71: Emma

The dining hall swam with voices and scents, a heady mix of perfume, food, and the subtle musk of both wolf and Lycan. I walked at Theo's side, his hand resting lightly at the small of my back—not possessive, but reassuring. Just a week ago, these people had looked at me with suspicion or barely concealed disdain. Tonight, as their eyes followed our path across the polished floor, something had shifted. The air felt different, charged with possibility rather than prejudice.

"Ready?" Theo whispered, his breath warm against my ear.

I nodded, straightening my shoulders. "As I'll ever be."

We moved toward the first cluster of guests, a mixture of Lycan nobility and werewolf delegates. Their conversations stilled as we approached, bodies dipping into bows and curtsies with varying degrees of grace.

"Your Majesties," they murmured in near-unison.

The title still sent a peculiar shiver down my spine—both foreign and thrilling. A week ago, I'd been simply Emma, sister to an Alpha. Now, these powerful beings looked at me with deference. Well, some of them did.

"Minister Carter," Theo addressed an older Lycan with silver streaking his temples. "I trust your journey from the eastern province was pleasant?"

"Indeed, Your Majesty." The minister's eyes flickered to me, lingering a beat longer than necessary. "The roads have never been safer."

"My Queen has been discussing improvements to the inter-territorial highways," Theo said, his voice casual but deliberate. "She's particularly concerned with ensuring equal access for both our peoples."

I felt a flush of gratitude at how seamlessly he'd brought me into the conversation. "The current system of parallel roads seems unnecessarily divisive," I added, finding my voice. "Shared pathways would encourage more natural interaction."

Minister Carter’s eyebrows rose slightly. "An... interesting perspective, Your Majesty."

A week ago, he might have dismissed me entirely. Tonight, he merely looked thoughtful, if not entirely convinced. Progress, however small.

We continued our circuit of the room. With each group, I felt the weight of scrutiny, but unlike before, it came with curiosity rather than contempt.

Before long, we were approached by a Lycan couple, their matching silver ceremonial pins marking them as members of the diplomatic corps. The woman, tall and elegant with amber eyes that reminded me of autumn leaves, regarded me with undisguised interest.

"Your Majesty," she began, her voice carrying the musical lilt of the southern territories. "I served as diplomatic liaison to the Blood Moon Pack some years ago. Your brother was newly appointed as Alpha then. I've always found werewolf culture fascinating."

There was something performative in her enthusiasm, but beneath it, I sensed genuine interest. Her mate stood slightly behind her, his expression more guarded, but not hostile.

"I'd be happy to discuss werewolf traditions anytime," I offered. "Though I suspect there's more common ground between our cultures than differences."

"A diplomatic answer," her mate said, speaking for the first time. "Perhaps too diplomatic."

Theo's hand pressed more firmly against my back, but I smiled, meeting the Lycan's gaze directly.

"Diplomacy needn't come at the expense of honesty," I replied. "Our differences are real and should be acknowledged. But fixating on them at the expense of our similarities serves neither species."

The female Lycan's lips curved upward. "Well said, Your Majesty."

As we moved away, Theo leaned close. "You're winning them over, one conversation at a time."

"Am I? Half of them still look at me like I'm a pet who's learned a clever trick."

"Those are the ones who haven't spoken with you yet," he murmured, and the pride in his voice warmed me from within.

The final group we approached included several members of Theo's personal guard. They stood more rigidly than the others, their posture betraying their training, but their eyes held genuine respect as they bowed.

"Your Majesties," the senior officer greeted us.

A gentle chime signaled it was time to be seated for dinner. Theo guided me toward the head table, where Elijah, Elena, and Christian already waited. My brother's eyes held a question as we approached, and I gave him a small nod of reassurance.

The tension in my shoulders began to ease as we ate and talked. Here, with family (strange to think of Theo and Christian as family already, but that's what they were becoming), I could almost forget the weight of scrutiny from the rest of the room.

"Remember when Emma tried to lead that hunting expedition when she was twelve?" Elijah said between bites of perfectly seared venison. "And ended up tracking a skunk instead of a deer?”

I groaned. "Must we revisit my childhood humiliations?"

"We absolutely must," Christian replied, his eyes dancing with amusement. "Especially since Theo spent his adolescence being painfully perfect. I need allies in my mission to embarrass him."

"I was not perfect," Theo protested, but his hand found mine under the table, squeezing gently.

"You composed poetry in three ancient languages and mastered dual-form combat before your hundredth birthday," Christian deadpanned. "Forgive me if I struggle to find embarrassing anecdotes."

Elena leaned forward, her smile conspiratorial. "I've found that even the most seemingly dignified people have their… accidents. The first time I shifted after marking Elijah, I was so excited about my new abilities that I ran straight into a tree."