A Royal Purr-suit

Previously

…Back in his chambers, the opulent furnishings seemed to mock him. He was no longer just a pampered housecat; he was a pawn in a deadly game. The mystery of Seraphina’s intentions was no longer a vague unease; it was a clear and present danger. He looked at his paws, the soft pads that had never known hardship, and a spark ignited within him. He might be unprepared, he might be terrified, but he was also the rightful heir. And he would not be silenced. The serpent in the silk was unmasked, and Bartholomew knew, with a chilling certainty, that his fight for survival had just begun.