Aria stood beneath the storm-scarred archway, shadows flickering at her fingertips. The Hollow Twin had not taken over—she had chosen this. Chosen to let the darkness leak through the cracks, just enough to see if he’d flinch.

Alec didn’t move.

Her voice shook. “Don’t you get it? This—” She gestured to herself, to the stormstone burning at her throat, to the magic humming just under her skin. “This is what I am. All of it. The prophecy, the power, the twin soul inside me that wants to burn the world down.”

He stepped forward, but she backed away, laughing bitterly. “Why can’t you see it? Why won’t you look at me and see the whole thing? Why couldn’t you just love me?” Her voice broke.

“I do,” Alec said, quiet and breathless.

Aria stared at him. For a heartbeat, something soft flickered in her eyes—hope, maybe. But it died as quickly as it came.

“All of me!” she yelled. “Not just the parts that fit your perfect image of who I’m supposed to be! Not just the stormbird you dream about, not the girl you think you can save.”

“I don’t want to save you,” Alec said, and there was something fierce and aching in his eyes. “I want to stand with you. Even in the dark. Especially there.”

But Aria was already turning away, wind rising at her heels. “Then you should’ve said that before I decided I couldn’t trust you.”

And she was gone.