Max moved then, his footsteps silent on the hardwood until he was close enough for her to feel the heat radiating off him.
"Don't be afraid, Ruby. I've been planning this move longer than you've been nursing your scars," he said, his voice dropping to a low, rhythmic hum. "Your war is with Seron. That is your only concern. The rest? I am the wall between you and the world. I will protect you with my life if I have to, but make no mistake, you are the one calling the shots."
Ruby exhaled, a long, shaky breath that felt like a surrender. For the first time since her world had splintered, a genuine, sharp smile touched her lips. She wasn't a pawn being moved across a board. She was the queen. She was the final move.
