When the royal messenger arrived at their home, Matthew and Anna felt the blood drain from their faces. The parchment bore the red seal of the king himself—an invitation… or perhaps a summons.
Neither of them had slept well the night before. They spoke little, only exchanging anxious glances over the breakfast table. The king’s reasons were unknown, but the weight of his name alone was enough to send a chill down their spine.
By the time they reached the palace, their hearts pounded in unison. The towering black gates opened with a groan, and the armed guards escorted them through the corridors without a word.
The grand doors of the royal study opened with a low groan, and the two human guards stood aside, and Moira’s parents stepped in, their footsteps hesitant.
Anna’s hands were cla
