Rain Glade Read Online Free Page B

of getting lost all alone.
There are dangerous creatures out here too.” Rain thought of the
wyvern from the day before. “Perhaps we should turn back.”
    Jacob lifted his chin and puffed his chest.
“I can handle anything. Part of my training has been how to battle
dangerous beasts that threaten villages.”
    Rain couldn’t help but be impressed. Verna
was the only one she ever felt safe with in the forest. Rain didn’t
like the idea that Jacob might hurt anything though, especially
since Verna had taught her that the life of all creatures was
sacred. “Do you kill animals for fun then?”
    He took her by the arms. “I only kill what’s
necessary for food and survival. I thank the Gods for providing for
my parents and me. Please believe that I have never enjoyed
killing anything living.”
    “I believe you.” Rain rested her forehead on
his shoulder for a moment and then smiled at him. He smiled back
and took her hand again.
    They made their way through the tunnel.
Leaves blocked the light, making it nearly as dark as night without
moons. Just when Rain was wondering if the darkness would ever end,
they came into a glade.
    Both of them gasped in amazement. The creek
flowed from a rise on the other side, its sparkling water tumbling
merrily down rocks. Soft, green grass bordered the creek along with
flowers unlike any Rain had ever seen. Magnificent trees bordered
the glade, their enormous trunks covered in verdant moss. The
uppermost branches were lost to sight, allowing only a small circle
of evening sunlight in. Birds and squirrels played among the
branches, while flop-eared bunnies hopped away from the
intruders.
    A sense of timelessness and magic filled the
glade. The pain in Rain’s side lessened and her shoulders relaxed.
Jacob leaned toward Rain. “There’s magic here. I’m sure of it.”
    Rain nodded slowly. “I can feel it caressing
my skin. My stomach doesn’t hurt as bad anymore. It feels like the
trees are sheltering us.”
    “Yeah. I feel safer here than in the walls of
Lord Greffen’s castle.” Jacob walked forward slowly. Every step was
taken with care not to disturb anything.
    “We’re welcome here. I can feel it.” Rain let
go of his hand and ran to the falls. The water glistened in her
cupped hands and tasted divine when she drank it.
    “It feels like we are, but my ma always told
me to avoid magical places, saying they’re dangerous.” Jacob looked
up at the trees with worry etched across his masculine
features.
    “Verna says that there are magical places all
over the world and each of them is a treasure.” Rain watched a
cheerful bee buzz away from an orange flower. She sniffed the
abandoned blossom. The fragrance was heavenly. “As long as we show
respect and do nothing to harm it, we’ll be safe.”
    “Who’s Verna?” Jacob was standing at the base
of a tree, peering up at the branches.
    “Verna’s my best friend. She knows more about
the forest than anyone.” Rain moved to another flower, pink like
Jacob’s eyes.
    Jacob took off his jacket and sat against the
tree trunk between two large roots rising out of the ground. “Well,
if she knows more about the forest than anyone, then we’ll treat
your glade with respect.”
    “My glade?” Rain turned to him.
    “Yes. A magical glade for a magical woman.”
He smiled and rested his arms on his bent knees.
    “I’m not magical!” Rain protested in alarm.
“I promise I don’t know magic.”
    “That’s not what I meant.” Jacob shook his
head. “Your smile makes the day brighter. Your hand in mine makes
my skin tingle. When I held you in my arms, I wanted to protect you
forever. You’re the most magical woman I’ve ever met, Rain.”
    Rain blushed and hid her face in her hands.
His words overwhelmed her. She decided to ignore them and leaned
over another flower instead. A butterfly landed on her hand, much
to her surprise. Rain lifted it for Jacob to see.
    “I’ve never seen an orange and purple
butterfly like