Elsie's POV

The forest felt heavy, like it was holding its breath. The air was thick with unease, the kind that settles when two people who have too much history are forced to walk side by side. I glanced over at Mia. Her face was unreadable, but I could feel the tension radiating off her like a storm waiting to break. Behind us, Madriod followed, quiet but alert. His eyes darted between us, probably wondering, like me, how long this fragile truce would last.

I’ll admit, part of me hoped this could work. That maybe, just maybe, Mia was sincere this time. That we could finally bury everything that had...