Sophie-Anne didn't like being summoned.
Not in her own house. Not even politely.
But the knock on the private entrance, four taps, evenly spaced wasn't asking permission. It was announcing intent.
Her guards opened the door. She didn't need to rise. She sat in her study, one leg crossed, blood untouched in a tall glass. Her eyes were tired but sharp. Dressed like a queen. Holding herself like one too.
The vampire who entered was tall, elegant, and wore a blue suit with silver cufflinks shaped like wolves' teeth.
Not fangs.
Wolves' teeth.
That told her more than his smile.
He bowed. Not deeply.
"Your Majesty."
Sophie-Anne didn't blink. "I wasn't aware Mississippi royalty had adopted such charming messengers."
He smiled. "I'm not royalty. I'm not even formal. Just... faithful."
She gestured. "Name."
"Emil. I speak with the voice of Russell Edgington."
Sophie-Anne gestured to the chair across from her. "And what does Mississippi want with Louisiana? Or are we pretending this is a social call?"
Emil sat. Crossed his legs slowly. Relaxed, as if the queen in front of him didn't matter much at all.
He smiled again.
"Russell would like to extend an invitation."
"To whom?"
"To your... guest."
Sophie-Anne tilted her head. "You'll have to be specific."
Emil's smile didn't change.
"Lucan."
The name landed like a pin dropped on marble.
Sophie-Anne didn't move. "And what sort of invitation is this?"
"A simple one. Hospitality. Curiosity. Mutual respect between ancient blood."
She stared.
"And if he refuses?"
Emil stood, slow and deliberate.
"Then we'll assume he prefers mystery to manners."
He reached into his jacket and placed a small velvet box on her desk. No crest. No name.
Then he bowed again, slightly lower.
"Thank you for your time."
No guards stopped his departure.
Sophie-Anne opened the box.
Inside: a single gold coin. No markings.
On the back?
A wolf's tooth, pressed into wax.
-----
Lucan didn't knock when he entered Sophie-Anne's estate. He never did.
Two guards stepped into his path. He didn't touch them. He just cast a gaze and they moved aside.
Sophie-Anne sat on her throne-like chair in the high-ceilinged drawing room. Glass chandeliers. Velvet curtains. Too much red.
She didn't rise. But she smiled. Barely.
"I received a gift today."
Lucan didn't sit.
Sophie-Anne reached into the folds of her gown and held out the small box. "A coin. Gold. Old. And a question stamped in silence."
Lucan took the box.
"Mississippi," he said.
Sophie-Anne nodded. "They know you're here. Or they think they do."
Lucan finally opened the lid. Looked at the tooth-marked wax. The coin caught the candlelight but didn't shine.
"Russell wants a meeting."
"He sent a wolf's tooth," she said. "I'd call that more than a request."
Lucan stared at the coin a moment longer. Then dropped it on the floor. It hit the marble with a quiet ring and rolled in a slow circle before stopping.
"I'm not interested in his tokens."
Sophie-Anne leaned forward slightly. "Lucan, this isn't some baron posturing in a backwater court. Russell is-"
"A survivor," Lucan said.
She paused. "Yes."
Lucan met her eyes.
"I respect survival. I don't respond to veiled threats."
Sophie-Anne's expression hardened just enough to crack the edges of her polish.
"You think you're above this?"
Lucan looked down at the coin again.
"No."
Then his eyes met hers. They were sharp, cold and absolute.
"I think he isn't worth what's coming."
Sophie-Anne stared at him. No words. No challenge.
Just silence.
Lucan turned and walked out. The coin stayed where it was. Face up and it's toothmark glinting.
The second visit came before Lucan could leave.
No knock this time.
Just the sharp crack of glass, one of the front windows of Sophie-Anne's estate, shattered inward with surgical precision.
Lucan was already inside. He turned from the corridor, still and silent, as two guards rushed forward.
But Emil didn't flinch as they grabbed him. His suit was spotless. His hands were folded neatly in front of him. His smile had changed.
It was gone.
Sophie-Anne stood from her chair.
"You're bold," she said.
Emil didn't look at her. His eyes were fixed on Lucan.
"This isn't about kingdoms anymore."
Lucan stepped forward. "Speak carefully."
Emil did.
"There's a body hanging from a tree six miles north of here. You'll want to see it."
Lucan's eyes narrowed.
"It wore your name," Emil added.
Amanda's name surfaced in Lucan's mind like ice through blood. But he didn't show it.
"Who was it?" he asked.
Emil's voice didn't waver. "He said he knew you. Said he served you once. Long ago. Before the rituals. Before the blood turned black."
Lucan didn't move. But something in the room lowered. Like the pressure had shifted, imperceptible but sudden.
Sophie-Anne glanced between them. "If this is a threat-"
"It's a reminder," Emil said.
He pulled something from his jacket. Dropped it on the floor. A finger. Blackened. Cauterized yet still wearing a ring.
Lucan didn't look at it.
"Russell doesn't want a war," Emil said. "But he'll take one if it's cleaner than patience."
Lucan took a step forward. The guards moved between them.
Lucan didn't stop.
He looked Emil in the eye.
"You came here to bleed."
Emil didn't blink.
"No. I came here to tell you: he's not curious anymore."
Lucan went silent.
Then said: "Neither am I."