“Where are his legs?” Maeve asked in a whisper.
“Oh! He shape-shifts when he’s traveling,” Dinnah answered, “a lot more comfortable and less shocking for his new brides to meet him with legs.” She took a small bell from an indent in the wall and rang it to awaken the naga. “Astika, darling, you have visitors.”
He coiled and stretched while yawning before groggily opening his pitch-black eyes and blinking at the sight of Maeve. He smiled before sliding out of bed and moved to loosely wrap his body around her. “Oh my! If I’m to wake up to this beautiful view every morning, I’ll be the happiest naga in the Forest.” He spoke with an annoying hissing accent.
Dinnah rolled her eyes, amused. “It’s almost nighttime, my dearest.”
Aching to dig his knife into the touchy snake, Regn reminded himself they were there to ask for his help. Maeve didn’t appear troubled by his closeness and stared at him with an impassive and slightly miffed gaze.
“Have you reconsidered and followed your desires? Are you going to become my wife, precious?” Astika said, running a hand through his hair.
“I thank you for the honor, Astika, but that is not why I’m here.”
The naga’s shoulders slumped, letting out a sigh, and moved back to the bed to sprawl on some cushions. He rested his head on his arm while smiling once more. “Then you must be confused. Is that meddlesome god still bothering you? And what of this boy you keep around?” he gestured at Regn.
“For someone so old, you surely are dense.” Regn almost bit his lip right after finishing that line. He had to maintain composure! Hakken’s stupidity ended up rubbing on him.
Maeve sent him a discreet scowl, and he lowered his head. Better to let her do the talking.
“Astika, please, you must have heard about what is happening in the Forest. The mountain half-breeds are prisoners to the goddess Pouri’s will and had been attacking other tribes, killing his kind.” Maeve stopped to assess the naga’s response, but he ignored her, analyzing his nails instead. “The attacks involved other races, and the red dust had captured many. Remember the dust you saw on the other girl when you kidnap me?”
“Oh, that gorgeous wild beauty! How is she?” he grinned.
“She... Flyg... she is all right. We freed her. And that is why we came to ask for your help.” Maeve took a step forward, pleading with him. “We can free everyone else and stop the killings, but we need to go near them first. And to do so, we need the magic you used to make Flyg and me sleep.”
The moment of truth.
Regn held his breath, waiting for Astika’s response. The naga stared at Maeve, every hint of flirtation gone. Regn watched him close his black eyes and idly stretch his neck before rising to his full height, his snake body sliding over the rugs. “I don’t see why I should bother myself with the troubles of the world. I’ve spent a lifetime building a haven for my brides and me, and as long as I can keep them and the gorgeous me living comfortably, I couldn’t care less for your half-breed companions.”
He had the nerve to smile at them!
“I would love to help, but it would interfere with my peaceful lifestyle.” Regn shook in rage. That snake! That selfish, heartless, fucking snake! He could probably kill him now he decided the death of hundreds of innocents was not worthy of him sharing some information. His hand moved to his knife once more; this time, he had all the intention of using it.
But Maeve moved faster.
She took two long strides, stood right in front of Astika, and—standing on her tiptoes—she slammed a fist into his chin. The hit barely reached, but it carried enough strength to stun the naga for a second.
Everyone in the room froze in shock, staring at the outraged young woman facing Astika, who was most likely a lot stronger than her. Maeve was furious. Her eyes blazed with rage. “You hear me now, you miserable worm! Children are dying! Men, women... slain! The dust forces innocent people to kill, and you expect me to leave this ridiculous place without a solution!”
Her nostrils flared, and her usually calm features transformed. She was breathing hard while clenching her fists. Regn’s jaw dropped as he saw his friend become this fierce creature. She looked amazing! If earlier he struggled to resist the urge to kill the naga, he now had to concentrate not to jump and kiss her.
“You are going to help us, or by the Ancients, I swear I will use any means I can get my hands on to skin you alive!” She had him tightly gripped by the silk robe, fuming.
Astika didn’t seem to be able to come to his senses. “I-I don’t...” He blinked. “It’s a simple potion, b-but... I can’t prepare as much as... I mean... you are going to need a lot!”
“Oh, but I can.”
They all turned to Dinnah, who was leisurely leaning against a wall, enjoying the spectacle with a cheeky smile on her face. She walked to Maeve with a glint of acknowledgment in her eyes. “I know the recipe. We all do. The brides will help you, and you two will be ready in a matter of days.”
“Dinnah! I could never ask you to do so much work!” Astika pleaded with her.
“You are not asking, my love. I’m offering it. I want to help these cuties, and I’d hate to see you gutted.” Dinnah turned to the door, waving her arms with grace. “I’ll rally the others, and we will begin at once. It’s going to take a few days, though, so you might need to bathe and rest.”
She turned to them and batted her eyelashes. “Come, come! I’ll show you to your room.”
CHAPTER XXXVIII
COLD NIGHT
Hakken
The pain threatened to sink him, make him curl on the Forest ground, and stay until death found him. But his body seemed to disagree. For almost twelve
