Page 121 of Children of Virtue and Vengeance

“You don’t have to feel bad, you know,” his voice drops to a whisper. “Your mother clearly doesn’t, and she’s known the truth for years.”

A rock settles in my throat as I look up. Ojore’s lips curl back intoa sinister snarl. I don’t recognize the person who stands before me. It’s as if the Ojore I know is no longer there.

“I couldn’t stay here when the fight was in Lagos,” he says. “I couldn’t leave my soldiers to finish this war themselves. I was coming to tell you. I didn’t expect to walk in on you and your mother celebrating the death of my family.”

The tears trapped in his throat are more painful than Father’s sword to the gut. I don’t know what to say. The color drains from my face.

“It was wrong.” I shake my head. “She waswrong.That’s why I’m calling this off. Th-that’s why I want to end this war!”

But as Ojore stares into the distance, I feel my words bouncing off deaf ears. “Do you know the things I’ve done for your family?” Tears well in his eyes. “The maji I’ve killed?”

“I know…” I put a hand on his shoulder. “Believe me, Iknow.”

Zélie’s face fills my mind and I picture the life she could’ve had. The life sheshouldhave had. If things were different, she might still live in these mountains with her family. The Raid never would’ve broken her home. She wouldn’t have made the mistake of trusting me. She wouldn’t have the scars on her back.

“All these years, I thought the maji were the enemy,” Ojore says. “I blamed them. I hatedthem. And it was her all along!”

His voice turns dark and something shifts behind his eyes. He straightens up, hatred transformed to a new resolution. My blood runs cold when he removes his sword.

“I’ll kill her,” he whispers under his breath. “I’ll kill her before she kills anyone else.”

“Ojore, wait.” I hold up my hands, positioning myself between him and the door. “Mother will answer for her crimes, I promise. But right now there are lives at stake.”

“Move.”

My throat dries as he raises his sword to my neck.

“Move,” he growls. “Or I’ll make you move!”

I stare at the sword in his hand before looking at him. There’s no waver in his stance. No sign that he’ll give me a chance.

“Ojore, this isn’t the way.”

“I won’t ask you again.”

As soon as the blue light sparks in my hand, Ojore strikes.

I dive to avoid his blade, my magic extinguishing like a flame. Ojore doesn’t hesitate before attacking again. I lunge as his sword collides with the metal wall.

“I don’t want to hurt you!” I shout, but a blind fury fills his eyes. I can’t hold back.

I pull a dagger from my belt, throwing it at his thigh. But with a wave of his hand, the dagger halts in midair.

Dark green ashê surrounds Ojore’s fingers as the dagger hangs between us.

CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

ZÉLIE

“ÈYÀ OMI, OMIsí fún mi—”

Nâo continues to chant as the hours tick by. Her melodic voice weaves over the constant pulse of flowing water, making her magic form a protective barrier around us. I inhale the algae-scented air as we move meter by meter, lanterns at our hips lighting the way.

“It doesn’t feel real.” Nâo’s hands fall to her sides as the wall of water solidifies. The tunnel darkens the deeper we go, bringing us closer to Ibadan’s lakeshores. “It’s actually happening. We’re bringing this war to an end.”

I try to meet her smile with one of my own, but it hurts to pretend. The victory we’ve been fighting for is mere moments away, yet I haven’t felt this empty since Baba died.

One more fight.I close my eyes. One more fight and I can leave this all behind. At least when this war is won, Tzain will be safe. Baba and Mâzeli will have died for something.And I…

---