Chapter 69 The Royal Summons

• I received the royal summons in the dead of night, its arrival as cold and ominous as the palace it came from. The letter, sealed with the royal crest, bore the unmistakable scent of power, its words dripping with formality and veiled threats. At first, I thought it was a joke—a poorly crafted attempt at intimidation—but as I read it again, I felt my heart sink.
• "Her Majesty, Amelia of the Red Lycan Bloodline, is formally invited to the capital for a meeting with His Majesty, the Lycan King. The meeting is to honor her achievements and discuss matters of mutual interest to the kingdom."
• The words were carefully chosen, meant to sound benign, to convey a sense of diplomacy and honor. But I knew better. I knew the game they were playing. It wasn’t about honoring me. It was about testing me. The royal court didn’t summon someone for a "friendly discussion" unless they had something to gain from it—unless they intended to probe my power, my loyalty, and my resolve.