Estelle’s POV

“There is something you should know,” Zayne said, his voice steady but careful.

I held my breath, waiting for whatever explanation he was about to give me. Part of me dreaded what I might hear, while another part craved the clarity I’d been seeking since that night.

“I was asked by the council to dance with Rosalind Vurbont for my first dance,” he continued. “They wanted to show lycan unity at the summit. It was a political move, nothing more.”

Relief washed over me like cool water on a hot day. I hadn’t realized how tense I’d been until my shoulders finally relaxed.

“I understand that it might have given others the wrong impression,” Zayne added, his electric blue eyes searching my face. “I apologize for that. I’ll make sure not to create such misunderstandings in the future.”

The knot in my stomach loosened completely. “Thank you for clarifying,” I said, surprised by how much better I felt.

Honestly, I had expected this answer. During the meeting the day before the ball, Zayne hadn’t seemed particularly interested in Rosalind. If anything, he had appeared to dislike her entitled attitude. But for some reason, I had needed to hear him say it directly.

I tried to convince myself that my relief was purely practical. I still needed this relationship with Zayne because of his status. Having the Lycan King as an ally would help me solidify my position as Blackmoon’s leader tremendously. While I preferred to succeed on my own merits, I wasn’t foolish enough to ignore such a valuable safety net.

“I don’t mind what you do in private,” I said, trying to sound magnanimous. “Your personal affairs are your own business. That includes any personal relationships you might develop with other women, should you find your fated mate in the future.”

Zayne raised an eyebrow at that comment.

I continued quickly. “I would just ask that you tell me in advance rather than letting me find out through other channels. I’d prefer to step away gracefully when that time comes.”

The bitter memory of discovering Asher’s betrayal flashed through my mind. The humiliation of finding out the entire loving family I thought I had was a lie still stung. I refused to go through that experience again.

“I have no intentions of finding another woman,” Zayne said firmly.

I nodded, though internally I assumed he was just saying that to keep the peace between us. He was the Lycan King. Eventually, he would need to produce an heir. Fated mates typically had stronger children than chosen mates, and given his position, it was likely he would end up with his true mate regardless of our current arrangement.

Something flickered across Zayne’s expression—he looked almost dejected for a moment—but I couldn’t figure out why.

“Oh, yes! One more thing,” I said suddenly, remembering the item in my bag.

I dug through my purse and pulled out the small velvet box. My fingers trembled slightly as I handed it to him.

“What is this?” Zayne asked, though his tone suggested he already knew.

He opened the box, and his eyes widened slightly at the sight of the ring inside. The moonstone caught the morning light, shifting between white and brilliant blue.

“I should probably return this,” I said quickly. “Thank you for the gift, but it’s too expensive and precious. Not to mention it’s a ring, which could imply...” I trailed off, feeling heat rise in my cheeks.

The implications of accepting such an elaborate ring weren’t lost on me. To anyone observing, it would look like an engagement ring. Even if our marriage was meant to be one of convenience, something simple would have sufficed for appearances.

“Even if it were an engagement ring,” I continued, forcing myself to meet his gaze, “something more modest would be appropriate for our situation.”

Zayne stared at the ring for a long moment, his expression unreadable. His fingers traced the edge of the box, but he didn’t remove the ring from its velvet cushion.

“You don’t like it,” he said finally. It wasn’t a question.

“It’s not that I don’t like it,” I said carefully. “It’s beautiful. But it’s too much for what we have.”

The silence stretched between us. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing something important, but I couldn’t identify what it was.

Zayne’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. “And what exactly do we have, Estelle?”

The question caught me off guard. “We have a mutually beneficial arrangement,” I said slowly. “A marriage of convenience that serves both our purposes.”

“I see.”

His tone had gone completely neutral, which somehow felt worse than anger would have. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.

“Zayne, I didn’t mean—”

“No, you’re absolutely right,” he interrupted, snapping the box closed with a sharp click. “A business arrangement. Nothing more.”

The finality in his voice made my chest tighten uncomfortably. I wanted to say something to ease the sudden tension, but I wasn’t sure what had gone wrong.

“Keep it,” he said, holding the box out to me.

I stared at the offered box, confusion swirling in my mind. “But I just explained why I can’t—”

“Keep it, Estelle.” His voice was calm but carried an undertone I couldn’t identify. “Consider it a symbol of our business partnership, if that makes you more comfortable.”

I reached out hesitantly and took the box from his hands. Our fingers brushed briefly, and that familiar electric sensation shot through me.

“I don’t understand,” I admitted quietly.

Zayne stood up abruptly, his movement so sudden it startled me. “There’s nothing to understand. It’s just a ring.”

But the way he said it suggested it was anything but ‘just a ring’.