Page 57 of Awakened Light

“Where are we going?” she asked as we headed toward the main building.

“You’ll see.” I continued keeping the secret. Partly because I wanted it to be a surprise, and partly because I knew she’d say no if she knew.

“Welcome!” A tall Hawaiian man with a bald head and an enormous grin opened the door. “I’m Ori. You must be Thorne and Catrain.”

“We are.” I shook his hand, then slid my sunglasses onto my head as we stepped inside.

“Pleasure to meet you both.” He shook Catrain’s hand as she looked around, trying to figure out what we were up to. “Since you booked all the tours this afternoon to be solo, we can get started whenever you’re ready. First, we’ll get you fitted with your equipment, give you a rundown of the basics, and then we can hop in the ATV and get started.”

“Sounds great, man. We can’t wait.”

“Can’t wait for what?” Catrain asked as she looked out the window at the vibrant farmlands surrounding us.

“Ziplining.” I grinned.

“What is ziplining?” she asked.

Ori’s eyes saucered as he looked at me and chuckled. “Oh, boy.”

“You’re gonna love it,” I promised as I waggled my eyebrows at her.

Ori laughed and shook his head, then gestured for us to follow him in. As he fitted us for equipment and explained the safety basics, Catrain started to grasp exactly what it was I had planned for her.

“No way!” she argued as he strapped the blue helmet onto her head. “I’m not flying without a plane! I barely wanted to fly in the plane!”

“It’s very safe. Lots of straps and safety regulations in place.” I slapped her on her ass that the harness only amplified. “Trust me. I’ll keep you safe. Have I let you down yet?”

With a scowl, she shook her head.

“Then come on.” I slid my arm around her shoulder and guided her to the ATV Ori had parked out front. We hopped inside, and she let out an exasperated sigh as she accepted her fate.

“You’d better not get me killed.”

“Never.” I kissed her nose as Ori drove us off in the ATV.

When we got to the first line and climbed the stairs to the top, Catrain shook her head when she looked at the expansive drop below.

“I can’t!” She stepped away from the edge. “I’ll fall!”

Stepping her away from Ori, I whispered in her ear. “I’m an immortal vampire. I will make sure you’re safe. Not that you’ll need me... you’re a badass witch. You’ve got this, baby.”

I watched the resolution flicker in her eyes as she exhaled a breath and gave me a sharp nod.

“Quick before she changes her mind!” I laughed as I tugged her to Ori.

He hooked up our harness to the side-by-side lines, and we each stepped up onto the boxes. When I stepped onto mine and looked out, the views stretched out in front of me took my breath away. The world in the light looked so vibrant and colorful.

Almost as beautiful as the woman standing beside me.

“Whenever you’re ready,” Ori said.

“On three.” I gave her a reassuring smile. “One, two... three.”

We pushed off together, and she screamed as we sailed down the line. After a few seconds of sheer terror in her eyes, it transformed into pure exhilaration. Her screams turned into laughter, and as we sailed across the lush green canopy below, she looked over at me and smiled.

“Told you you’d love it!” I called to her.

“This is incredible!” she called back, and her smile widened even more, though I wouldn’t have thought it possible.