Amia's POV
I sat in the carriage, my body trembling as I tried to muffle my sobs. Across from me, the elder's cold eyes never left my face, his expression a mix of disdain and something far worse—curiosity.
After the Serpent Lord's decision, I hadn't even been allowed to say goodbye to my little sister. The moment my mate accepted me as his breeder, my father called in the warriors. They dragged Cassidy away, back to the cell where they kept pack members awaiting punishment.
I'll never forget that moment. My father came closer, wrapping his arms around me in front of the Serpent Lord, his face wearing a mask of paternal affection. But through our mind-link, his voice was cold enough to cut bone:
"Cassidy will be kept as a bargaining chip."
The words froze me to my core. He knew she was my weakness, the only person I loved more than my own life. As long as she was in his grasp, I couldn't run. I couldn't fight. I had no choice but to submit.
Even when the Serpent Lord left in his own carriage and the elder shoved me into another, I couldn't resist. I just sat there, tears streaming, powerless to do anything but cry quietly into my hands.
"You," the elder barked suddenly, his deep voice snapping me out of my thoughts.
I froze, my hand trembling as I pressed it to my lips.
"You should be grateful," he said, his tone sharp. "Honored to be chosen as the Lord's breeder. Do you have any idea how many female serpents lust for him?"
I swallowed hard. I didn't want to know. I didn't care. If circumstances were different, maybe I'd have hated the thought of other females wanting my mate. But right now? None of it mattered. All I could think about was Cassidy—how far away she was from me now and how vulnerable she'd be without me there to shield her.
"What a pity," the elder muttered before leaning back, folding his arms across his chest. "Once we arrive at the Nest, you'll be attended to by servants. Your wedding to the Lord will happen immediately."
That made me stop crying. My eyes snapped up to his.
"What?"
He smirked at my reaction. "Did you really think the Lord would just bed you on the spot? Unlike your kind, who shamelessly mate anywhere and anytime, our kind is more... disciplined." His words dripped with mockery.
His explanation didn't make sense to me. Why would my mate go through the trouble of marrying me? There had to be more to it than just "discipline."
"After you're married," the elder continued, "you'll have one simple duty—open your legs for him so he can take his pleasure."
The way he said it made bile rise in my throat. The smirk stretching his thin lips didn't help.
"My Lord is generous. The deal he struck with your father is... fair. All you have to do is give him an heir, and once you do, he will grant you your freedom."
My head snapped up.
"Yes," he nodded, as if reading my mind. "It surprised me as well. The Lord has never shown such mercy to anyone he considered unworthy. Even when your father suggested you serve him as a slave forever, the Lord refused."
My heart pounded. Why? Why would someone with his kind of power give me freedom? Men like my father took pride in keeping people chained to them like dogs on a leash. And my mate—based on the way he looked at me in the living hall—saw me as worthless.
The only explanation was the one I dreaded: he would grant me "freedom" because the moment I gave him an heir, he'd reject me.
That thought made my chest ache. My wolf whimpered deep inside me, knowing it was a very real possibility.
"The reason I chose to ride with you," the elder said, leaning forward now, "is that I need to teach you the rules you'll live by from now on."
He straightened in his seat, his tone commanding. "You will not disrespect the Lord. You will not speak to him unless spoken to. He is loved by everyone in the Nest. Do you know why?"
I wiped my damp cheeks and shook my head.
"Because our Lord is the heart of all Nests. Do you know how rare it is for a Lord to be born among us? Each Lord comes once every hundred years."
My stomach dropped. A hundred years. Was he implying the Lord would breed me for a century? That "freedom" was just another word for dying in the Nest as his personal plaything?
"Our Lord is not just royalty," the elder went on proudly. "Those before him were powerful magic-wielders blessed with great fortune. He is no different. To us, the Lords are what your kind would call Alpha Kings."
I wasn't surprised. My father was adored in our pack in the same way. No matter what he did—how cruel, how wrong—it was justified by the pack members. That was power.
"But the Lord isn't the only one worthy of your submission," the elder continued. "You will also respect the Lord's right hand—the Oracle, Lucian. He rarely visits the palace, but when he does, his presence is felt. His magic is unlike any other. What makes him special is his ability to see and tap into things hidden from normal eyes."
I frowned. "Oracle" to me meant herbs and vague predictions based on seasons or patterns—not... magic visions.
"Like his forefathers, he sees into the future," the elder explained. "Sometimes through dreams, sometimes visions. He sees up to four different possibilities for a single path. He studies each one to find the outcome that will benefit the Nest most. That is why we are so powerful and wealthy—it is all thanks to him."
If that was true, then Lucian was far more dangerous than I'd thought.
"Now, listen carefully," the elder said, his voice sharp again. "When we arrive, you will not overstep. Most serpents in the Nest are weak magic users compared to the Lord, but compared to your kind—who can't wield magic at all—they are strong. We have defenders who guard all Nests from threats. You will also see workers who serve the Lord, the Oracle, and elders like myself."
He pulled the curtain aside to glance outside, and a faint smirk touched his lips.
"It seems we've reached the Nest's border," he said, then added casually, "A little magic on the wheels makes the carriage move at great speed, yet without discomfort for those inside."
My stomach knotted tighter with every word.
"Don't be nervous," he said with a sly glance. "Your father and mother should be right behind us in another carriage as we speak."
I bit my tongue hard to stop myself from blurting out, "What?!"
"They adore you," he added, his grin stretching wider, his snake-like tongue flickering out briefly.
I swallowed against the nausea crawling up my throat. We both knew it was a lie. They weren't coming out of love—they were coming to make sure I didn't fail to do exactly what they wanted. And my parents always, always got what they wanted.