Lucien POV
The world narrows to Mara's body beneath mine.
Her heart hammers against my chest. I feel every panicked beat through our soaked clothes. Waves crash around us. The yacht pitches violently.
"Everyone inside!" the captain shouts again.
But I can't move. My arms are locked around her. Caging her against the deck. Protecting her from the ocean that wants to swallow us whole.
"Lucien." Her voice is muffled against the wood. "I can't breathe."
I loosen my grip slightly. Just enough. Not enough to let go.
Another wave hits. Smaller this time. The yacht's engines roar. We're turning. Fighting our way back toward shore.
"Can you stand?" I ask.
She nods against my chest.
I push myself up. Keep one arm around her waist. The deck is chaos. People stumbling toward the cabin. Water
