Two months had passed, and the delicate truce between Arion and Evangeline had blossomed into a fragile but powerful partnership. They spent their days in his office, poring over ancient treaties and trade agreements. Arion, a man who had once seen diplomacy as a tedious task, now approached it with a new, focused passion. He listened to Evangeline's insights, his golden eyes filled with a deep respect as she effortlessly navigated the political landscape. She was not just his equal; she was his mentor.
The court, still buzzing with the memory of their dramatic confrontation, now watched them with a mix of awe and curiosity. The princess who had once been an outcast was now a powerful force, and the prince who had been so consumed by jealousy was now a picture of quiet, unwavering devotion.
But in the shadows, Seraphina's rage had festered into a cold, calculating malice. She had lost her prince, her honor, and her place in the court's affections. Her jealousy was now a poison that had consumed her entirely. She had been exiled from the court, but she had not been banished from her rage.
She had found a new kind of power: the power of vengeance. She hired a gang of ruthless bandits, men who were driven by greed and had no honor. They were to abduct Evangeline, to take her to a far-off land and keep her hidden. Seraphina's plan was simple: she would tell Arion that Evangeline had given up on their love and had run away, that she had proven to be a wild, ungrateful beast, just as everyone had said.
The abduction happened on a quiet afternoon. Evangeline was in the royal gardens, a place she had come to love. The scent of blooming roses and jasmine filled the air. She was in her own world, sketching a griffin with a quiet, focused intensity. The cat prince, her faithful shadow, was nowhere to be found. He had sensed the danger, but it was too late.
Two men, their faces hidden by dark cloaks, emerged from the bushes. They moved with a predatory grace, their eyes fixed on their target. Evangeline, who had always been so keenly aware of her surroundings, was now caught off guard. She felt a sharp, stinging pain in her neck as a tranquilizer dart found its mark. Her world began to spin, the beautiful garden blurring into a mess of colors. The last thing she saw was a flicker of a cruel, triumphant smile from the bushes. It was Seraphina.
Arion found the garden a few minutes later, his heart filled with a terrible, icy dread. He saw the tranquilizer dart on the ground, a chilling sign of her abduction. He knew, with a certainty that was both horrifying and heartbreaking, that Seraphina was behind this. The gentle, diplomatic man he had become was gone, replaced by a furious, vengeful beast. He would find her, no matter what it took, and when he did, he would unleash a fury that would make the heavens tremble. He would show them all that the princess was not a wild beast, but a fated mate, and that he would burn the world to the ground to get her back.