Chapter 41
The air grew colder as they moved higher along the mountain path, and it became impossible to ignore. Ariana pulled her coat tighter around herself, but the wind still slipped through, sharp enough to sting with every breath. The narrow path stretched ahead, uneven and steep, forcing her to stay focused on each step. One mistake here would not be forgiven.
Kael walked a few steps ahead, steady and unaffected, as if the cold didn't touch him at all. His pace remained even, his attention fixed forward. "This place already feels like a bad idea," he said. Ariana exhaled softly. "It is."
"At least you admit it," he replied. They continued in silence after that, the mountain pressing in around them. The higher they climbed, the narrower the path became, and the drop beside them disappeared into thick, endless fog. There was no way to tell how far it went.
