In Mercy, Rain (Wayward Children, #7.5)

by Seanan McGuire

Her kindness was as intrinsic to her as her loveliness, if not more so, for beauty can be spoilt, can change with the times, but kindness is eternal.

She no longer thought of “not too many chores” as a benefit, either. The other children at school had been envious when she told them how little she’d been expected to do, but expectations had been low because no one had believed she was capable of anything.

“Who told you that there’s only room for one person inside a story?” Alexis demanded. “That isn’t true. That’s never been true. You don’t have to take things away from others if you want to have them for yourself! You have a heart, don’t you?”

If we can all exist, and have hearts, why can’t two people share the shape of the same story? Why does your sister being beautiful mean that you’re not allowed to be? That doesn’t make any sense.”