He sits me on a desk, his hands firm and reassuring on my hips. "Those walls are going to crumble like a sandcastle at high tide," he explains, his voice rough with adrenaline. "The pressure's too much—they don't stand a fucking chance."
I stare at him like he's lost his mind, my eyes wide with disbelief. I quickly peek out the portside window, and sure enough, the walls are starting to crack and crumble like they're made of paper mache.
The ship lurches forward, and I go flying, my heart leaping into my throat as I brace myself for impact.
Rhyland is there, his arms wrapping around me like a safety net, his body solid and reassuring against mine. "Hold on tight, Angel," he murmurs, his breath hot against my ear. "It's gonna be one hell of a ride."
My eyes widen as the realization hits me. "Wait," I gasp, my voice barely audible over the roar of the rushing water. "Are you saying what I think you're saying? Are we about to go over a fucking waterfall?"
Rhyland grins, his eyes glinting with excitement and something darker—a look that makes me want to smack the shit out of him. "Bingo, baby. God, you're so fucking smart."
Before I can process anything, his lips crash against mine in a searing kiss as the ship pitches forward. That gut-wrenching, weightless sensation hits me, and I can't help it—I scream.
"I HATE WATERFALLS!"
Rhyland
50
Iwrap my arms around Dani, holding her close against my chest as we brace ourselves for the inevitable impact. The ship plummets through the air, the force making my stomach lurch and my heart hammer against my ribs. The weightlessness is disorienting, a sickening sensation of freefall that seems to stretch forever.
And then, with a bone-jarring jolt, the ship suddenly stops mid-fall, the momentum sending us flying forward. I twist my body at the last second, taking the brunt of the impact as we slam into the wall with a sickening crunch. Pain explodes through my shoulder and back, a white-hot agony that steals the breath from my lungs.
The ship is tilted at a precarious angle, the nose pointing straight down into the churning water below. I can feel it swaying and creaking beneath us, the ancient timbers groaning under its weight. We must've snagged on a rocky outcropping or a hidden reef, but I know it's only a matter of time before the ship tears itself free and plunges into the depths.
I try to push myself up, my muscles screaming in protest as I struggle to find purchase on the tilted deck. Before I can get to my knees, the ship drops again, the sudden jolt slamming me back against the wall with a force that makes my vision blur and my ears ring. Dani screams, a piercing, terrified sound that echoes through the cramped space like a banshee's wail.
The ship swings wildly against the current, the waterfall's relentless pounding making the whole structure shudder and groan like a wounded beast. The deck beneath us is slick with spray and algae, making it almost impossible to find a grip. Every time I try to stand, the ship pitches and rolls, sending me stumbling back to my knees.
Dani clings to me like a lifeline, her face buried against my chest as she trembles. I can feel her fear pulsing through our bond, a sickening, all-consumingterror that threatens to drown us both. But I can't let it take hold or let it paralyze me. Not now, not when our lives depend on my clear head.
"Hold on to me, baby," I rasp, my voice barely audible over the roar of the water and the ship's creaking. "I'm going to try to get us out of here."
Dani nods, her arms nearly choking me as she wraps herself around my front. I take a deep breath, steeling myself against the pain, the fear, and the overwhelming sense of helplessness that threatens to crush me. With a grunt of effort, I lunge forward, half-crawling, half-dragging us toward the gaping hole in the ship's side.
It's a nightmare of jagged edges and splintered wood, a yawning abyss that seems to swallow the light. But it's our only way out, our only chance of escape before the ship finally gives way.
The spray from the waterfall is blinding, stinging my eyes and making it almost impossible to see. But I keep pushing, my muscles burning as I haul us both towards the edge.
I lunge forward, my fingers scrabbling for purchase on the ship's ripped siding. The jagged edges of the torn wood bite into my palms, but I barely feel the pain. All I can focus on is the death grip Dani has on me, her arms wrapped around me so tightly I can barely breathe.
"I need you to grab the rocks," I shout over the waterfall's roar, my voice raw and desperate. "Can you do that, Angel? I won't let you fall, I promise."
Dani nods, her face pale and streaked with tears, but I can see the determination in her eyes. She reaches out with shaking hands, her fingers clawing at the wet-slicked side panels of the ship as she starts to crawl toward the gaping hole in the hull.
The water pours down around us in a relentless torrent, making the wood slick and treacherous beneath our feet. I can feel it pounding against my back, the force of it threatening to rip me away from my precarious perch at any second.
But I grit my teeth and hold on, my muscles screaming with effort as I brace myself against the ship's crumbling frame. My foot finds a hold on something solid, a jutting piece of timber or a rusted nail, and I use it to push myself upwards, shoving Dani through the jagged opening with a grunt of effort.
The darkness beyond is absolute. I have no idea how high up we are or what horrors might be waiting for us on the other side. But I don't let myself think about it or let the fear take hold. All that matters is getting Dani to safety, no matter the cost.
"I got it!" Dani's voice rings out over the din of the waterfall and the ship's dying groans. I glance out the side of the hull and see her standing on a small ledge on the cliffside, her fingers digging into the slick, moss-covered rocks like claws.
A wave of relief washes over me, so strong it weakens my knees. But I don't have time to savor it, don't have time to do anything but move. I haul myself up, and through the opening, my hands scrabbling for purchase on the cliff face as I try to wedge myself into the narrow space beside Dani.
She scoots over as much as she can, her body pressed flat against the rocks to give me room. I feel the heat of her through my soaked clothes, the rapid rise and fall of her chest as she pants for breath.
I get a grip on the cliff, my fingers digging into the crevices and fissures of the stone. I take a deep breath, my heart hammering against my ribs as I prepare to jump, to launch myself towards the safety of the ledge above.
