>>Aelin
I couldn't look away.
"Don't act like you care about me now," Alishay's voice was weak
"What are you even saying!!? Why did you do this to yourself?" Darcelle asked, voice cracking. "Why would you choose to become—this?"
Alishay laughed, or tried to. It came out more like a rattle in her lungs. "Because I thought… maybe then, you'd love me."
I felt my chest twist.
Darcelle blinked, stunned silent. "That's not true. I— I do love you—"
"No, you don't," Alishay said, staring at her with empty eyes. "You never did." Her words shocked her mother beyond belief.
The ex-Queen tried to protest, but Alishay kept speaking, her voice thin and sharp. "I was never good enough. Not like the others. Not like Draken, or Draegon Or even Drakkar." She coughed hard, more black spilling down her chin. "You never expected anything from me because I was born weak."
"I never thought you were weak—"
