The rain was pouring heavily, and the entire forest was soaked.
The rain poured in steady sheets, drumming against the leaves overhead and soaking the forest floor in thick, sticky mud. Trees stood tall and dripping, their bark darkened by the storm. The scent of wet earth filled the air, and the wind whispered through the branches like a secret.
Abrielle's breath came in short gasps, her chest rising and falling as she stood pinned against a tree trunk. Her back pressed hard into the rough bark, the cold seeping through her wet dress. It felt like it could bruise her skin.
Raindrops slid down her face, her ginger hair clinging to her skin in wild strands.
Cedric loomed over her, one hand braced against the tree beside her head, the other resting near her hip. His soaked shirt clung to his frame, his gold eyes locked on hers. He wasn't even winded.
"I promised not to chase you with magic. You really can run when you are scared."
