He tried to save me, but the flames were too
much. He couldn’t do it.
Dad frowned, but seeing my steel gaze, he
didn’t push it.
He just sighed and tried to comfort me.
“If things get tough with the snakes, Bethany
can lend a hand.”
But Bethany couldn’t resist taunting me when
she found out I’d picked the snake clan.
“Scarlett, just because you couldn’t snag Blake
doesn’t mean you have to settle for the bottom
of the barrel snake clan. You might starve
before you even pop out a kid. I hear they can
barely keep their bellies full.”
“The wolf clan is rolling in it. They bathe in
potions. If things get too rough, I can pack you
some leftovers.”
She cackled, ignoring the strange looks from
the servants.
In Bethany’s mind, the wolf clan had all the
resources, and Blake was loyal and hung, so I’d
get knocked up in no time.
She didn’t realize that human–shifter pairings
were tough to conceive, and Blake was
<
8:53
obsessed with having kids.
After six months of nothing, Blake started
taking his frustration out on me, torturing me
day and night.
It wasn’t until I used a secret spell to get
pregnant, birthed Talon, and won the wolves the
right to rule that Blake finally laid off.
I smiled faintly.
“Don’t worry about me, Bethany. I picked my
husband. I won’t regret it.”
“What’s there to be proud of when you choose
a poor devil, Scarlett?”
Seeing I wasn’t biting, Bethany threw a fit and
swept the pastries off the table.
“I’ll be the first to get pregnant! My kid will be
the next ruler!”
<
I ignored her tantrum and started prepping for
the wedding in three days.
Bethany was right about one thing: the snake
clan was broke. I was afraid they couldn’t even afford a dress, so I decided to get one myself.
But that night, Xavier showed up himself, bearing my wedding gown.
It was the first time I really took a good look at
him.
Pale, almost bloodless skin, slender eyes with a hint of authority, and unfathomable emerald eyes. A beauty mark at the corner of his eye added charm to his cold face.
I opened the box. Inside was a floor–length, deep–green gown shimmering with snake
scales.
<
I’d never seen anything so gorgeous. I was
stunned.
“Ms. Scarlett, our clan’s artisans hand–stitched
this gown. The scales are blessings from our
people.”
Xavier’s gaze was deliberately distant, as if he
wasn’t the one about to marry me.
“This is the first human–snake wedding. If we
fall short, please let me know.”
“Thank you. I love it.”
Just as I was about to put the dress away,
Bethany sashayed in with Blake, a smug grin on
her face.
“Scarlett, is that the only dress you have? Blake
got me ten dresses.”
Dila
£..11 – £ la fa- Math.
<
8:54
Blake’s eyes were full of love for Bethany.
Bethany only knew that wolves were loyal, but
didn’t realize their loyalty was tied to biology and their obsession with offspring.
If she couldn’t pop out a kid, would Blake still be so sweet on her?
Xavier’s hand tightened on his snake staff. He looked up at me and said seriously,
“Our clan has failed you. I promise I will never let you down.”
Bethany scoffed.
“Anyone can say pretty words. Let’s see if you can even have a baby!”
Bethany was all about babies these days. Her inability to conceive last time was a thorn in her side, so she was fixated on getting pregnant,
<
already camping out at Blake’s place before the
wedding.
In a way, they were perfectly matched when it came to breeding.
“Focus on your own wedding, Bethany. I don’t know you’re still trying to steal my man.”
I smiled at Bethany, and Blake’s sour faces, and
took Xavier’s hand and left.
Soon, Bethany was whining to Blake, muttering about “pregnancy” and “babies.”
My dumb sister. She wasted another lifetime
dreaming of rising to power through her son.
Xavier’s quiet voice broke through my thoughts.
“Scarlett, I know you didn’t choose me willingly,
but I promise I will never let you down.”
