“I’m so nervous and excited to get out of here,” I admit, my fingers fidgeting in my lap as we drive. “It feels like everything I’ve wanted since Mum left me behind.” Saying it out loud feels strange. I’ve never really talked about my life before—never trusted anyone enough to. But now… things feel different. I can feel Astrid beside me, steady and strong, and through the bond I feel something deeper with all of them. A connection I’ve never had before. “Oh, me too,” Astrid says brightly. “We’ve got this, Freya.” I smile slightly at her confidence. Sarah feels like my past—the part of me that understands the pain, the survival. She’s strong, even after everything, and it makes me feel less alone knowing she’s walking this path with me. Lawrence is the bridge between everything—the past and
