Page 31

THIRTY-ON E

Tiikaan clawed at the rock face, fingers scraping against the jagged surface as the earth rushed past him. The ground beneath his hands crumbled, slipping away in loose gravel as he fought for any kind of handhold.

With every desperate grasp, pain coursed through his body. His ribs burned like fire. Panic crept in, a cold claw tightening around his heart.

He gained a hold, his fingers curling around a jutting rock, breath catching. Relief flooded through him, but almost immediately it crumbled away, the rock giving under the pressure of his weight.

He plummeted again.

His heart raced as he positioned himself instinctively for another hold. Complete fear took hold as he grabbed on to a nearby crag, praying that his strength would hold out. The impact rattled through him, but he anchored himself against the granite with an iron grip.

“Come on,” he gasped, forcing his body to find the strength to push up.

Bracing himself against the rock, he jammed his fingers into a crack that was barely wide enough to accommodate his hand, every nerve ending screaming as he dug in deep. It was a gamble; that narrow ledge at his feet felt precarious under his weight, but there was no choice.

If he let go now, he wouldn’t survive the fall.

A gust of wind whipped at his hair, howling through the crevices around him. The rush of air filled his ears, drowning out the sounds of the forest. All he could hear was the pounding of blood in his head, a relentless drumbeat urging him onward.

Tiikaan took a deep breath, focusing on slowing his racing heart. He had to think clearly, to plan his next move.

He could do this.

Adrenaline surged through him, sharpening his senses as he scanned the rocky face above.

The bear’s sudden roar echoed from high above, slicing through his resolve.

Merritt.

He couldn’t waste a moment, not even to rest. Clenching his jaw against the throbbing pain in his side, he pressed on, searching for the next handhold, the next place to anchor himself.

With each agonizing motion, he clawed upward, his fingers sliding over rough stone and gritty dirt. The past family rock climbing experiences surged to the forefront of his mind, like his dad guided him as he picked his path.

Blood coated his fingers, making the rock face feel impossibly slick beneath his grip. Ignoring the stinging pain, he readjusted his hold, forcing himself to move toward the ridge.

As he climbed higher, the rope still harnessed to him tangled on an exposed root below, almost pulling him down with the weight of it. He cursed under his breath, yanking it free with a desperate tug that sent fresh waves of pain shooting through his side, but the action ignited his resolve anew.

By the time he reached the top, every muscle in his body burned, exhaustion threatening to drag him back down into the depths of despair.

But he wouldn’t let it.

With one final, determined effort, he pulled himself over the edge and rolled to safety. The sparse mountain grass was a welcome relief against his worn-out body, and for a moment, he lay on the earth, breathing heavily, letting the adrenaline ebb.

His body ached, but there was no time to rest. He took two deep breaths, willing the pain to subside, then scrambled to his feet, every fiber of his being urging him forward. As he pushed off the makeshift harness, he scanned the area.

The path Merritt had taken, combined with the bear’s tracks, left clear disturbances in the undergrowth. Branches had been snapped aside, leaves scattered like confetti.

He raced along the trail, heart thundering as he navigated the rugged terrain. Each second seemed to drag for minutes .

“Merritt!” he yelled, his voice echoing through the trees.

The surrounding forest swallowed the sound, reminding him how utterly alone they were out here, and it only spurred him to move faster. Every instinct screamed at him to find her.

To protect her.

He skidded to a halt at a fissure in the mountain, breaths ragged as he took in the sight before him. Blood mixed with the dirt at the edge of the crack. No sign of Merritt’s tracks remained, only the massive claw marks scored into the dirt and prints of the bear leading off into the thicket.

The fear settled heavy in his gut like a stone.

“NO!” Frantic rage bubbled up as he roared into the unyielding silence of the forest. “Merritt!”

Silence answered him, a suffocating void attempting to swallow him whole. He squeezed his eyes shut, fighting against the panic rising inside him.

He couldn’t lose her.

Not like this.

A few deep breaths later, he forced himself back into action. Rushing forward, he scanned the ground, desperate for any sign of her. His heart raced as he kicked aside branches, examining every inch of the area.

“Come on, come on,” he muttered under his breath, frustration boiling over as he searched. “Where are you?”

He sat back on his heels and roared her name into the air, agony and anger vying for dominance.

When he found that bear, he’d kill it .

His legs quaked as he pushed to his feet and yanked his knife from the scabbard at his waist.

“Tiikaan.” His name whispered through the wind, taunting him.

He scrubbed the tear that raced down his cheek with the back of his hand and turned to the bear’s trail.

“Tiikaan!” Merritt’s yell rushed to him from below, not from the woods.

He shoved his knife back in the scabbard, dropped to his knees, and peered down the fissure.

“Where are you?” Desperation clawed at his throat as he leaned over the edge.

His heart raced, anticipation thrumming in his chest like the wings of a trapped bird. He peered into the darkness, the cold air rushing up to meet him, biting at any exposed skin.

“I’m right here! In the fissure!” she shouted, and his stomach dropped with relief and dread.

“Are you hurt?” He scanned the rocky walls of the crevice, terrified of what he might find.

“N-no.” Even though her voice trembled with uncertainty, his breath whooshed out of him in relief.

He reached for the rope, only to groan in frustration that it wasn’t draped across his chest.

“I’ll be right back,” he hollered down to her.

He sprinted back to where he’d tied the rope to the sturdy tree, his heart pounding in his ears as he moved. Each step sent fresh waves of pain through his body, but he pushed through it, focusing on the fact Merritt needed him.

Arriving at the tree, he quickly untied the rope and wrapped it back around his arm while he rushed back through the forest. With a firm grip, he gathered the makeshift harness in his hand and made his way back to Merritt.

Soft cries reached up from the fissure.

“Merritt?” he called as he got closer to the edge, peering down into the dark. “I’m gonna drop the harness to you. You’ll need to slip it on and climb out.”

“I’m wedged in here. I’ll have to climb up. I don’t think I can.” The last word choked out on a sob.

Her fear settled in his gut again. “I’ll get you out of there, but you have to do what I say.”

“Okay.” Her voice trembled, but resolve instantly echoed through it. “Just hurry.”

Tiikaan nodded, heart pounding as he lowered the rope into the fissure. The length of it uncoiled from his hands like a lifeline, vanishing into the darkness with a slight fluttering sound. Half of the hundred-foot length had fed down before it went slack.

“I’ve got it.”

“Step into the harness once you get it,” he called down.

“I can’t do this!” Merritt’s voice was strained, echoing with fear and disbelief.

“Yes, you can,” he urged, desperate but steady. “You have to focus on my voice. You’re strong, remember? You’ve already faced so much.”

“I’m not as strong as you,” she stammered, breath hitching. “What if I fall again? What if I let go and?—”

“Merritt, look at me.” Tiikaan leaned over the edge, trying to meet her gaze through the darkness. “I need you to trust me. You are not alone here. The only way out is up, so let’s do this together. I’ll be right here.”

The moment stretched, filled with the sound of her ragged breathing and the quiet whispers of the forest around them. Tiikaan’s heart pounded. He could feel the fear radiating from her—a living, breathing thing that waited to consume her.

“You can do it,” he said again, maintaining his unwavering tone. “You just need to slip into the harness and pull yourself up. I’ll hold the rope taut.”

Silence lingered, and when she didn’t respond, he added in, “I believe in you. You can do this. Okay? On my count.”

“Okay.” Her whispered agreement was a wisp of hope he’d snatch from the air and hang on to with all his might.

“Three… Two… One.” He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. “Go!”

There was a muffled rustle, and the rope jerked in his hands, a signal she’d managed to get the harness in place.

Tiikaan’s heart raced as he braced himself against the ledge, his muscles tensing with anticipation and dread. He couldn’t imagine what it felt like for her to be wedged in darkness with her fears pressing down on her.

“Pull!” Tiikaan yelled, straining against the rope.

His body screamed in protest as he felt the weight shift, and he yanked back as she tried to climb. Each inch felt like a victory, and fear gripped him harder as he fought against doubt.

“Tiikaan!” Merritt’s voice was filled with panic. “I can’t?—”

“Yes, you can! Just focus on getting to me!” He dug his heels into the ground, forcing himself to stabilize as the rope pulled against his hands.

A short, gasp of a laugh reached him.

He smiled, willing to do anything to get her mind off the danger of the climb. “I promise to make it worth your while.”

That earned him a full laugh. “Why, Mr. Rebel, what are you luring me with, exactly?”

“Whatever you want, Skeet.” He shook his head, stifling the groan of pain pulling caused in his side. “You get to the top, and I’ll give you whatever you want.”

“I don’t know.” She grunted. “Sounds a little vague to me.”

Despite her words, he had to pull back on the rope faster. Tiikaan gritted his teeth, heart racing as he willed himself to continue pulling. The rope slackened, and in a moment of resolve, he yanked it taut again—this time pulling on the rope with renewed strength.

“I’m… I’m almost there!” Merritt’s voice broke through the rush of adrenaline blinding him to everything but the rope disappearing into the crack.

Every muscle in his body strained as he closed his eyes and focused solely on that effort, fighting the pain in his side, willing himself to keep going, to give all he had for this moment.

“Merritt! You’ve got this!” he called, voice hoarse with exertion, his fingers aching from holding the rope with pure desperation.

Without warning, her head popped up from the ground like a ground squirrel .

As Merritt crested the edge, Tiikaan reached out, grabbing her arms and pulling her roughly over the final lip. She landed against him with a thud, the impact sending fresh waves of pain shooting through his ribs but also grounding his emotions.

He didn’t let go, refusing to release her from his arms.

She gasped for breath, eyes wide with shock and a mixture of relief and fear. Her body trembled involuntarily against his, her eyes glassy as she stared at him.

“Merritt,” he breathed, brushing a strand of wet hair from her face.

The moment meant more than words could convey. They had survived, against all odds, and yet the lingering threat of danger hung in the air like an ominous storm cloud.

“I’m so sorry, Tiikaan,” she stammered, her voice trembling. “I should’ve never let go of?—”

“Hey,” he interrupted softly, his thumb catching one of her tears before it could slide down her cheek. “I’m here. You’re here. We both made it. That’s what matters right now.”

“No, no, I let you fall. I?—”

“I promised to make it worth your while.” He wasn’t going to let her continue down her thought path. “What do you want?”

She stared at him, her eyes softening.

“You.” She smiled and shrugged. “Just you.”

Satisfaction burned through him with her declaration.

“Done.” He growled as he pushed her onto her back and captured her lips in a bruising kiss .

A branch snapped not too far away. He jerked back from her.

Right.

Danger.

Bears and mountains trying to kill them. Definitely not the time for kissing.