I broke through to the roar of wind, gasping, and West came up beside me as lightning tangled in the black clouds overhead.

I sucked in a breath as a wave barreled in toward us, and I sank back down before it hit. West disappeared as the water crashed and rolled above, sucking me deeper in its retreat. I kicked in the opposite direction, but another one was already coming in, slamming into the rocks ahead.

I came back up, choking on the burn of saltwater in my raw throat. Down the reef, West was swimming toward me over another wave.

“We have to get back to the ship!” I shouted, turning in a circle to search the rough water.

In the distance, Koy was pulling himself up into the tender boat. We swam toward it, diving under each time another wave crested and when we finally reached him, Koy had both oars in hand.

“Come on!” he shouted into the wind.

I held onto the edge and lifted myself inside, slipping on the wood and falling into the hull. West came up behind me, going for the rudder.

Beyond the shallows, the Marigold rocked on the swells, masts tipping back and forth as each wave slammed into the hull.

Koy dropped the paddles into the water and rowed, growling as he fought the current. The wind was too strong. The water too swift.

“We’re not going to make it!” I yelled, shivering. The rain was like glass, biting my skin as it blew in sideways.

West’s eyes were fixed on the ship. When he opened his mouth to answer, the boat suddenly stilled, the water calming. All around us, the gray sea was beginning to settle, but the clouds continued to roll overhead, like a plume of angry smoke. The hiss of my breath was the only sound. Until I saw it.

Down shore, the water was kicking up, an invisible gale racing toward us. It was dragging a wall of water behind it.

“Row!” West howled.

Koy turned the boat and headed for the beach, screaming as he jerked at the oars. But it was too late.

The wave raced toward us, its crest spilling down as it loomed over us. I watched, a gasp trapped in my throat, as it came crashing down.

“Fable!” West’s voice vanished as the water collapsed on top of us.

The boat disappeared and I was plummeted beneath the surface, dragged through the water like hands pulling me into the deep. I thrashed, fighting its strength, twisting and turning, looking for the surface.

A flashing glow appeared below me as the water let me go, and I launched myself toward it, kicking hard. It wasn’t until I got closer that I realized it wasn’t below me. It was above. The world was tossed and spinning beneath the water.