I grew up in their territories.
Bear strength.
Panther precision.
Leopard control.
Wolf dominance.
They were my father's closest allies. Trusted Crown lines. The men who taught me strategy, territory, restraint.
They were never supposed to look at me like this.
And I was never supposed to want them.
So they stepped back.
Stayed quiet.
Buried the tension under duty, Hierarchy, and the excuse that protecting me meant denying me.
I fell first.
But when I'm taken off the street and labeled a "Stabilization asset," everything changes.
Now a High Regent's Conclave has been called.
My name is on the invitation.
And Oversight wants me visible. Measured. Contained.
They don't want me dead.
They want me controlled.
Because what they're starting to realize is this:
I don't destabilize Crown lines.
I align them.
I may have fallen first. But they will fall harder.
And once they stop holding back?
The Hierarchy won't know what hit it.
Because I'm done disappearing for politics.
Done accepting quiet dismissal.
Done pretending the Crownweave between us isn't real.