Page 120 of Children of Virtue and Vengeance

“Èyà omi, omi sí fún mi—”

Nâo continues her chant, manipulating the water around them. It closes above their heads, trapping them in a pocket of air that allows them to move freely through the underground lakes. Tzain frowns as he watches his sister walk away. His body tenses with each step she takes.

“You really think they can do this?” he asks, and I force myself to nod.

“They have to,” I say. “They’re our strongest.”

But my nails dig into my palms as they disappear from our sight.

I know what I must do if they can’t.

CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

INAN

AS WE SITin the pyramid ahéré, my hand shakes around the bronze piece. With every second that ticks by, I feel the weight of the lives that hang in the balance. Mother sits across from me, no sign of all the blood that coats her hands. There’s no trace of guilt on her face. If anything, she holds back a smile.

“Your Majesty, we’ve received word from the palace.” General Fa’izah hands me a rolled parchment. “TheIyikaare nearing Lagos’s borders.”

“Are our soldiers in position?” Mother asks.

“Every single one.”

“Good.” She smiles at the officers around the table. When her eyes land on Ojore, the ache erupts in my core. I can’t look away from the burns on his neck. Burns she caused.

I don’t know how she can smile at him. Speak to him.Breathenear him. I haven’t been able to look him in the eye since learning the truth.

I don’t know when I’ll be able to.

“I need some air.” I rise, avoiding Ojore’s gaze as I make my way toward the door.

“Inan, we need to stay in here,” Mother calls after me. “TheIyikacould strike at any moment—”

“I’ll be fine,” I cut her off. I don’t give her another chance to respond.

The moment I get outside, I break into a sprint. The mountain breeze chills the sweat on my skin. I wheeze as I try to take it all in. But when I hear the shout of Mother calling after me, I slip into the iron ahéréof Ibadan’s military fortress, locking the door before she can see where I’ve gone.

Distance does nothing to alleviate the weight of her crimes. To erase the blood that my family has spilled. My boots drag against the metal floors as I think of the carnage yet to come. How many people must die to protect a stolen throne? How many of them have to be maji?

I have to stop this.

I shake my head, pacing the empty room. It doesn’t matter if Amari won’t take my concession. I have to end this fight on my own.

I clench my fist as the lock clicks and the door handle groans behind me.

“Mother, it’s over—”

My voice stops at the sight of Ojore in the doorframe. He stares at me with an empty expression.

“I-I thought you were Mother.”

The door groans shut in our silence. He steps forward and the lantern light spills across the burns on his neck. I look away as nausea rises in my throat.

“We need to call off the attack.” I stare at the ground. “I was wrong. This war… we’re taking things too far.”

“Why won’t you look at me?”

The ice in his voice freezes me in place. Hairs rise on the nape of my neck as he takes a step toward me.

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