Ruby's POV

He didn’t look at me first. He looked at his mother.

“No,” he said quietly.

Seraphina’s brows lifted. “No… to what, exactly?”

“No to the deal. No to the daughter of Red Moon. No to you using me like a chess piece to stop a war you helped start.” His jaw worked, fury held on a short leash. “I’m not bargaining my life away.”

Her smile was thin. “You confuse life with impulse. This is duty.”

He leaned forward. “This is my mate.”

The word hit me like a ...