When Lyria finally woke up she was freezing. All around her was a smooth coldness.
Her eyes snapped open. Laying right next to her was the king. Her entire body was wrapped in his snake tail and he was cold to the touch. He was squeezing a little tight and she was in a lot of pain. Her ribs had healed but the fall and being slammed down by the bear had her hurting all over still.
Lyria tried hard not to cry but she couldn't handle it anymore.
"Please let me go." She whispered it but for some reason, the king still heard and woke up.
"My dear why are you crying? As long as you obey I won't hurt you, so don't be afraid." He wiped her tears and held her a little tighter.
"Too t-tight. S-so much pain."
He looked down and realized he was indeed squeezing her too tight. He quickly loosen his grip and she took in desperate breaths of air.
"I sometimes forget I do that. My body is drawn to heat and when I get cold I cling to any kind of warmth."
I could breathe better but I was still in a lot of pain. I also couldn't move much.
"I found a piece of cloth in your hands, what's it for." He showed me the piece I use as a veil.
"It's my veil I use to cover most of my face. Since I'm still young it was a good idea so I wouldn't get so much attention from the other males."
"That's a great idea. You will wear this whenever you're outside of this room. I have things I need to do and you will follow my every move. You will stay by my side but slightly behind me, understand."
"Yes, your majesty."
He got up letting me go completely. I fell to my hands and knees. I don't have much strength.
"Get up. Let's go."
"I don't have the strength to move your majesty."
The king made a face. His tail whipped out and grabbed my arm pulling me up to my feet.
"You will do as you're told even if your missing half your body, do you understand." He squeezed my arm tighter. It hurt so bad.
"Yes, your majesty." I managed to wheeze out. My body is in bad shape and he doesn't even care.
"We'll make an appearance first before you meet the other females and you can rest and have your wounds looked at." He let go of me and I landed on my feet. I made sure to put my veil on quickly. We both walked out but with me following him.
'I have to endure for a little while. Just long enough to live.'
We went to the room we were first brought into. The king sat on the throne and I stood at his side slightly behind him.
"Females are to stand off to the side." The snake beastman tried to grab me but I stayed where I was and kept my head down. This action made the snake man mad. He pushed me to the side and I fell to the ground. I finally noticed other females along the wall. The king told me to stay by his side so I got up and went back to the place I was standing. I'm already weak and have little strength but I fear what will happen to me if I don't do what the king asked me to do.
Again I was slapped to the side. I lay there for a moment. Everything hurts and I'm in so much pain. I try my best to get back up but I can't move.
"Get up and do as your told Lyria." I heard the king say.
I want to cry so bad but I suck it in and crawl to the king's side. After taking a couple of deep breaths I stand up in my spot.
The crowd is shocked by the girls' behavior, even the snake beast that was trying to move her, didn't touch her.
"Come here Lyria." I slowly move in front of the king.
"That's such a good girl. Most females wouldn't last that long. You are indeed a special female." I'm light-headed I don't know how much longer I'll be able to stay awake.
"Luna. Take her to be treated and let her rest. Make sure he knows not to look under her veil."
A pregnant female came out and helped Lyria leave.
"That is my new chosen one. She is not to be touched by any of you." In that instant, the snake beast that hit Lyria lay on the ground bleeding from his throat.
"I told her to stay by my side. Why did you have to interfere my son."
"Now let us continue our business."
In the hallway, Lyria finally collapsed.
"I need a guard please." A beastman not far off walked up. He picked up the unconscious female and followed Luna to the healer's room.
"What is wrong with this female?" The healer asked.
"She's newly brought in."
"I've already finished the checkup for all the new females." The healer was puzzled. Did he really miss one?
"She went straight to the king's room and this morning she was hit hard enough I'm surprised she was still able to get up but she really didn't look good." Luna did her best to explain.
"Alright, I'll do my best."
"Also, she's his new chosen so be extra careful with your examination and do not look under her veil," Luna warned him.
The healer was a rogue too so he was careless when it came to the examinations. With a chosen female if his scent was on her he'd be tortured for the rest of his life. Only the king was allowed to touch the chosen ones.
The healer gulped in fright.
He looked at the female and started patching her up. She's a lot worse than he first noticed. Even the claim mark on her neck was starting to fester up.
The healer worked on her all day. He took his time mainly because he was enjoying himself too much.
When he finished, he got one of the guards to take her to one of the spare rooms to rest.