After Ten Stillbirths, the Snake King Searches for His Amnesiac Love

Aria Winters has stood by Zane Blackwood for ten years, ever since she cut out half her own beast core to save the dying emerald snake she found. Now he is the Serpent King, and she is the wife who has tried ten times to give him a child. Each time, the egg died while Zane rushed to the side of Ruby, the fox he says he owes a debt to. This tenth time, the hatchling breaks its shell, but Zane carries Ruby away instead, promising to return in three days. He never comes back, and the hatchling grows cold in Aria's arms.

When Zane finally returns, he asks to marry Ruby, who is pregnant with his child, and Ruby takes the necklace made from his hardest scale. Then Ruby falls from a cliff on the wedding day, and Zane accuses Aria of poisoning the necklace. He demands the other half of her beast core to save Ruby, though only half remains inside her.

Aria has already buried a seed that can make her forget everything. Whether she can survive the Serpent King's demand, or vanish before he can find her, is the question that remains.