hand?"

I glanced down at it again. I swallowed hard. "It's his seal."

Vidar raised an eyebrow. "That isn't what I asked."

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