Chapter 24: Bonds and Beginnings

**Thelma Zane’s Perspective** Their eyes sparkled with excitement as they asked, “Can we be your friends?” “Of course,” I replied with a warm smile, my heart lifting with unexpected joy. Never had I thought making friends could be this easy. My past was filled with moments of solitude, marked by my status as the least popular person in the room. The few friendships I did have always carried an uneven dynamic. I was more the one being shielded than an equal participant. While I appreciated the care and protection, I often longed for a deeper, more balanced connection. So, this sudden camaraderie with Mara and Avril was a refreshing change—an exhilarating shift in what I thought was possible. Their curiosity about me was insatiable, and questions came at me like a storm. “Who is the Queen to you? You two look alike.” “Do you live in the Imperial Palace?” “Do you have a mate?” Their enthusiasm was overwhelming, leaving me struggling for words. Thankfully, Miss Hora