Chapter 17
After the rain, the forest was refreshed from the roots of every tree to the branches at the tip of the canopy. Moisture glistened off rocks and leaves and made the ground cool and soft to walk on. Life in the forest sprang up with new fervor, but most of all, Oren’s ego was brightened. Nahtaia wasn’t sure she was ready for that.
Every thirty seconds, he’d look over at her with that dimple-dipping smile. He’d brush up against her every time he had an opportunity or he’d stealthily give her hand a squeeze. Her heart pounded every time but not out of excitement; it was out of fear of Kale noticing.
For Nahtaia, not much really had changed other than the way she saw Oren. Her situation was still just as hopeless as it was the day before. She couldn’t make it to the elves. Her pl
