Page 28 of Her Vicious Beasts: The Beginning
“So beautiful, Aurelia. What a sight for an oldbonelike me.”
I freeze in horror as I register the emphasis on that one particular word. An odd choice of wording made very purposefully in front of others.
He knows what I am.
My eyes slide to my father, who is smiling mildly, then Uncle Ron, who is staring at his feet. Holy Mother, they’ve told him, and that’s why he’s so ecstatic to marry me. This is no normal marriage.
Halfeather will get me pregnant immediately to produce more of me. He’ll likely get others to do it too. The smartest thing to do would be to diversify the genes of my children to create the most powerful court since ancient times.
I wonder if I can turn into a mouse and scurry out the window, never to be seen again. But snakes eat mice. So do eagles, and my father is giving me a dark look that promises murder if I act out.
But Icouldturn into a tiger if I wanted.
Or a lion.
I’ve never tried it, but I could probably turn into a dragon, too.
I could destroy this house and everyone in it, if I wanted to. But then everyone would know that my mother was from the ancient house of Boneweaver. That we could turn into any beast we wanted as long as we’d been in physical contact with it.
But to do that would mean that everyone would find out and there would be a global manhunt for me. The valuable anima who could produce more of her kind. And a group of males and females who could turn into any beast? That court would be the most powerful group in known history. The Council wouldn’t allow it, and every underground mob boss would be after me. Chain me up and use me to breed.
So as Halfeather leads me to the table in front of the tiger councilman, I let him, holding back the burning of my eyes with all my might.
I glance over my shoulder again to see my astral prisoners watching everyone and everything closely. Scythe has disappeared and Savage stands by my elbow, peering over my shoulder to look at the papers. He lets out a breath that I swear I can feel and I shiver.
Halfeather brings out a tiny blue velvet box and my heart gives an unsteady beat.
“Perk up, little snake,” comes Xander’s voice on my other side now. “You’re going to be living in a mansion instead of that old hovel of yours. You can come and visit us every day.” And then closer to my ear. “He’ll make you fat with little bird babies. How many do you want?”
I suppress a gag as Halfeather unceremoniously takes out the ring and grabs my hand. It’s a huge diamond, round cut with a golden band. Halfeather gives me a haughty look as I stare at the massive rock, wondering how much I can trade it in for.
There has to be a way to get out of here, surely? Somehow, I can escape, I just know it. A piece of paper means nothing. Not to me, anyway.
“Sign here, please,” the councilman slides forward a thick parchment and Halfeather picks up the pen and scribbles in an impatient but elegant cursive. Just as I go to take the pen,Halfeather hands it over to my father. My hand hangs lamely in mid-air for a single, disbelieving moment.
Xander chuckles softly behind me. “The snakes follow the Old Laws, eh? Nice little loophole for your filthy kind. They should have executed you all back in the old purge.”
A chill creeps down my spine at the cold malice in my mate’s words, but I have no time to ponder Xander’s hate because I’m watching my father.
He signs the form in one brisk movement that tells me exactly what little importance I am to him.
And here I am, officially being given away as breeding stock.
Chapter 19
Aurelia
Charlotte, Trixie, and my two uncles leave the room, my heart pounding faster and faster with every step they all take away from me. I glanced at Halfeather, who’s looking at me greedily. My cheeks heat up and my entire body prickles with adrenaline. How long will he wait to consummate the marriage? Because, honestly, he looks like he wants to do it right now.
I glance at Beak in alarm, and he shifts uncomfortably when he returns my look. There’ll be no help for me here. He can’t step out of line with his boss, that’s for sure. I don’t want to get him in trouble, either.
“She’ll spend one last night at her own house,” my father says, “as we agreed, Charles.”
My heart leaps into my throat. Is it possible? I look between the two males and the remaining councilman, who nods. “As per the Old Laws.”
I had forgotten about that particular rule. After marriage, the bride went back to spend one last night with her female family members while the males of her family stayed at her husband’s home to make sure it was up to scratch. The next morning, the bride would then return to her new house. It was a thing from atime long past, when the bride needed to be instructed on how to bed a man properly. Such a thing could only be spoken about to a married woman, of course, so the separation was necessary.
The whole thing is stupid, but I’m not complaining. The fire leaves Halfeather’s eyes, but the look he gives me before I leave is a nasty promise of what’s to come.
