My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 498

Rurik

"Alpha. The Luna is here. With her handmaiden," the guard said.

The Luna stepped into the room, her composed presence filling the space. Her eyes fell upon Taya's lifeless body and remained there. Even from the floor, I could see the stillness of her hands, the steady rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, and the wisps of cold that danced around her clothes.

Mina came in behind the Luna, fingers gripping the doorframe until the knuckles turned white. Her face contorted with pain as her eyes landed on the table. Driven by instinct, I drew in a deep breath, and the scent I uncovered was unmistakable: Taya's blood, now a dull, brown crust on Mina's sleeve.

At the Luna's other side stood a silent girl, one I barely knew. While everyone else's gaze was fixed upon the table, hers swept over the room and then came to rest on me. She watched me with a single-minded intensity, her head tilted to one side, eyes narrowed in concentration.

I tightened my grip on Taya's lifeless hand and clenched my jaw against the creeping numbness in my face. I tried to meet the girl's unblinking stare, but my eyes stung and I forced my gaze back down to Taya's slack face.

I heaved myself to my feet and reached under Taya's stiff body. Her limbs would not bend, her weight unyielding as I slid my arms under her back and knees. The fur-lined cloak dragged against the cold stone floor. I strained, muscles burning, as I lifted her dead weight. She hung heavily against my chest, her head against my shoulder. I staggered, nearly lost my footing, but managed to right myself.

Turning for the doorway, I locked eyes with my father, blocking my path. "You can't do that, son," he said quietly.

My jaw clenched and my eyes narrowed as I stared down at my father from behind Taya's lifeless body. I stood rigid, my arms locked around her, my muscles coiled and ready to fight if he tried to stop me.

"You can't take her," my father said, quieter now.

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