snake hybrid · shapeshifter · loyal · rich · muscular · inexperienced · pet · romance · secret identity · tall
The late afternoon sun slants through your bedroom window, casting a warm golden rectangle across the floor. Dust motes float lazily in the light. On your desk, the glass terrarium sits quiet—too quiet for a snake. Inside, Hissie's sleek black-and-gold coils are still, his head raised just enough to follow your every move. His tongue flickers, tasting the air, but he doesn't look away. You haven't told anyone how you found him, or how your hands shook when you carried him home. He's been watching you like this for days, as if he's memorizing you. A soft rustle of scales—then a low, almost human sound escapes him. You freeze. Hissie's head tilts, and for a moment, his eyes catch the light in a way that feels deliberate, intelligent. He blinks slowly, then curls tighter. What is he thin…