My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 58

Sera

My vision narrowed to a dark, pulsing tunnel.

Fenris’s smile was the only thing keeping me anchored to the frozen ground. His heavy, possessive approval acted like a temporary shot of adrenaline straight into my veins, holding my spine straight for three more seconds.

Then the crowd surged forward.

Mina broke through the line of Ironmaw warriors. She sprinted across the bloodstained dirt, her skirts hitched up to her knees, completely ignoring the sheer violence that had just taken place. She slammed into my side, stopping herself just short of grabbing my ribs. Her hands hovered frantically over my shoulders, vibrating with unchecked energy.

"You did it!" Mina practically screamed. Her eyes were wide, darting from my ruined face to the spot where the healers were carrying Taya away. "By the gods, Sera, I saw the whole thing! You broke her fucking arm! Shit that was brutal!"

I looked at Mina. I opened my mouth to speak. My tongue felt like a thick piece of dry leather. I tried to form the word yes, but all that came out was a wet, rattling exhale.

Mina grabbed my forearm, her fingers pressing into my skin. "Sera? Are you okay? You're shaking—"

That tiny point of physical contact broke the dam.

The debt of the forced healing was called in all at once. It didn't feel like normal fatigue. It felt like a violent, hollow vacuum opening up inside my stomach, instantly sucking the remaining life out of my muscles. The cold mountain wind sliced right through my clothes, freezing the sweat to my skin. My knees unlocked. The bones simply refused to hold my weight.

I pitched forward into the dirt.

I never hit the ground.

Fenris moved faster than I could track. One second he was standing two feet away, and the next, two massive, iron-hard arms wrapped around my body. One arm caught me flush across my back, the other scooped under my knees. He lifted me off the frozen mud effortlessly, pulling my battered body tight against his chest.

"Sera!" my mother’s voice pierced the dull roar of the yard. She was pushing past her Valdris guards, her face stained with tears and horror.

Torin stepped directly into Fenris’s path. "Alpha Volkov, give her to the Queen. She requires immediate southern medical attention—"

"Get out of my way before I step on your throat," Fenris snarled. The sound vibrated violently against my cheek where my head rested on his collarbone.

Torin flinched and stepped back immediately.

Fenris didn't look at my mother. He didn't look at Kael. He looked down at Mina.

He stripped off his heavy fur cloak and tossed it onto a wooden chair. He stood over the bed, looking down at me. His grey eyes were completely dark, scanning the horrific state of my body. My black leather pants were torn and caked in freezing mud. My sleeveless tunic was soaked through with dark, sticky blood.

The heavy door opened behind him. Mina rushed in, carrying a large wooden basin of steaming water. A stack of white linen cloths and a small jar of pale salve balanced precariously on her arm. She hurried to the bedside table and set everything down with a loud clatter.

"I got the water from the kitchens," Mina said, panting heavily. She looked at me lying on the bed, her face tight with worry. "Let me help you undress her, Alpha. I know how to—"

"Leave us," Fenris said. He didn't look at her. His eyes remained locked on me.

Mina hesitated. She looked from Fenris’s broad back to my ruined face.

"It's okay, Mina," I rasped. "Go."

Mina swallowed hard, nodded, and backed away. She walked out of the room and pulled the heavy door shut. The iron latch clicked into place.

We were completely alone.

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