Page 177 of Children of Blood and Bone

I close my eyes and press Zélie’s head against my neck. The schematics of the fortress run through my mind. I search for a way out. Between the guards and maji and firebombs, there’s no way we can escape. But we don’t need to… they’re coming for her. She doesn’t need to get out.

They need to get in.

The cell!I rise. That has to be where they’re headed. Zélie screams as we rush down a stairwell. Her cries join the agony of the night.

“We’re close,” I whisper when we take the last corridor. “Just hold on. They’re coming. We’ll get back to the cell. Then Tzain will…”

Amari?

I don’t recognize my sister at first. The Amari I know hides from her sword.

This woman looks ready to kill.

Amari sprints down the hallway toward us with Tzain following close behind. When a guard charges her with his blade outstretched, she’s quick to slice him in the thigh. Tzain follows up with a blow to the head that knocks the soldier out cold.

“Amari!” I shout.

She skids to a halt. When she spots Zélie in my arms, her jaw drops. She and Tzain rush to meet us. That’s when they see all the blood.

Amari’s hand shoots to her mouth. But her horror is nothing compared to Tzain’s. A strangled noise escapes his lips—something between a whimper and a moan. He shrinks. It’s strange to see someone his size appear so small.

Zélie peels her head from my neck. “Tzain?”

He drops his ax and races to her. As I hand Zélie over, I see that the gauze pressed to her back runs red.

“Zél?” Tzain whispers. The loose bandages reveal the full extent of her wounds. I should’ve warned them.

But nothing could prepare anyone for the bleedingMAGGOTcarved into Zélie’s back.

The sight shatters my heart. I can only imagine what it does to Tzain. He holds her. Too tight. But there’s no time to criticize.

“Go,” I urge them. “Father’s here. More guards will come. The longer you wait, the more impossible it’ll be to escape.”

“Come with us?”

The hope in Amari’s voice cuts me. The thought of leaving Zélie makes my chest tight. But this isn’t my fight. I can’t be on their side.

Zélie turns back to me; fear floods her tearstained eyes. I lay a hand on her forehead. Her skin scorches hot against my palm.

“I’ll find you,” I whisper.

“But your father—”

Another blast. The hall fills with smoke.

“Go!” I shout as the fortress shakes. “Get out while you still can!”

Tzain rushes off, carrying Zélie through the smoke-filled hysteria. Amari starts after him but hesitates. “I won’t leave you behind.”

“Go,” I press. “Father doesn’t know what I’ve done. If I stay behind, I can try to protect you from the inside.”

Amari nods and follows Tzain, accepting my lie with her sword raised. I collapse into the wall as I watch them disappear up the stairwells, crushing the desire to follow. Their battle is won. Their duty fulfilled.

My fight to save Orïsha has only begun.

CHAPTER SEVENTY

ZÉLIE

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