My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 169

Irina

"How did you even do it?"

I looked away, staring down at my bandaged side. "What a funny question to ask a witch."

I started to laugh. It was a dry, jagged sound that turned into a coughing fit. I choked on my own saliva, holding my chest as the pain spiked. Sera and Fenris didn't move. They just stood there, watching me struggle like I was an interesting specimen in a jar.

It was Mina who came forward. She knelt beside me, gentle and quiet, and helped me with a cup of water.

"Calm down," she whispered, her voice soft. "Drink. Just drink."

I took slow sips until the fire in my throat died down. I looked at the girl. She was young, likely around the same age as Lyra.

"Thank you," I murmured.

Mina nodded and stood back up, returning to the shadows.

"Are you okay now?" Fenris asked. Coming from him, the question actually sounded genuine.

I nodded.

Sera didn't let up. "How did you do it, Mother? The Totem."

"It was a simple spell," I said, my voice flat. "I cast it on him, making his heart the physical host for the Totem. It was the only way to hide it. No one would have suspected it was in a living body." I narrowed my eyes. "Though no one should have even guessed there was a Totem at all. Not unless they were a witch themselves."

"Yvara figured it out," Fenris said.

"Of course," I replied. "She is more of a witch than I am."

Fenris shifted his weight, his eyes tracking the shadows on the wall. "How do we get it out?"

Sera stepped closer. "Since you cast the spell to put it there, surely you can cast another to remove it. You’ll do it before you leave."

I shook my head slowly. "I can't."

"What do you mean you can't?" Sera snapped.

"I mean I can't," I repeated.

"This is not the best time to be stubborn, Mother," Sera said, her jaw tightening.

I chuckled. "Funny. I didn't think you still regarded me as your mother."

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