At the gala's close, someone tried to poison Amara.
Not enough to kill but enough to warn.
She collapsed in her suite, breath ragged, vision swimming.
Enzo found her and called for Chiara. By dawn, she recovered.
And she was angry.
"This wasn't Romano," she said. "He wants me alive. This was someone inside."
A traitor.
She ordered a full purge of her inner circle.
"Burn the rot from the root," she said. "I want no shadows in my court."
While searching her father's archives, Chiara found a sealed letter labeled To Amara. Open only if I'm gone.
It read:
My darling lioness, If you're reading this, then I've failed you. I failed your mother too. I never wanted this life for you. But I taught you how to survive it. You're stronger than I ever was. And if you must lead, lead without chains. Forgive me. Or destroy me. Either way... win.
Amara folded the letter slowly.
She didn't cry.
But a part of her heart... softened.