The snow outside fell gently, coating the kingdom in a quiet, deceptive peace. Inside the grand halls of the Snow Kingdom, Jasper stood still, his fingers curled into tight fists at his sides. Nicole watched him warily, sensing the shift in his emotions—first, there had been an undeniable glimmer of happiness in his icy blue eyes, but now, anger radiated from him in a suffocating wave.
"Jasper?" Nicole's voice was soft, cautious. She stood from her seat near the hearth, wrapping her arms around herself.
He didn't answer at first, his jaw clenched as he stared into the dimly lit room, thoughts spinning too fast to catch. When he finally spoke, his voice was low but full of something dangerous.
"They're alive."
Nicole blinked. "Who?"
"Charles and Percy," he bit out, his voice edged with disbelief and rage. "They're alive, Nicole." He turned to face her, his expression dark. "How? How is that possible? I saw them die—I made sure of it!"
