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“Uh,” he said, in a strange tone of voice, and Chloe’s interest was piqued. “There’s something that I can do to help you get down safely, but it’s a bit, uh…” He cleared his throat. “Indelicate.”

“Spit it out,” she said, even as her curiosity – and her body temperature – rose. Just what was he planning to do with that rope?!

“I can make you a harness,” he said. “But it requires ropes in places that are, uh…”

Chloe’s temperature was now at the point where steam was probably shooting out of her ears. “Indelicate, huh?”

“Yeah.” Ethan’s eyes were burning as the two of them locked gazes, and Chloe swallowed. Hard.

“Sure,” she said, trying to wave her hand with insouciant indifference, but probably just flapping it about like a crazed bird. “You can’t be too safe.”

“Okay.” Ethan took a measured breath, and slowly went down onto his knees. “Just let me know if you want me to stop.”

“Don’t stop,” Chloe breathed.

Did that sound desperate? That definitely sounded desperate!!

“I mean,” she continued very calmly, “proceed.”

Ethan carefully wound the rope around her waist, and even that light touch made her gasp.

He looked up at her then, his eyes hooded, and Chloe fought back a strangled sound.

“I, uh…” He appeared to steel himself. “Could you please spread your legs for me? Just a little.”

Could I!

“Uh, sure,” she squeaked, wiggling her legs apart.

He looped the two ends of the rope between her legs – and although he was obviously taking care not to touch her more than was necessary, one of his hands brushed her thigh.

Chloe, if she did say so herself, thought that she had done a very good job of not crying out at his touch, though she couldn’t suppress a shiver.

“Sorry,” murmured Ethan, a strained note in his voice.

“Don’t be,” she gasped. “Just… is this going to take much longer?” She thought that if this kept on going, she was going to lose control of herself, throw him to the ground, and have her way with him amongst the ferns, and probably hurl his fancy Laura Piano – or whatever he’d called them – suit pants down into the gorge as well, after tearing them off with her teeth.

“Almost done,” he said, and she dared to look down once more – only to see his face way too close to her thigh.

Oh God, I can’t watch this, she thought, closing her eyes and gritting her teeth as he continued to loop the ropes around. If he doesn’t finish soon, I’m going to finish.

There was a sudden weight on the ropes – she could only assume that he’d attached one of the clips – and then a few moments later, he said roughly, “Done.”

She opened her eyes, to see him still kneeling in front of her.

“You can stand up now,” she said weakly.

He stood up to his impressive height, and she shivered again. Damn, it really was cold up here in the mountains!

Looking down at his handiwork, she made a face. Nothing that had felt that good should look so unsexy, though she supposed it was probably for the best. This was not the time for sexy things.

Later, though…

Ethan stepped her through how to rappel down the side of the gorge, making sure that she understood everything she had to do.

She didn’t even question why he knew these things, content to just use all of her currently somewhat limited powers of thought on paying attention to what he was saying, so that she wouldn’t die the moment she went over the edge.

A thought occurred to her suddenly.

“But if I’m all strapped in here, how are you going to get down?”

Ethan grinned, holding up his hands. “The old-fashioned way.”

Chloe’s heart dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“A little, yeah.” He pulled out the final rope from the bag and looped it around another tree, then started looping the ends around himself in a much less tantalizingly sexy and much more bare-bones manner than he’d done with her.

The way he was arranging the ropes was definitely different to hers, and much less secure.

At her horrified look, he said reassuringly, “There are ways that you can go down without harnesses. Not recommended, but it’s only a short way, and desperate times call for desperate measures.” He made a face. “Though it does chafe like hell.”

Clearly she still looked confused, because he relented. “There’s a rock climbing wall at my gym. I’ve learned a few tricks over the years.”

She was glad, at least, that there was an explanation that made sense for once, instead of being some kind of mystical mumbo-jumbo. It was good to know that people still had to work at things within the real world, even if they were magical.

Still, she couldn’t resist needling him just a bit.

“So, this isn’t arcane pegasus knowledge? You just actually climb rocks? You have a normal hobby?”

He smiled. “I guess I do, yeah.” The smile faltered a little. “When I get the time, anyway.”

“Well, I hope you’re going to make more time for it in the future. Fated mate’s orders.”

Ethan flipped a little salute. “Aye-aye, ma’am.”

“That’s more like it.”

Chloe looked down at the rope contraption around her waist, and sighed. “I guess we’d better get on with it.”

“Like I said, I’ll be waiting on the ledge for you,” Ethan said. “Nothing will go wrong – but even if it did, I’ll catch you. Shifters have enhanced strength and reflexes, so you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Chloe nodded, somewhat reassured. “Okay. Lead the way.”

Without any further ado Ethan popped over the side, lowering himself with an easy, athletic grace that didn’t really fit with his snooty corporate persona. He could’ve been doing this all his life, going by the way he moved.

He disappeared from view, and Chloe edged closer, heart in her mouth, watching as he lowered himself smoothly like a pro. She didn’t know what kind of magic he was doing with the rope, but she was pretty sure that she would be a distant speck at the bottom of the gorge if she tried it herself.

It was a matter of mere seconds before he completed the descent and arrived safely at the ledge, having barely even broken a sweat – the bastard.

He looked up at her, and there must’ve been something in her face that showed her apprehension, because his face softened.

“You’re sure you want to come down?” he called up, concern in his eyes.

“No way am I letting you take all the glory!” she snapped back.

He smiled. “Okay, then. Just come down slowly. Take your time. I’ll be here.”

And she knew he would be.

Knowing that Ethan was there gave her confidence. She could readily believe that his strength and reflexes were beyond those of any mere human.

It really isn’t so far, she thought as she looked over the ledge. Now that he’s there, it looks really close.

And it did – honestly it did. Knowing that he was there and ready to catch her if she fell took an awful lot of the fear out of it.

Not all of it, though!

She took a deep breath, exhaled it, and eased herself down until her feet found a small ridge.

Relax. Just think about it as being like climbing the rope in gym class.

I hated climbing the rope in gym class! she snapped back at herself. I always said I was sick so I could get out of it! And I could never fall very far, because I never climbed very far to begin with! This is so incredibly different.

She dared a glance down over her shoulder – and it should’ve been frightening, but all she saw was Ethan and his outstretched arms.

“Okay, gorge,” she muttered. “I don’t like you, and you don’t like me. But if we work together, then I’ll be out of your hair in no time.”

Taking a breath, she stepped out into the void, holding the rope the way that Ethan had shown her.

Okay. Okay. One down. About a million to go.

She took another step.

And then another.

Really, it wasn’t so bad. It was thrilling, in the most literal sense – her fingers were trembling, her heart was about to burst out of her mouth, and she had to remind herself to breathe, but she also felt alive in a way that she rarely did otherwise, except for when she’d just saved the life of an animal who had been touch and go.

She was almost – almost – disappointed when her feet found the ledge.

“You handled that like a pro,” Ethan said, pride evident in his voice. “How are your legs?”

“A little wobbly, but improving,” she said, getting her breathing back under control. “You can unclip the harness now. I’ll be safe.”

Probably she could’ve unclipped it herself, but she had an excuse for him to put his hands there again, and she wasn’t going to let it pass her by.

And it seemed like he knew it, if the heated look in his eyes and the way his fingers lingered a second too long were anything to go by.

Soon, she told herself. Keep it in your pants until falling to your untimely death isn’t an option.

They walked a little way along the ledge, Chloe still sticking close to the wall. She wasn’t so into the gorge life that she could just wander around without a care!

“There it is,” Ethan said, and he bent down for a moment, before straightening again.

In his hands was the necklace – and Chloe could see that it was, indeed, a locket.

She carefully took it from him and examined it, marveling at its beauty. Despite its age and dirty state, she could see that it was exquisite – simple, but elegant and magnificently crafted.

“Maybe Curtis was in the wrong line of work,” she murmured. “It’s lovely. He could have made jewelry full-time.”

Ethan hummed in agreement. “Is there anything inside?”

“Let’s see,” Chloe said, anticipation making her fingers tremble. She tried to pry open the locket, but it seemed to be jammed, and she didn’t want to break it.

“We might have to wait until we get back,” she said, turning it over to look at the back.

She blinked.

“Wait,” she said, holding it up to the meager light. “There’s something here.”

Dusting off the dirt, she read the engraved text.

“ For Alice. With love always, Curtis. ”

She turned to Ethan, excitement and relief washing through her – of course, the chances of there being two lockets that looked so similar down here weren’t high, but this erased any possible doubt.

We did it! We actually found it!

“This is it. This is Eula’s locket.” Chloe held it up to show Ethan the engraving, her excited adrenaline rush making her almost shove it in his face. “See!”

“Fantastic,” he said with a broad smile. He looked up at the waning sunlight overhead. “And not a moment too soon. Let’s head back.”

“Definitely,” she said, running her fingers over the necklace one more time before tucking it safely into her pocket.

Turning around to head back toward the ropes, she let herself breathe a sigh of relief.

They’d done it. They’d actually done it. She couldn’t quite believe it.

Curtis would be able to go home. She’d be able to start her business on Monday without worrying about trying to help him.

And, well… she had all kinds of things she wanted to talk to Ethan about. Including his rope-tying prowess.

So really, it was quite disappointing, she thought vaguely, that the ledge seemed to be shifting beneath her feet. Crumbling, even.

Collapsing.

She turned her head to look at Ethan, her mouth open but no words emerging, her hand reaching out for him but not quite making it.

She thought she could hear him screaming her name, but it was hard to tell. Everything was suddenly very hazy. All she could see was his horrified face.

Ethan, she thought, as the world gave way beneath her.

Ethan, please save me.