A flash of surprise flickered in her eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. She looked at him, her golden crown gleaming as if mocking his words. "Save me?" she repeated, her tone colder now, almost as if she were speaking to a stranger. "From what? From myself? You don't understand, Azzy. This is my destiny. I don't have a choice anymore."
Azzy took another step forward, his voice more desperate now. "You do have a choice. You always did. This isn't your destiny, Claire. You were never meant to become this... thing. You were always meant to be yourself, the Claire I loved." His voice faltered, the weight of the words pressing on him. "You're not just some tool for the Angels. You're not just a pawn to be used."
For the first time, a flicker of something—something human—appeared in her eyes. But it was brief, fleeting. Claire blinked, her gaze softening for just a moment, before she turned away, her eyes closing again as the pillars continued to merge with her.
