Chapter 71 Embers Beneath The Ice

The wind howled as the pack rode through the narrowing trail that wound between towering cliffs, the air growing colder with every mile they gained toward Frostbite Pass. The path was treacherous, flanked by jagged rock faces and ice-laced ledges that could collapse under a single misstep. But there was no turning back. Aria clutched her cloak tighter around her shoulders, her eyes fixed on the snowy horizon ahead. Each breath came as a plume of frost, and beneath her ribs, the quiet rhythm of another heartbeat pulsed softly—a reminder of what was at stake.