Chapter 18

“Ah, it certainly has become hot recently,” Rayne commented, shielding his eyes as we walked the dirt path through the fields.

It was late afternoon now, and we’d been at Jumal all morning.

We had a fun morning out, and I’d gotten to see a lot more of the town with him after our meeting with Sherry and eventually Madame Lucille.

As promised, Rayne had shown me places there that I wouldn’t have noticed without him.

We had even stopped at a quaint little café for breakfast, which was something we hadn’t done together before.

Despite the enjoyment of our morning, we were more than ready to head home now.

The heat of the day was setting in, and as much as I hated admitting it, I was feeling a bit worn out.

“Are the summers in these lands normally this hot?” I asked him.

“It happens some years. But it’s good that we’re getting back now. Any later and we might’ve had to wait until nightfall,” Rayne admitted.

“I don’t doubt it.” I lifted my hair to fan the back of my neck. “It’s already a bit overbearing in this sun.”

“Let us pick up our pace then,” Rayne suggested, stopping to pick me up. “This heat doesn’t get to me that easily, so I can get us home much faster carrying you.”

I wasn’t surprised at all by this, nor did I mind.

Rayne could move very quickly and effortlessly with me and had no problem navigating through the dense forest once we reached it.

I half wondered if he had fun doing this. Perhaps he saw it as a chance to show off how fast and strong he was.

It didn’t take us long at all to get back to the glen, although we were both more than ready to rest in the coolness of our small home.

With all the windows open and the shade of the large tree over it, the interior felt lovely, although we did end up changing as soon as we arrived back because of how sweaty we’d become out in the heat.

I was pinning up my hair at the vanity as Rayne stepped behind me, running his fingers over the chain around my neck.

The pendant glittered in the dim light, the inside beautiful like the night sky.

It paired very well with my low-cut light blue sundress.

“This is a beautiful gift, and it suits you so well,” he commented.

“It is wonderful, and I do love it. It was so sweet of Madame Lucille to give it to me,” I agreed.

I turned in my seat to look up at him. “Is this stone considered rare? It sounds like it with how you and Sherry reacted to it.”

“Somewhat. Star Crystals are not the easiest to find and are mostly located in the deep caverns off of the seas. Those who look for them can risk either drowning if the tides quickly come in or being caught by one of the sea predators such as the Lamia,” Rayne explained to me.

“I see.” I let him help me stand, keeping my hands in his. “If I may ask, is that why you have had trouble locating the moonstone you so wished to find?”

A resigned smile crossed Rayne’s face. “Unfortunately, an authentic moonstone tends to be incredibly rare. I had hoped that I could find one for you to wear as my ring to you, but perhaps I should rethink my approach. There are plenty of other types of jewelry I can find for you.”

“That is sweet, Rayne, but you already do plenty for me, and I’ve been very happy spending this day with you. Gifts are nice, but time means so much more,” I reminded him.

“I know, and I did promise you that I’d make more,” Rayne whispered, giving me a long kiss on my forehead.

He sounded a little resigned as he continued, “I think I’d prefer it if you didn’t go out without me for a while though. I’d like to make sure things die down as they’re supposed to, and I’m not certain I like the idea that you met one like Hailia without me around. I should have considered that possibility before I let you out on your own so quickly.”

I was confused as I stepped back slightly. “Is there something more I should know about her? She was nothing but kind to me when we met, so I saw no reason not to return that friendliness,” I informed him.

“No, there wouldn’t have been a reason for you not to. Normally I wouldn’t worry that much about her either, despite some of the more unsavory things we’ve heard about her in the past. She is still Madame Lucille’s younger sister. But with everything going on, I think I’d rather be around so that no more starts. It may have been a bit of a catalyst without either of you realizing it,” Rayne admitted.

I didn’t like what I was hearing. It sounded far too much like what had been done to me had happened off and on to Hailia.

“Now wait just a moment! I won’t allow them to speak ill of Hailia just because of me or what they believe has happened in her past! That cannot be changed, and it is not fair to any to hold it over her!” I declared.

“It’s a noble notion, my dear, but you should be careful too until you know full stories,” Rayne warned me, placing a hand on his hip as his tail whipped behind him.

I crossed my arms, equally as stubborn about this. “Knowing that it is the past should be enough, and she would not be allowed to be here if there was anything truly bad. I can’t imagine that Madame Lucille would allow her to be part of her business either.”

“Well…” Rayne was hard-pressed to counter that one. “Let us go with that there are reasons behind everything, and it’s better if you show more caution around her.”

“I see no reason to be concerned if you keep refusing to say why I should aside from silly rumors.”

“I would think that you’d listen to me as your alpha and know that I’m only telling you what’s best for you.”

“I respect you as that, but we are supposed to be equals, not you above me. Wasn’t that what you told me when we met?”

Again, Rayne was hard-pressed to argue with me. He had said that quite a few times since we met; but he still wasn’t giving in.

“You know full well that’s true, and I’m not telling you what to do. I’m ~advising~ you of what I already know could happen, and you are new around these lands. There is plenty that you still don’t know yet,” he informed me, sounding like he was getting impatient.

“Then perhaps you are the one who has been presumptuous in leaving me so much and allowing me out on my own so soon,” I countered.

Rayne frowned, letting out a tired breath as he rubbed his head.

“You are a stubborn one, and I’m not feeling up to continuing a frugal argument,” he stated. He moved to the nearby fainting couch and lay back on it with his eyes closed. He was effectively ending this conversation, which I wasn’t against.

It was probably better than us continuing this argument.

But I saw no reason to not stand my ground. Even if I resolved in my mind that I would be careful around Hailia the next time I saw her.

No, I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions that she could be behind the rumors. She may have been a victim of such things too, but I wouldn’t be played for a fool if I could help it.

Another two hours passed, and things remained quiet. Rayne fell asleep on the fainting couch, worn out by the heat, so I decided to let him rest.

I grabbed one of the books from his bookshelf and headed outside.

Though it was very hot in the sun, the breeze had picked up again. It felt nice as I sat in the shade of one of the nearby trees.

~This is better~, I thought as I slowly sat on the grass. ~A little relaxation should help both of us.~

Yet I couldn’t concentrate as I looked at the open book on my lap. My mind kept going back to the conversation Rayne and I had. Well, it started as a conversation and ended as an argument.

It felt like this situation we were currently in had caused us to argue quite a bit. Yet I couldn’t blame Rayne for some of his stances. I would’ve imagined he was quite upset with himself over not knowing, and he did have a right to be upset with me for not telling him.

I wondered about Hailia too. There was definitely more to her story than Rayne wanted to say.

But why would he hold back on telling me? Was he worried that I would become upset about it because of my own past?

I began to notice an odd sound as I sat there thinking about this.

I straightened up, listening closer to discern it.

How strange. It sounded like soft crying that was being carried on the wind.

Curiosity overtook me, and I slowly stood up, stepping away from the tree. The skies had clouded some, signaling that there could be an evening storm, and the breeze was steady now.

My eyes widened as the sound continued. Yes, that definitely sounded like a child crying!

Worry filled me, and I turned to the house to wake Rayne but stopped after a few steps. If I woke him and the sound disappeared, then we wouldn’t be able to find the child. If they were in trouble, then there wasn’t a lot of time. I was well aware of how dangerous that forest could be in certain areas any time of day. I couldn’t live with myself if I allowed a child to be killed because I hesitated.

This was enough to make me turn around and head to the edge of the forest.

The barrier was still there, but I slipped through it easily, making my way into the trees.

Everything would be fine. I’d find this child and make sure they were okay, then get them home to their family. I was supposed to be Rayne’s beta, so it was my duty to help them.

The forest was darker than when we’d come home, though I blamed that on the clouds that had rolled in. I walked through the trees and underbrush slowly, looking around and listening closely for the sounds of crying. It was still coming off and on and still felt far away.

“Hello?!” I called. “Where are you?!”

The crying stopped with a sound like a child had been startled. I remained still and listened as a tiny voice called back to me.

“Please, help me!”

“Just stay where you are! I’ll come to get you!” I called back, now certain of which way to go.

I headed forward, my pace faster now. The forest was getting even darker looking around me, and I hoped it wasn’t about to rain. The breeze picked up and the rustling of the leaves was so incredibly loud. A strange, ominous feeling began to fill me, but I pushed it aside as only being nervous about anything jumping out at me.

But as I reached a small clearing, everything suddenly died down.

I slowly stepped out of the trees, seeing the small figure that was crouching on the ground about five feet from me.

They were bent over just beyond a small crest in the land, their head down and shoulders shaking. Their hair was long and black, and they wore a dirt-stained white dress.

I slowly stepped closer, hesitation now building within me. Even though I’d come out there knowing that I wanted to help this child, I couldn’t stop feeling like something wasn’t right.

What was this child doing out here all alone? This was awful deep in these woods and away from the paths.

“Um, are you…okay?” I managed to ask her.

“Please,” the girl whispered, “can you come closer and help me? I can’t get up.”

A strange, cold fear went through me as she spoke, and I couldn’t move. It was like I knew instinctually that I shouldn’t get any closer.

“Um, I don’t think I can. That looks unstable, and I might fall on you,” I lied.

“But how can I hold onto you if you’re so far away?” the girl asked me, not moving.

I slowly brought out my wings, then took one step forward.

“I can reach to you. Just turn and take my hand,” I offered.

The girl slowly straightened, and I realized that she was becoming bigger, looking like a grown woman now. A strange, slithering sound began echoing around us.

“Just a little closer. Make it easier for me to do what I must,” she hissed.

I stared in shock as she lifted higher off the ground, and I was now able to see that her body from the waist down was a snake’s. It was dark and the scales were shining even in the dim light.

She slowly turned to face me, and for the first time, I could see that she had large black eyes and a huge slit mouth. Her forked tongue darted in and out of it, and she reached hands with long claws for nails toward me.

“Come, come! Help me! You can help me get back what I lost!” she hissed.

All I could manage was a gasp as I turned to run away, stumbling through the underbrush and trees to escape her. She was right behind me as I did, her long body slithering fast and her evil laughter echoing around us.

I managed to jump and fly down a steep embankment so that she’d lose sight of me and pulled my wings in as I hid behind one of the massive trees about twenty feet away.

I could hear the snake slithering fast down the embankment, then stopping at the bottom.

“Come out, come out!” she hissed. “Don’t make me chase you too long. You won’t be any good if you’re all worn out, even if you are the beauty she claimed!”

~What the hell?~ I thought. ~Did someone tell her to come after me?!~

Peeking around the tree trunk, I saw her slithering around the trees, slowly searching for me. Each time I got the chance, I darted behind another tree, hoping she wouldn’t see me. I wanted to run home, but I wasn’t even sure where I was.

My best bet was to find a large enough opening in the canopy for me to fly away. She couldn’t reach me if I was high enough in the air. Her snake body was only so long.

We continued moving in this pattern. I kept looking at the tops of the trees, praying for that opening. Finally, I spotted one, though it was about ten feet away.

I knew I needed to get closer, but I still unfurled my wings to be ready.

This turned out to be a mistake.

As I tried to make a run for it, I was suddenly shoved back against one of the larger trees, hitting the trunk hard. I cried out as my wings scraped against the bark, and I couldn’t move as the large snake’s body wrapped around me. The snake’s upper body hovered in front of me, an unnatural smile across her face.

“Did you think that would work? I already knew you had wings, and I couldn’t allow you to fly away from me,” she chided me.

“Please…!” I gasped as she squeezed me. “Let me go!”

“Now why would I do that?” The snake ran her fingers under my chin, her deep black eyes looking into mine. “You of all should know the lengths we go to in this world to get what we feel we deserve, and she will give mine to me once I devour you.”

I closed my eyes as she began opening her mouth wide, her jaw contorting so that I could see down her throat. Terror gripped me as I struggled hard against her.

Oh God! She was going to eat me alive!

But that never came.

The next thing I knew, there was a powerful gust of wind, and the snake’s body slowly began loosening. I opened my eyes to see her face contorted in shock before she slowly fell to the ground, her final exhale hissing out of her.

I stood still, my mind frantically trying to process what had just happened. I began to realize that there was blood around me along with large pieces of her snake body. It had been sliced up, killing her almost instantly.

“Luna!” Rayne’s voice calling to me brought me back to reality, and I was suddenly in his arms.

I blinked, trying my best to get my bearings back. “Rayne?” I whispered in a shaky voice.

“I’m so glad you’re okay!” Rayne breathed, still holding me tightly. “I thought I might’ve been too late!”

“I think I am. I…um…” I couldn’t manage to get any more out as I held on to him, the fear overwhelming me now.

I’d almost been killed out here. Thank God he’d found me when he did.

“What in the world were you doing out here? You know how dangerous this forest can be, especially off the paths!” Rayne admonished me, though it didn’t come out as forceful as he’d probably have liked it to.

I shook my head, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and continuing to hug him tightly.

“Please,” I begged, “I want to go home!”

Rayne let out a long breath, gently hoisting me up into his arms. “It’s okay now. You’re safe, and I’ll take you home,” he promised.

There was no way I could process the implications of anything at this time for how frightened I was. The only thing I could think about was how I’d almost died and he’d saved my life.

Yet the implications were there in the back of my mind as he carried me away and I caught sight of that dead snake one more time. She’d lured me out there for a purpose, and not only to kill me.

It was because someone had wanted me dead.