The blast ripped me from the ship, flinging me like a rag doll into the sky—then down.
I hit the water like stone.
The impact stole the breath from my lungs. Cold swallowed me whole—ripping fire across my chest, tangling in my limbs like chains. For a second, I didn’t know which way was up.
The world was a blur of bubbles and blood.
Then—pain. My shoulder screamed. Something sharp had grazed it—splinter? Shrapnel? I didn’t know.
I kicked, hard. Fought toward the light.
Above, voices shouted—muffled, distant.
Too far.
I reached again for my shadows—for something to pull me up. But there was nothing.
They weren’t coming.
My panic surged. Water poured into my mouth as I tried to scream. I clawed toward the surface, chest burning, head ringing.
Then—
Hands.
Someone grabbed me from behind—arms wrapping around my chest, dragging me up. I broke the surface coughing, gasping.
“Elle!”
Leo.
Blood ran down his temple. His face was pale, wild with fear. But he held me like I was the only thing left in the world.
“Got you,” he rasped. “I’ve got you.”
Behind him, another cannon screamed through the air.
Another explosion—this time on the shipnextto ours. Flames leapt toward the sky.
Slade’s voice roared from the wreckage. “Fall back! Get to the shore! Now!”
Phoenix was already in the water, pulling Maddie from a broken raft. She was limp but breathing.
I clung to Leo, coughing seawater. My shadows still wouldn’t answer me. My heart thundered against his.
“You’re okay,” he whispered, half to me, half to himself. “You’re okay.”
“Is Maddie okay?” I rasped, coughing seawater from my lungs.
Leo grabbed a drifting piece of wood and pulled it toward us. “Phoenix!” he shouted, his voice hoarse. He pointed across the water to where Maddie floated limp in Phoenix’s arms.
“She’s okay!” Phoenix called back. “Swim to shore—we’ll meet you there!”
I turned. The beach was closer than I’d realised—most of our crew had already made it to land, scrambling over sand and stone, weapons drawn.
Leo started paddling, dragging us forward through the waves. I kicked to help him.
“I’m sorry you have to save me,” I muttered.
