Page 60 of Children of Virtue and Vengeance

I nod, but when she walks off, my jaw clenches tight.

I wonder if she’s just trying to placate me, or if she truly believes her own lies.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

INAN

ASIMAKEmy way to the war room, I feel the change in the air. With theIyika’s Lagos operations dismantled a half moon ago, the smoke that’s lingered on my city’s horizon has finally begun to clear.

Once again, the sun shines down on us. Bright rays illuminate our efforts to rebuild. Food rolls in by the wagon. Not one villager hungers.

“Your Majesty!” The soldiers standing guard outside the war room salute when I approach. They move to open the black oak doors, but I stop them when I spot Mother across the hall. She calls off her guards, descending into the palace cellars alone. I frown as I follow after her.

She moves like she doesn’t want to be seen.

I try to keep my steps from echoing as I descend the stone stairs. An expansive brick labyrinth with dozens of rooms, the palace cellar seems to hold all of my darkest memories.

Father used to take Amari and me here when we were children. He forced us to spar. I still remember the way her screams bounced against the stone walls when I took things too far.

Where are you?I look up, wishing I could connect with her now. Mother’s convinced Amari’s working with theIyika,but that’s not the sister I know.

Zélie may want to burn Lagos to the ground, but this is still Amari’s home. She should be here by my side. Not all alone in the world.

“Where’s the rest?”

I stop in my tracks as the husky voice fills the cellar’s damp halls. The boy speaks Orïshan with a strange lilt, as if he isn’t from this land. I peek around the corner to find Mother standing with two masked men clad in black. One wears a snake-like smile. The other has skin the color of sand.

I’ve seen him before.…

I rub my chin, trying to remember where. Something about the foreigner is familiar. I know our paths have crossed.

“You’ll get the rest when you finish the job,” Mother answers, handing over a velvet purse that clinks with coins. “The majacite was an effective start, but it’s only the beginning. And theIyikaare still interfering with my plans—”

“We’ve got company.”

I freeze; all three sets of eyes land on me. Mother’s lips part in surprise. The mercenaries don’t even bat an eye.

“You scoundrels,” she hisses at them. “Bow before your king.”

The foreign mercenary snorts in response, counting the gold in his velvet purse.

“What?” I walk forward. “You don’t bow before the kings of other lands?”

“I don’t bow before anyone I can kill.”

He looks me up and down before turning back to Mother. “This’ll work for now. We’ll be in touch.”

I expect them to make their way up the stairs, but instead they disappear down the cellar’s dark halls. They move with confidence, as if they’ve traversed this labyrinth before.

“What was that about?” I ask.

“Your sister has worked with them,” Mother explains. “I was seeing if they had any information on her and theIyika.”

“Amari?” I lean in. “Any leads?”

“The look in your eyes is the very reason I didn’t want you involved.” Mother grabs my arm, leading me toward the stairs. “I know she is your sister, but she is also an enemy of this kingdom.”

“She’s also the only reason I’m alive.”

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