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.