Chapter 118

• *Freya*
• I opened my eyes, but all I could see was an abyss stretching endlessly before me. I felt weightless, drifting further and further into the void until a sinking realization hit me—I was dead. The last memory seared into my mind was of Rafe's anguished face as he cradled me, his hands pressing against the wound at my neck, trying to stop the life from flowing out of me. I had died in his arms, leaving behind the love of my life. The thought of Rafe alone, broken by grief, pierced my heart more painfully than the blade ever did. I hoped, desperately, that he would find the strength to move on without me.
• As I continued to drift, an unseen force suddenly stopped my movement. Panic surged through me as I tried to push forward, but it was as if invisible hands were holding me back. Then, I felt it—a soothing presence, warm and calming, wrapping around me like a gentle embrace. I turned, and there she was. My mother stood before me, radiating a light so pure, it seemed to scatter the darkness around us. Her long hair floated like a silken halo, shimmering with ethereal brilliance. Her eyes, filled with love and wisdom, met mine, and for a moment, time itself seemed to pause. She looked like an enchanting goddess, her beauty transcendent and otherworldly. Tears stung my eyes as I gazed at her, a sense of wonder and profound happiness swelling within me. Seeing her spirit here, so radiant and full of grace, made everything else fade away.