Page 181 of Children of Blood and Bone

“Oh, it’s… I’m sure with time…”

I close my eyes, bracing myself for the truth.

“I managed to stitch the wounds, but I… I think the scars are there to stay.”

I wouldn’t be doing my job as king if I didn’t remind you what you are.

And there are Saran’s eyes again. Cold.

Soulless.

“But I’m so new at this,” Khani rushes out. “I’m sure a better Healer can take them away.”

I nod, but it doesn’t matter. Even if they wipe away theMAGGOT, the pain will always stay. I rub my wrist, discolored and scaly, indented where the majacite cuffs burned through my skin.

More scars that will never heal.

The tent flaps open again and I turn. I’m not ready to face anyone else. But then I hear it.

“Zél?”

His voice is delicate. Not the voice of my brother. It’s the voice of someone who’s scared, someone who feels ashamed.

As I turn, he shrinks into the corner of the tent. I slip down from the cot. For Tzain, I can swallow my fears. I can hold back every tear.

“Hey,” he calls out.

Stings sear my back as I wrap my arms around Tzain’s chest. He pullsme close and the ache intensifies, but I let him squeeze as hard as he needs to see I’m okay.

“I left.” His voice shrinks. “I got angry and I left the celebration. I wasn’t thinking… I didn’t know—”

I pull back from Tzain and paste a smile on my face. “The wounds looked a lot worse than they were.”

“But your back—”

“It’s fine. After Khani’s done, there won’t even be a scar.”

Tzain glances at Khani; thankfully, she manages to smile back. He searches me, desperate to believe my lie.

“I promised Baba,” he whispers. “I promised Mama—”

“You’ve kept your promise. Every single day. Don’t blame yourself for this, Tzain. I don’t.”

His jaw clenches tight, but he hugs me again and I breathe as his muscles relax under my arms.

“You’re awake.”

It takes me a few seconds to place Amari; rid of her usual braid, her black hair cascades down her back. It swishes from side to side as she enters the tent with the sunstone in hand. The stone bathes her with its glorious light, but nothing inside me stirs.

The sight almost breaks me.What happened?

The last time I held the sunstone, the wrath of Oya lit every cell of my being on fire. I felt like a goddess. Now I hardly feel alive.

Though I don’t want to think about Saran, my mind takes me back to the cellar.

It’s like that bastard cut the magic out of my back.

“How are you feeling?”

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