But now, when she needed the same comfort, he couldn’t find the courage to hold her. He feared he would learn what her pain meant. That she wanted Hakken back.
“Regn?”
His gloomy thoughts went away at the sound of her quivering voice. She looked pale, shaky, and once again at the brink of tears. Maeve peered at him, looking for answers. “Did I make a mistake?”
Was sending Hakken away a mistake? No. He wouldn't allow anyone to harm her, even if it meant hurting others to keep her safe. Was it the right thing to do? He couldn’t tell. He knew how broken Hakken was before Maeve’s arrival and how much he improved with her by his side. Her rejection might break him for good.
But he couldn’t tell her that. “He will be all right, you’ll see. We will come back to the village, and he will be all clingy with you again.”
A tiny smile. Her relief was a blessing and a curse.
“And we will be all right. I’ll keep you safe, we will be careful,” he reassured her.
They got back on their way soon after, assessing their surroundings with each step. Regn used his sharp senses, and Maeve focused on perceiving any dangerous emotion around them.
Reaching their destination took longer than expected, but the reward was worthwhile. At the end of the ravine, right in the middle of a gorgeous valley, Astika’s palace stood, shining like a pearl under the sunset. They both gaped at the scenery.
It was magnificent.
It was also inexplicable, obscenely ostentatious, and fitting for a womanizer, half-serpent, half-man guy.
A gigantic, pointy seashell stood proud, surrounded by the valley’s lush vegetation. Almost as tall as the Tree in the Warlock’s clearing, the only explanation for its presence was that thousands of years ago, this area lay under a vast ocean—an ocean populated by colossal beasts.
The abandoned shell of one of these sea creatures rose now as the home of the naga. Round, delicate windows were carved into the pearly spiral, and from them, colorful flowers hung, adding liveliness to the immaculate white of the shell.
Pleasant music reached them, carried by the breeze, and accompanied by laughter and merry voices. Female voices.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
They were both startled when a soft voice called from behind. They turned to find a gorgeous she-elf standing right next to them. Regn went to grab the hilt of his knife, but stopped as soon as he realized the woman didn’t move.
She displayed a provocative smile while observing them. “I guess you came to meet our ravishing Astika—” she nodded at Maeve— “but I’m afraid he does not take an interest in males.” She winked at Regn, causing him to blush, outraged.
“I’m not—!”
“That is not why we are here.” Maeve intervened. “We need to speak with Astika, please. It’s an emergency.”
Regn tensed when the smile from the elf’s face disappeared. Under the setting sun, her ebony skin reflected the golden rays, and the sight of her beauty was captivating. When Maeve mentioned Astika’s many brides, he imagined a handful of dumb, lovesick girls. But the one in front of them looked commanding and poised.
Both women held each other’s gazes for an instant before the elf smiled once more and sauntered past them to lead the way.
“Follow me, darlings. I’m sure Astika will be delighted to grant you an audience.”
They entered the palace through the shell’s half-buried mouth, admiring the carved wooden doors that had been added to the structure. The woodwork was exquisite, depicting a myriad of exotic flowers and delicate butterflies.
“This is magnificent.” Maeve couldn’t help to express her amazement. Regn tried, but it was hard not to gawk at the display of craftsmanship all around them.
“Oh, it is!” The elf beamed once more. “Many of Astika’s brides are blessed with remarkable talents. I believe this was a dryad’s work.”
“Does she live here?” Regn couldn’t hide his curiosity about the talented dryad.
“Oh, no,” she scowled, “that foul legume went back to her tree long ago.”
“Did she escape?”
The woman turned to Regn with a smirk. “Escape? Of course not, sweetie. She left.” The elf pressed on, hips swaying seductively. “We are not prisoners here, half-breed. We might be part of a plentiful harem, but we can come and go as we please.”
“Astika kidnapped me,” Maeve pointed out.
“Ugh... yes. He does that sometimes. But once we are here, most of us chose to stay. This is a beautiful place. We are safe and treated like royalty, and just wait until you visit the library!” She twirled like a child, oozing excitement. “My name is Dinnah, I have been living alongside Astika for 193 years.”
“I am pleased to meet you Dinnah, my name is Maeve, and this is Regn.” Regn nodded at her. The elf made him nervous since he wasn’t used to such an alluring female company. She winked at him and turned once more to lead them up the spiral.
During their ascension, they noticed how the shell had been modified to accommodate bedrooms, dining rooms, sitting areas, luxurious baths, and many other cozy or extravagant rooms.
They built platforms inside the shell to support each chamber, and the differences in style and decoration were noticeable. The surrounding opulence impressed him. He had visited the beautiful cities of the elves, but even they exerted some restrictions. This place was a monument to sumptuousness.
“I’m sorry for the long climb. Astika has his chambers to the top and climbing a spiral can be dizzying.” Dinnah giggled with mischief before stopping by a wide entrance, leading to the most scandalous room yet.
The entire top platform was covered in colorful rugs and fluffy cushions, decorated with fragrant flowers and shiny stones encrusted in the shell pearly walls.
The centerpiece dominated the room. An inconceivably massive bed, occupied by the lord and master of the palace. The naga, Astika.
He appeared to be sound asleep, his long white hair spread out over the soft mattress, framing his peaceful, scaly cheekbones. From his waist down, his body had transformed into a snake,
