Page 95 of Children of Virtue and Vengeance

Inan and Mother are just like Father.

Orïsha won’t be free of their tyranny until they both lie in the dirt.

“Amari—”

Inan’s eyes bulge when I open my palm. His heartbeat pulses through my ears. It vibrates through my bones.

Blue wisps of magic leach from his skin as I suck the ashêfrom his veins. His slowing pulse reverberates through my chest. It would take nothing for me to stop it for good. To drain every essence of his life and never look back.

Strike, Amari.

My breaths hitch as Father’s voice fills my head. I think of standing across from Inan in the palace cellar all those years ago. I held back and I got hurt.

I always get hurt.

Tîtán soldiers appear on the hilltop above, running through the jungle trees. I count almost three dozen among the first wave. More caravans pulled by panthenaires ride in behind them.

But the closer they get, the more heartbeats bleed into my ears. I feel the ashêof other Connector tîtáns like the rising heat of a flame. My power builds as I start to pull the lifeforce from their veins, too.

“We’re done.” I reach forward, putting my hand over my brother’s chest. More magic feeds into my hands, charging me up as the first wave of tîtáns descend down the hill.

“You’re not my brother anymore,” I speak through my teeth. “You’re dead to me.”

Tears stream down my face as I throw his shaking body to the ground. The ashêof other tîtáns rumbles within me as I lift my hands.

When the first soldiers attack, my heartbreak strikes them in an endless blue wave.

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

ZÉLIE

HOW COULD HE?

I hate myself for even asking the question. Twigs and vines scrape my skin as I sprint back to the sanctuary. My throat burns with hoarse breaths.

I think of the look in Inan’s eyes. The tenderness embedded in his words. He’s gotten so good.

It’s as if he believed his lies himself.

And Amari…

I can’t deal with her betrayal now. Even as I run, the rumbling caravans gain ground. Three dozen soldiers ride in on panthenaires. Though they’re still a kilometer out from the mountain barricading the sanctuary, I can’t let the military get close. If Nehanda’s with them, she’ll bring the entire mountain down. The sanctuary and theIyikawill be buried in the rubble.

“Jagunjagun!”Mâzeli calls out to me from the line of Reapers that stand half a kilometer from the sanctuary. As I charge closer, I can see the terror shining through their brown eyes. For their sake, I try to look calm.

“What do we do?” Bimpe asks. “No one from the sanctuary has made it out yet!”

I want to tell them to run, but we can’t just protect ourselves. All the elders are still behind that mountain. Right now, we’re all theIyikahave.

“Mári, summon the elders,” I command. “We need every maji who can fight to mount our defense. Bimpe and Mâzeli, stay close.” I point to my Reapers as Mári disappears through the trees. “It’s up to us to fend off the first wave.”

I don’t know where my calm comes from, but I don’t question its source. Mári and Bimpe fall in line as we turn back, facing the scourge of charging soldiers. Dozens of them wear golden armor, the ashêof their different powers blazing around their gauntlets. I see the reds of their Burners; the oranges of their Cancers. I even see tîtáns who glow with Reaper lavenders.

“Focus,” I shout when we enter the caravan’s path. “Everyone circle up! Prepare to unleash the shadows of death!”

“Oya, bò w3n,”I pray under my breath.“Protect them.”

My jaw clenches as we spread out along the dirt trail, three Reapers strong. I close my eyes and breathe deep, sensing when my Reapers do the same.

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