Scale shifted, admiring her emerald green scales. Her tail spoke of how powerful she was, a rich, long, emerald thing of beauty. Her hair was black, like obsidian. She wondered what the great Ereos would look like.

She dreamed of Him almost nightly. He would have raven-black hair, shortened for ease of fighting. His scars would tell His story, and His tail, a rich blue length, would tell of His power.

She expected her spies, a multitude of snakes, would come back soon. That, too, spoke of her abilities. Rarely could any Beast-Kin control those of her own species, especially ones less related to them. She knew that first-hand. It was hard to learn how to control them.

The first hiss broke her out of her thought process. A small brown snake was curled in front of her, watching through veiled eyes.

“Haaave you ssssseen any other living beingssssss, ssssmall one?”

Yes, mistress. It responded. I have found Angelssss, winged beassst-kin. They have no talonsss, however. There are Humanssss, they look flessshy and plaain. The Demonsssss, I contaccted. We have a lottttt in common. There are elusive Elvesssss, which we could only confirm the exissstenssse of because they got carelessssss.

“I sssee. I will inforrrrm my advisssorsss.”

She slithered out the large arch to her pool of water. It was where she slept, and lived. She had no mate, and would have none besides Him. She made her way through the holes of the mountain that was hollowed as a palace.

It was raining when she emerged. The Beast-Kin were already waiting for her to announce the existence of others.

“My underlingssss. My ssssnakesss have confirmed the exissstense of other beingssss. We have a posssible ally. They call themselvesss Demonssss. I will bring ssseveral trusted bodyguardssss to negotiate.”

The crowd cheered, and she turned away to find her bodyguards.