My soul left my new body before it even settled completely.
I wish the ground would just open up and swallow me. Either way, I would still be dead, but atleast it would be less painful. And less embarrassing!
What should I do?
First, I grabbed my soul and stuffed it back in my body. It's too early for me to die!
But where do I even begin? Perhaps all hope was not lost. I tried to recall what I wrote about snakes.
Snakes were prideful creatures. They treasured the scales on their tails more than anything in the world, similar to mermaids and mermen who treasured their fish tail scales.
When they met a female they liked and wanted them to be their mate, they would pluck a few of their scales, make them into a necklace, and gift it to her.
That was the highest form of their affection.
But how does that help my situation right now?
Maybe if I praise his scales, he'll forgive me.
I opened my mouth but couldn't even make a peep.
Snakes are violent and incredibly fast; outrunning them was out of the question. They were carnivores too, which meant they would eat other beastmen without a second thought.
Was I going to turn into snake food?
He suddenly shifted, making me anxious.
Had he decided to eat me?
He seemed to have caught on to something. He leaned in close. I froze, stiffening even more.
His amber eyes were now locked onto mine. Sharp and unyielding.
And then… he sniffed.
Was he smelling me?
I could feel it. Every inhale he took was deliberate, deep, and consuming. Then, he let out a satisfied groan.
My heart started hammering in my chest. What was happening?
"What is… that scent?" he murmured, voice low, almost mesmerized.
Before I could even process, his long, slim tongue, slitted at the tip, shot out, and then... He licked my face.
My soul left my body, again.
The color on my face drained completely, and my stomach turned. My tail and ears straightened in alert.
A snake just… licked me?
"Oh god, oh god, oh god—" I whispered, voice trembling.
A snake just licked me. My face. My face! He licked my face!
His gaze didn't waver. He lowered his head closer to my neck as he sniffed again, taking in my scent as if it were the air he couldn't live without.
His upper body leaned against mine, muscles coiling, scales glinting under the moonlight.
My mind went completely blank. Every nerve in me screamed in panic, humiliation, and… something else I didn't dare name.
Snakes were the antagonists in my novel. The enemy! No snake dared come close to the female lead, who was always protected by her numerous mates.
There were only three instances where snakes were mentioned.
Once, the characters in my story found tracks left by snakes while they were on their adventure. The second time, a snake peeped on their mating session. As for the third, the same snake tried to take Verya to become his mate. He presented the necklace he made from his scales, but he was hunted down and killed by Verya's mates.
This situation was beyond my control.
"I will forgive your insolence," the snake said suddenly, voice calm but dangerous, like the air before a thunderstorm. "But… in return, I will take you to be my mate."
I choked.
"W-what?" My voice cracked like a frightened pup.
My ears twitched nervously, tail flicking, and my heart skipped several beats at once.
Did I hear that right?
Mate?
He can't be serious!
Why was a prideful snake suddenly asking me to be his mate?.
He leaned just a little closer, nostrils flaring in excitement. His amber gaze held mine, but I wasn't enticed.
Even if he was handsome, had a great upper body, gorgeous eyes, and irresistible scales on his tail, the fact that he was a snake remained.
Every instinct in me screamed to run, hide, plead, anything—but my body refused to move an inch.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to pass out. I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. I wanted all of it besides going along with this man.
But mostly… I wanted to vanish entirely.
And yet, I still couldn't move.
It was as if he had me under a spell.
I stared into his eyes that seemed to be enchanting me. His beautiful amber eyes were glowing at me... they were...
I immediately snapped out of it.
What was wrong with me?
He was a freaking snake for crying out loud! An enemy in the beast world.
And I hate snakes. They scare me.
He suddenly leaned in again, and I jolted.
What was he going to do now?
Then, he asked with a voice devoid of care and intimidation.
"Do you fear me, Female?"
No, I fear your lineage. Your face is just too handsome to instill fear, welp. I want out of this situation.
How can I get out?
"Female, I want to make you my mate." He boldly declared again. "I'll even give you my scales."
What?
I was flabbergasted.
What was making him do all this? He even mentioned his scales! Snake beastmen never joke about giving their scales for any reason whatsoever.
I wasn't even pretty. I was ugly with freckles.
I have a visible scar on my belly that hasn't faded even with time.
But somehow, for some reason, he was asking me to be his mate?
"M-may I ask why?"