Chapter 83

Ari

As we wentback to Skagi, each step felt heavy with uncertainty, like carrying a heavy burden. The weight of our mission seemed to press down on us, making it difficult to stay hopeful.

The ground beneath our feet was rough and uneven, much like the chaos of thoughts swirling in my head. Ulric's troubled expression mirrored my own worries, and I could see the tension in his shoulders as he walked beside me. Seeking to offer him comfort, I reached out and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Ulric," I said softly, breaking the heavy silence, "we can't let despair take over. We need to keep going, for Jaxon's sake."

He turned to look at me, uncertainty evident in his eyes. "But you heard what Ari said. She doesn’t want to cooperate. What if Jaxon–"

"We can't keep dwelling on 'what ifs,' Ulric," I interjected, my voice filled with determination. "We must remain strong. We owe it to Jaxon and ourselves."

Despite everything, thoughts of Kristoff lingered, giving me hope. What if Maddi