Voren tightened his arms around Seraphine, holding her close as though his embrace alone could stop her from suggesting anything else about sacrificing her life.
The thought of losing her was unbearable, and her words had brought back memories he had spent months trying to bury. His father had once told him how his mother had been willing to exchange her own life for his, and that decision had set off a chain of events Voren could barely bring himself to remember, let alone discuss.
He had already lost too much time with his mother because of that sacrifice, and he would never allow Seraphine to make the same choice. "If anyone's life should be exchanged, it should be mine."
"No." Ravyn's voice came out low and strained, but there was a firmness in it that made Voren turn toward him.
