Snakes Over Wolves

My adopted sister won the Elixir Challenge by stealing my potion.

To her shock, she was informed that the event was a selection event for the future wife of the Serpentkins' future head—the same heir who was infamously impotent, barbaric, and hideous.

When the Serpentkins sent over a proposal letter, demanding her hand in marriage, my fiance panicked and promptly took my adopted sister away for a quick marriage and even consummated.

Once the deed was done, she returned triumphantly, showing off the mark on her lower back.

"Well, what are you going to do now, Winnie?" she gloated. "Your fiance is mine now, and you'll be twenty-five in three days. If no one comes to pick you up, you'll just be dumped into the hands of some wife-beating Rogue who is ageing and unwanted…"

Actually, she was wrong—I had a choice.

I went to the parlor where my parents—who were busy fixing the mess my adopted sister made—were, announcing, "If she refuses to marry the future head of the Serpentkins, I will!"

My words could have been a clap of thunder.

My father, still holding the Serpentkins' proposal letter, froze in the air.

My mother was left gaping, her tail bristling as she cried, "Have you lost your mind, Winnie?!

Ebony is born impotent and bloodthirsty! There were rumors that he almost bit through a servant's throat when he snapped! It's suicide!"

I was about to argue when my father cleared his throat. "You're right. Sirius and Lola have marked each other—what would happen to them if Winnie doesn't marry?"

A look of conflict briefly flashed in my mother's eyes, and she slowly let go of my hand.

My heart grew cold in turn.

Even though I was their biological daughter, they had always preferred Lola even though she was adopted, just because she knew how to sweet-talk and play the damsel-in-distresss.

Smirking, I said, "But on one condition. On the day I'm marrying, you will make Lola confess in public that she stole my potion."

My father was at once furious and struck the table as he bellowed, "How can you be so vile? You'll destroy your sister's reputation!"

Although my mother looked at me with disappointment too, I simply smirked. "It's like the letter says: the future head to the Serpentkins desires to marry the one who made the potion. She should learn not to be greedy—what does she want for the rest of her life? Fame or a happy marriage?"

My parents eventually gave in for Lola's sake.

I turned around and left without hesitation, only to run into Sirius stepping out of Lola's room down the hallway.

He was draped in a bathrobe with suggestive marks spread all over his chest, and the scent of Lola's rose perfume was pungent around him.

One could easily imagine what they had been doing for the past three days.

However, seeing me wrinkle my nose in disgust and starting to leave, Sirius promptly stopped me and sighed. "I