News of Aurelia's pregnancy spread across Europe's magical underworld like wildfire. Not everyone celebrated.
An assassin, disguised as a spice merchant, slipped into the palace gardens. He never made it past the hedge.
Lucien caught him mid-strike. One word from Aurelia stopped him from killing the man outright.
"Send a message," she said. "Let them know: there will be no second attempt."
The assassin returned to his masters with his hand missing and the word PROTECTED burned across his back in searing glyphs.