Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 140: My Queen

The wedding ceremony was brief and to the point.

With the ceremonial customs of the lycans vastly different from those of humans, all that Lorelai and Rhaegar were required to do was repeat the vows recited by Alim and then seal their bond with the blood ritual.

"It will hurt just a little," Rhaegar reassured the princess, accepting a small golden knife, which he passed to Lorelai in exchange for the one in her hands. "Just cut your thumb and spread your blood across my forehead."

Nodding somewhat nervously, Lorelai glanced down at the golden blade resting in her right palm. The memory of holding a similar knife—the one given to her by Althea—made her hands tremble, but she steeled herself. She could not show any sign of hesitation now.

This act was not meant to harm him. It was meant to bring them closer.

Taking a deep breath to steady her racing heart, the princess brought the blade closer to her thumb, flinching slightly as its sharp edge easily sliced through her tender skin. A stream of red blood flowed down her thumb, its rich hue matching the color of her dress.

Suppressing the tremor in her hands, Lorelai raised her arm and brought it to Rhaegar’s forehead. She couldn’t help but smile faintly as she realized that he had to lean down slightly to make it easier for her to reach his face.

With no more hesitation left, she pressed her thumb against his warm skin and dragged it across his forehead. Her eyes widened in surprise as the blood mark vanished almost immediately.

Rhaegar chuckled at her astonishment and quickly moved to explain, pressing a kiss to the princess’s thumb to stop the blood from flowing.

"This ceremonial gold has special properties," he said softly. "It allows our blood to be absorbed by our bodies instantly, starting the process of linking our minds and hearts. Soon, our blood will blend together properly, and our connection will be unbreakable."

Lorelai felt a sudden lightness in her chest.

Unbreakable bond. The words were so reassuring that it was as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders, leaving her feeling lighter and more at ease.

Noticing the change in her expression, Rhaegar smiled warmly and wrapped his long fingers around the handle of his knife.

With a swift and practiced motion, he sliced his skin and, without hesitation, smeared his warm blood across the princess’s forehead. The blood melted into the paleness of her smooth, white skin, the contrast almost mesmerizing.

He then pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her pink lips and offered her another affectionate, heartfelt smile.

"Now it’s done," he murmured, his voice low and sincere, as he gently placed his large hands on either side of Lorelai’s arms. "We are officially married now, My Queen."

A loud round of applause erupted from the guests, filling the meadow with a joyful sound that seemed to awaken the surrounding nature. Birds fluttered in the trees, and the air itself seemed to hum with energy.

My Queen. Lorelai repeated the words softly in her mind, savoring the sweetness of their sound. It felt like the world had shifted, and she, at last, had found her place beside him.

She had never felt happier. Simply having someone call her his own and hold her close was enough to erase all the worries she had once carried.

Whatever was to come, she promised herself that these precious memories would never fade. They would be etched in her heart forever.

***

"How does it feel to be the Queen of the Beasts?" Alim asked with a teasing smile as he took a seat beside Lorelai on the warm, colorful quilt spread across the soft carpet of thick grass.

Once the ceremony had ended, the beasts couldn’t resist celebrating the joyous occasion with a feast. And when they said "feast," the word "little" was a humorous understatement.

The moment Lorelai was acknowledged as their queen, dozens of quilts were swiftly laid out on the grassy meadow floor, and they were immediately piled high with all sorts of food and a variety of liquor.

Lorelai had no idea how they managed to acquire so much food in such a short span of time, but as she watched the platters of delicacies being stacked upon the quilts, her growing hunger quickly overpowered any curiosity about where it had all come from.

She accepted a fresh glass of peach wine from Alim, her cheeks flushing slightly as she considered her response to his question.

"I’m not really sure if anything will change for me," she replied softly, her voice betraying a hint of uncertainty. "And I don’t know how others will react once they learn the whole story."

Alim hesitated before speaking again. Lorelai was not wrong––the circumstances surrounding her marriage to Rhaegar were far from conventional.

However, the beasts were not as rigid as humans, and their ways were not bound by the same rules. While there would undoubtedly be some who would disapprove of the king’s hasty decision, ultimately, Rhaegar’s word was law.

No one could oppose it unless they were bold enough to challenge his power directly.

"It will be alright," Alim said, his tone deliberately reassuring. "What the beasts value most is the mating bond. Once they witness how your connection with King Rhaegar positively influences him, they will have nothing but the utmost admiration for you. And as for the rest... Fate is another entity deeply respected by the beasts. Sometimes, though, it can be a difficult thing to navigate."

Perhaps it was the wine, but Alim’s words surprisingly eased Lorelai’s concerns. She offered him a warm smile and drained her glass of wine. "Thank you, Alim. I’m grateful that Rhaegar is surrounded by people like you."

Alim appeared slightly flustered by her compliment. A visible blush colored his cheeks, but he quickly dismissed it, attributing it to the alcohol. He chuckled softly, then turned his gaze to the dark sky above them.

"Oh," he murmured quietly, though Lorelai heard him clearly. "The moon... she’s in full bloom now."

Lorelai’s gaze followed his, and she too looked up at the moon. The round, glowing disc hung high in the sky, its pale light casting a soft glow over the meadow. Her heart fluttered.

The full moon. The mating ceremony. It was about to begin.

As if reading her thoughts, Naveen suddenly appeared beside her. She leaned down, her warm hand gently resting on the princess’s shoulder. "It is time, My Queen," she said softly. "The moon is in full bloom."