Scales can sink deeper than skin

A snake-human subspecies, the Nagari, have had dwindling populations due to overhunting by humans, as their scales are valued much more than their lives. With the recent king killed, the Nagari desperately pray to their gods for a new ruler to protect the last remaining kingdom. The gods decide that the humans have taken enough of their people and send a snake to bite a man named Basil York.

While hiking, Kara York's husband Basil is bitten by a snake. She tries to take him to a hospital but he refuses, saying he's okay. When they get home, Kara notices her husband has changed. He treats her and their twins, Indigo and Nero differently. Things get worse the next day when Kara wakes up, and Basil has disappeared along with her children.

A year later, Kara walks on the same trail she and her husband once did in an attempt to find clues to her family's disappearance and wanders off the path into the Nagari kingdom of Slilyra. The Royal guards catch Kara and take her to the king. Although initially petrified at the sight of the king, she soon recognizes him as her missing husband. Unfortunately, she realizes that Basil has not only dismissed their marriage, only seeing her as a mother to his children, but he has also become cruel and cold-hearted, seeing humans as vermin that Nagari must expel, the only acceptance being his two children who he has yet to perfect.

Kara begs Basil to spare her and cries for any way to be a family again. Basil takes slight pity on her and decides that she will live in the dungeon with his children and be his servant. Although Kara is happy as weeks pass, she realizes that Basil no longer cares for them.

Kara watches her love sleep with multiple Nagari women to "Revive the population" and serves him grand meals while she and her children barely have enough food and endure constant abuse from Basil.

Eventually, she grows stronger and even begins to plan an escape for herself and her children with the help of a lower-rank guard.