Page 22 of Children of Virtue and Vengeance

The question pulses through my mind when I look around the dreamscape. The last time I was brought to this ethereal space, Saran’s knife had just carved through my back. I kissed Inan through my tears.

Now there’s no lush forest. No trickles of flowing water.

There’s only me.

Andhim.

Inan lies in the dying reeds, far closer than I ever want him to be. I don’t know if he’s just in my head.

If he’s still alive or dead.

But seeing him now is a hand squeezing around my throat. Another wrapping tight around my heart. It’s mountains crashing down inside me as he stirs and lifts himself from the dirt.

I step back when he groans, muttering to himself in a stupor. His chest is bare, his skin dull, his brown body now thin. The white streak shines bright in his unruly hair, a curl falling between his amber eyes. He blinks slowly as he steadies himself, coming alive when he spots me.

“Zélie?”

My hands shake at the sound of my name on his lips. It’s a different kind of knife. One that digs into the deepest corners of my heart and begins to twist.

This isn’t happening. I shake my head.This isn’t real.

But Inan stands here. He holds the scarred flesh of his abdomen as if it still leaks blood. His eyes widen, and I can almost see the memories coming back to him. The pain of his father’s sword driving into his gut.

I reach for my back and my fingers graze theMAGGOTetched into my skin. We’ve fallen so far. The dreamscape used to be the one place in the world where we were free of our scars.

“They weren’t supposed to shoot,” Inan exclaims, his words rushing together. “You have to believe me. I ordered them not to!”

My hand snaps to my mouth. A sob I can’t fight breaks out.

Each word he speaks makes the magic I suppress breathe through my skin. Though I push it back, I can’t keep it down. I can’t keep the memories in—

“No!”

The shout echoes in my head. Echoes against the sacred temple walls. This time I see its source. Not my brother, but Inan.

My body slams against the stone floor. Baba follows with a heavy thud.

The arrow pierces straight through his chest.

His warm blood pools at my fingertips—

“Please,” Inan begs. “I thought I was doing the right thing.”

It’s difficult to hear him over the pounding in my head. My magic howls, crying out to strike him.

“I trusted you.” My words are so quiet I don’t know if he can hear them. I feel the pieces of my heart like broken glass. Pieces that broke because of him.

“I’m sorry.” He shakes his head. “I’m so sorry…”

He reaches out his hand, and it all comes back: the scared little prince. Lips that promised me the world. Hands that caressed my skin.

“I’ll make this right,” he says. “I promise. Even if it costs me my life.”

But he’s made me promises before.

Then he marched Baba to his death.

“Zélie—”

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