Chapter 141: Like Moth to Flame
Noticing Lorelai’s evident worry, Naveen handed her a large goblet filled with plum wine, her voice soft but steady.
"It’s perfectly normal to feel a little nervous, My Queen. The mating ritual is... different from the usual—" She cleared her throat awkwardly, her cheeks tinged pink, "—ahem, process."
The witch’s discomfort was evident; this was not a topic she was accustomed to addressing. Still, she pressed on, her tone growing gentler.
"The full moon will have a profound effect on King Rhaegar in many ways. However, rest assured—he will remain restrained enough to keep you safe."
"Safe?" Lorelai repeated, her voice rising slightly. The pleasant warmth from the plum wine seemed to vanish in an instant as Naveen’s words settled uncomfortably in her mind. "What do you mean by that? To keep me safe?"
Naveen’s expression mirrored the queen’s unease, her brows furrowing as she struggled to find the right words.
"Oh, dear," she murmured, her gaze darting away before meeting Lorelai’s again, now filled with quiet concern. "I suppose Rhaegar didn’t explain this to you because he didn’t want to overwhelm you. And perhaps... perhaps I shouldn’t be the one saying this either."
She paused, gnawing at her bottom lip as if weighing the wisdom of continuing. But with a resolute sigh, Naveen gestured for Lorelai to sit on a folded blanket nearby.
Once the princess complied, she placed both hands gently on Lorelai’s delicate shoulders, her eyes steady and full of sincerity.
"It’s better you are prepared. Mating under the full moon on a wedding night is a sacred ceremony—a profound union filled with intimacy and pleasure. However, when beasts partake in this official mating ritual, they are sometimes overtaken by their animal instincts. This can cause them to shift involuntarily into their beastly forms, driven by the moon’s power and their heightened emotions."
The weight of her words pressed down on Lorelai, whose green eyes widened with growing alarm. The witch hesitated for a moment before delivering the final revelation.