prologue

Sophie thrust her hand out in front of her, desperately trying to reach her cognate who was reaching for her in turn. In the current of two murky black oceans crashing together and ripping apart, they were caught. Everything the waves would mercifully bring them together, give them a moment to clasp onto one another, they would cruelly tear them apart, leaving them to only helplessly reach for one another. Sophie was scared, she couldn't think, she could hardly breathe anymore.

A loud voice from above, undoubtedly the test administrator, said that the waves would only get worse if they didn't hurry up and tell one another their deepest secret. Sophie didn't want to- her secret could ruin everything she had with Fitz. She looked across the room at Fitz, who seemed just as stunned as she felt, just before a huge wave took her under. She heard someone cry out, and found Fitz only a few feet away when she came sputtering to the surface. She watched as he closed his eyes for a moment, and before she could blink again, their hands came together with a snap.

"I know you're scared, I am too," Fitz panted, looking deep into her eyes, keeping her from being able to look away. "But we can do this, we can get through it. If you fall, I fall, remember?"

Those six words gave her courage, but before she could say anything back, the waves came between them and thrashed wildly, setting them apart once more. She lost sight of him and called out as loud as she could, preparing to say the words she never thought she could when she saw him next across the roaring water fighting to keep them apart and take a leap of faith: I love you.