More soil came down. I forced my eyes open and looked up. Half of Aiden’s body now hung over the shaft’s edge, but he wasn’t anywhere near close enough to grab me. He threw his belt—which was wrapped around one wrist—down, but it, too, fell short.
“You’re going to have to climb.”
“I’m not sure—”
“You’re strong enough to do it,” he cut in. “Believe it, and do it.”
Believing wouldn’t help one little bit if the damn bracing gave way, and that was a serious possibility given the heavy smell of rot in the air.
But what other choice did I have? Remaining locked in position until my arms gave out wasn’t any more appealing. I swore under my breath and studied the next board. It was wet and fragile-looking, but the board above it was just beyond my reach. I tightened my grip on the current slab of wood then carefully stretched up and pulled on the next one to see if it crumbled. It didn’t, so I gripped it tight then shifted one foot. Once it was securely in place, I stepped my other hand and leg up. One plank down. Plenty more to go.
It was a nerve-rackingly slow process, and one that quickly took a toll. Neither my strength nor my legs had fully recovered from the blast, and even Belle’s potion wasn’t stopping the latter from expressing their displeasure rather strongly. And my arms were beginning to join in on that particular chorus.
But even worse was the fact that the shaft’s edge was beginning to crumble under Aiden’s weight. He hadn’t yet pushed back to avoid being dropped into the shaft again, but he would soon have to.
Desperation surged and I lunged for the next beam. It fell apart as soon as I touched it, and for one terrifying instant, momentum threw me backward. My grip on the lower board held, and I quickly pulled myself back to the wall, sucking in great gulps of air and trying not to think about what might have happened.
“Aiden? What the fuck is happening? Are you okay?” The voice was male, but not one I recognized.
“If you’ve got the climbing gear in your truck, René, go get it,” Aiden said. “And hurry.”
I didn’t hear the other wolf leave—my heart was still pounding far too loudly.
“How secure is the shoring you’re hanging on to?” Aiden asked.
I glanced up and was immediately greeted by another shower of dirt. “Secure enough, I think—why?”
“Then stay where you are,” he said, and pulled back.
I closed my eyes and prayed to whatever gods or spirits might be listening to give him help. I didn’t want to die. Not now, not in this place.
Die? Belle mentally screamed. What the hell—
Still not a good time. I need all my concentration and strength right now—
So why haven’t you tapped my strength?
Because that’s not that sort of strength I need. It’s okay, Aiden’s working on the problem.
Then tell him to get his rear into gear!
Trust me, he is.
Even as I said that, dirt showered down again. I looked up through narrowed eyes to see Aiden slip over the edge and rappel toward me, one hand controlling his rope while he held a second in the other.
“I have never been so glad to see anyone in my entire life,” I muttered.
He stopped beside me, but his smile was quick and tense. “Let’s get this around you.”
He wrapped the other rope around my waist and tied it securely. “Okay, slow and steady, René.”
The slack was taken up and the rope around my waist tightened. “Grab the rope, brace your feet against the wall, and climb. René will keep a steady tension and he won’t let you fall, no matter what.”
I nodded, released one hand to grab the rope, and then repeated the process with the other. Step by slow step, I climbed. Aiden paced me, keeping close and offering encouragement. When we reached the shaft’s rim, I threw one leg over, hauled myself up in a somewhat ungainly fashion, then scrambled to my feet and ran for t
he trees, where I collapsed onto my knees and let reaction set in.
Another howl bit across the silence—this one shorter and holding no urgency. Then Aiden was beside me, gathering me in his arms and holding me close.