Her King

My eyes connect with his when he removes the blindfold. Pride and love swirling in his eyes as he leans down and presses a soft kiss against my forehead.

Closing my eyes momentarily, I lean into his touch.

However, the loud cheer which erupts startles me making me realize we are not alone. My eyes slightly widen when I look around to find surrounded by hundreds of people.

“All these are our people, Regina.” Pride evident in his voice as he looks at them, “Just like me, for years, even they were waiting for their Queen. Finally, their wait has come to an end.” His eyes shift to me while a soft smile blooms on his lips.

Glancing around I notice, not everyone is in a human form some are in their beast form.

“Everyone has come here to meet their new Queen.” Atlas places his arm around me while glancing towards his people.

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise when I realize something which I should have noticed the moment my eyes had landed on him. Because the stupid me has just now noticed the crown which is resting on his head.

This is the first time I have seen him like this... in his King form and I can’t help but silently admire him. He looks regal and the air of dominance which he usually carries suddenly increases manifold. I will not be exaggerating a bit when I say I have never seen someone looking so handsome in my entire life.

“Regina?” Amusement danced in his eyes, as he slightly arches his eyebrow noticing my dumbfounded look.

“Not my fault, you are looking so hot that you left me speechless.” Crossing my arms, I shrug nonchalantly while keeping my face straight. However, a betraying laugh leaves my lips, making him lightly chuckle.

“Your Majesty, shall we commence the ceremony?” Gordon clears his throat trying to hide his smile.

“Are you ready?” Atlas asks me, smiling at him I nod my head and briefly shifts my gaze towards everyone.

The look of admiration and respect in everyone’s eyes surprises me. But what actually surprises me is that, even though this is the first time I am seeing them, I already feel connected to them.

The moment Gordon informed everyone that the ceremony is about to commence I watch everyone transforming into their beast form. Apart from some almost everyone has shifted into their true form.

Even King has taken over Atlas while a burning sensation swirls inside my stomach causing me to slightly wince. But I quickly school my expression, before Atlas can notice my discomfort because I don’t want him to worry.

“Soul is your other half, which not only completes you but also gives you a purpose to live.” King address his people, while closing my eyes I inhale through my nose and exhale through my mouth trying to shove away the discomfort, “All these years, I was restless and incomplete because my other half was missing. However, the moment I connected with my soul I felt at peace. The ice which had encased my heart, melted when it found its heartbeat.” Holding my hand, he keeps it above his heart.

Tears brim in my eyes because his words touch my heart, while the feeling of loneliness which his heart had endured pierces my heart. Suddenly, I feel angry at myself for causing him to experience this pain.

“But I am ready to wait all over again if it means to have Regina as my soul.” He looks at me and gently wipes my tear which slips through my eye, “She not only completes me but she is also the one who makes me believe that I am the most powerful person in this whole world. As long as I have her by my side there is nothing which I can’t do because she is my strength... my reason of existence.”

“You all have always showered your love on my family and supported me through every up and down by proving your loyalty to us time and again. Now I would expect the same love and loyalty from every one of you towards Regina because she is not only my soul but your Queen.” Challenge clear in his voice, as if asking anyone to dare to question my position.

“She proved she is your other half, your soul, by excelling the test which was given to her. And not to mention in less than ten minutes as she has claimed.” A man comes forward and lightly laughs along with others making me realize everyone has heard what I said to Gordon at that time.

Damn them and their sharp hearing.

“Your Majesty, we have accepted her as our Queen the day she fulfilled her promise to bring back our children safely.” He briefly glances at his family and I see Andy standing beside his mother. When he meets my gaze a smile lifts his lips which I happily return.

“A Queen should be compassionate, just, and fierce.” He looks at me, “And from what we have found she is everything which a leader should be. And it is nothing but an honor for us to see her rule by your side.” Looking at Atlas he respectfully bows his head while the rest of them follows his action showing their agreement.

I never knew how much these words would mean to me until now. I knew what position Atlas holds among his kind, but truly at this moment, I realize the weight of that position. Knowing that they are accepting me as theirs, engulfs my heart in different kinds of emotions as my eyes start to water.

Hastily, I wipe my tear with my fingers while holding Atlas’s hand because I am feeling so overwhelmed and I need him to hold me.

His gaze stays ahead while he glances at his people, his grip on my hand tightens while a feeling of pride and adoration emits from him.

“Let’s complete the union ceremony,” He announces.

His guards place a large gold vessel, resembling a cauldron, in the center. And then everyone looks at him expectantly.

I am clueless about what is happening so I just stay silent and wait for him to explain.

He walks in the middle and stands in front of the cauldron, then turning to me he beckons me to come forward. Walking to him, I look inside the vessel, which is empty, then my gaze turns to him questioningly.

His fangs elongate and he makes a large cut between his left palm and let the blood drip into the vessel.

Okay if he expects me to drink this then I may warn him because my nausea will not allow me to do any such thing.

“You don’t have to drink this.” He turns to me with a hint of an amused smile on his lips as if he has heard my thoughts.

“Usually, union ceremony is held just between family members, however, since we are the head that’s why everyone present here will be part of this ceremony.” He glances at everyone then back at me. “They all are my family, and from now onward, yours as well.”

“Your Majesty.” Gordon brings a tray on which a knife is placed.

Looking at the knife realization dawns on me that I have to drop my blood into this vessel just like Atlas has done. Since I am a human and don’t own sharp teeth as them so obviously I will need a knife to complete my part of the ritual.

Without any fear or hesitation, I pick the knife ready to slice my palm when Atlas holds my hand to stop me. Taking out the knife from my hand he places it back on the tray while shaking his head.

He smiles and presses a kiss inside my palm, then swirls his tongue against my palm. His action is similar to the one he always does when he takes my blood to minimize the pain.

My heart brims with love because he is doing this because doesn’t want me to feel the pain even if it for a brief moment. Once he is satisfied, his canines graze my palm as I brace myself for the slight sting which I always feel when he takes me blood. In one swift motion, he pierces my palm just enough to draw some drops of blood.

Holding my palm above the vessel he lets the blood drip into the vessel and combines it with his. He brings my palm near his mouth and licks the two small puncture marks, cleaning them of blood, and holds my hand in between his hand.

Next Theo comes forward after giving us a brief nod he makes a large gash on his hand and drops his blood into ours, then after him, Felix comes and mirrors his action. However, he gives me a bear hug before returning to his position beside Theo.

Group by group, people come and repeat the same thing and step back. By the last group, the vessel is filled with blood.

Atlas glances at his guards as if silently ordering them something. Large pieces of wood are placed into the vessel then Theo walks to it holding a fire torch in his hand.

Then he lits the logs by throwing the torch in the vessel and soon large flames of fire emits from the vessel almost reaching the sky.

“United by blood.” Atlas looks at the fire.“Our blood is mixed with each other making us one. We are one and will remain one till the last drop of our blood.” His voice echoes clearly throughout the field, after a moment of silence everyone cheers and celebrates.

“Welcome to the family, My Queen.” He looks at me, his gaze holds nothing but love and reverence.

“Thank you for choosing me as your soul and breathing life into me.” Smiling at him, I brush my lips against his in a small peck feeling grateful to have him in my life.