“If I could only burn this thing out of me!” she cried. “I didn’t want to be different.” “Please, Alia,” he murmured. “Let yourself sleep.” “I wanted to be able to laugh,” she whispered. Tears slid down her cheeks. “But I’m sister to an Emperor who’s worshiped as a god. People fear me. I never wanted to be feared.” He wiped the tears from her face. “I don’t want to be part of history,” she whispered. “I just want to be loved … and to love.” “You are loved,” he said.
