Jace's heart leapt into his throat as he watched Anita fall. There was no time to think, no time to hesitate. He acted on instinct, his supernatural speed and reflexes kicking in as he dove after her. In the blink of an eye, he reached her, wrapping his arms around her just as she was about to hit a jagged outcrop of rocks.But even as he caught her, Jace realized they were still in danger. The slope was too steep, too treacherous, and they were falling too fast. There was no way to stop their descent without causing serious injury—or worse.Anita clung to Jace, her eyes wide with fear. "Jace, what do we do?"Jace's mind raced as he considered his options. He could try to slow their fall with his strength, but that might not be enough. The only sure way to save Anita was to use his fox bead, but doing so would mean exposing her to its power—and making himself vulnerable in the process.But there was no other choice. Jace couldn't let her die."Anita," he said urgently, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. "I'm going to give you something—something very important. It will protect you, but you have to trust me, okay?"Anita nodded, her fear momentarily overshadowed by her trust in him. "I trust you, Jace. Do whatever you need to do."Jace took a deep breath, focusing all his energy on the fox bead that was hidden within him. He felt its power surge as he called it forth, a warm, glowing light that radiated from his chest. With a wave of his hand, he channeled that power into a small, glowing orb that floated between them."This is my fox bead," Jace explained quickly, his voice filled with urgency. "It's my life force, my power. I'm giving it to you to keep you safe. Hold onto it, and it will protect you."Anita reached out, her hand trembling slightly as she grasped the orb. The moment she touched it, she felt a surge of warmth and energy flow through her, filling her with a sense of calm and safety despite their dire situation.The fox bead's power enveloped them both, creating a protective barrier that slowed their fall. Instead of crashing into the rocks below, they gently floated down, as if carried by a soft breeze. The jagged stones and rough terrain became harmless as the fox bead shielded them from harm.Within moments, they reached the bottom of the slope, landing softly on a patch of grass. The glow from the fox bead faded, and the orb dissolved into Anita's hand, its energy merging with her own.Jace, now drained from the effort, collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily. He looked up at Anita, relief flooding through him. "Are you okay?"Anita nodded, still clutching the spot where the fox bead had disappeared. "I—I think so. But what about you? You gave me your fox bead. What does that mean?"Jace managed a weak smile, though his exhaustion was evident. "It means you're safe. That's all that matters right now."Anita knelt beside him, her heart pounding from both the fall and the realization of what Jace had just done for her. "But what about you? What happens if you don't have the fox bead?""I'll be fine," Jace assured her, though his voice was faint. "The fox bead's power is tied to me, even when it's with you. I'll recover, but it may take some time."Anita's eyes filled with concern as she helped Jace to his feet. "We need to get back to the others. We have to tell them what happened."Jace nodded, leaning on her for support as they began the slow climb back up the slope. The journey was difficult, but Anita was determined to get them both to safety. She couldn't stop thinking about the fox bead, about the immense trust Jace had placed in her by giving it to her. It was a responsibility she hadn't expected, but one she was determined to honor.