Delicate Bond ✔

The air in the grand hall of the Nauloria Imperial Palace was thick with the scent of saltwater and exotic perfumes, a familiar comfort to Evelyn now. Sunlight, filtered through stained-glass windows depicting ancient siren legends, cast kaleidoscopic patterns across the polished marble floor. She adjusted the silken sleeve of her gown, her gaze drifting over the bustling preparations for Prince Kai's latest diplomatic reception.

Weeks had passed since the invitation arrived, a summons to act as a judge for the Werewolf King's Queen Selection. It was an honor, certainly, a testament to her growing influence as a diplomat, but a tremor of unease still fluttered beneath her composure. The werewolf world… it was a chapter she thought she had closed, especially after he had walked away. Yet, here she was, preparing to return.

Prince Kai, a graceful figure even in casual conversation, approached her with a gentle smile. "Lost in thought, my dear?" His voice was like the smooth murmur of the tide, always calming. "Thinking of your journey back to the wolf lands?"

Evelyn offered a small, practiced smile in return. "Just contemplating the complexities of royal protocol, my love. It seems the werewolf court demands a particularly delicate touch."

She took a sip of her chilled sea-fruit wine, the sweetness doing little to quell the faint knot in her stomach. The wolf lands. A place she’d left behind, hoping to outrun the ghost of a bond she'd been told was broken. Little did she know, that ghost was about to become very, very real, and very, very regal.