Following his Shadow Guide, Jake flew back up the trail and found Ruby a few minutes later huddled against a tree in a small flower-filled clearing, her legs tucked up against her chest and her face buried in her lap. A lone ray of moonlight had pierced the thick layer of clouds, shedding its brightness wonderfully on the young woman.
This ethereal beauty shimmering in the moonlight would have moved the most mediocre of painters, but Jake saw only the lethal charm of a viper. As he set foot on the ground, a twig snapped and Ruby jerked alertly to her feet and shouted,
"Who's there?!"
When she recognized Jake, she tried to hide her face in a rush, but it was too late. A single glance was enough to imprint this unforgettable scene in his memory forever.
