Page 27 of Children of Virtue and Vengeance

Taking my cue, Nailah turns aggressive, slathering Tzain with wet kisses. He pushes her away, but he can’t fight the smile she brings to his face.

“I’m sorry.” I reach for his hand. “I know I was out of line.”

“I swear on Baba.” He shakes his head. “If you pull that dung again—”

“I won’t.” I lace my fingers through his and squeeze. “You and me?”

“You and me.” He nods. “Even when you’re an ass.”

I grin, but it fades when Tzain glances at Amari. The bags under her eyes tell me she hasn’t slept all night. Her face is still flushed from crying.

She looks away, running her fingers through the new waves in her hair. It grows curlier by the day. I wonder if her awakened magic is to blame.

“I’m sorry.” I hang my head. Shame fills me from every horrible thing I yelled. “I didn’t mean what I said. I was just upset.”

Amari nods, but her lips still quiver. I expose my aching ribs.

“You can kick me if you want.”

“Will that make us even?” she asks.

“No. But it’ll be a start.”

Though Amari still won’t meet my gaze, a small smile settles on her lips. I reach out and grab her hand. It makes her eyes brim with tears.

I can almost see my apology ease the weight on her shoulders, but that doesn’t change the war we’re in. The countless soldiers and tîtáns who now oppose us. The powerful mother she might have to kill.

“Do you still plan to take down Nehanda?” I ask.

“I don’t see another way.” Amari’s shoulders slump. “But this is my fight. I won’t ask you to get involved again.”

“We talked about it,” Tzain informs me. “If you really want to leave Orïsha, we’ll help you run. I may not agree, but you’ve suffered enough. I understand why you want to be free.”

Free.

The word already feels like a distant memory. Even from the grave, Inan had iron chains around my heart. With him alive, those same chains burn like majacite.

Freedom doesn’t lie beyond Orïsha’s borders. Not while the little prince still lives. Still wins.

If I want to be free, I can’t run.

I have to kill him.

“I’m not running anymore,” I say. “If war is what they want, then war is what we’ll give them.”

Amari grips my thigh. She and Tzain exchange a glance.

“I don’t understand,” she says. “What changed?”

My muscles tense and I take a deep breath; I don’t want to hurt her again. But she has to know the truth. The other member of her family she fights against.

“I think your brother’s alive,” I sigh. “And I’m going to be the one to kill him.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

AMARI

ITHINK YOURbrother is alive.

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