Page 42 of Children of Virtue and Vengeance

“Did theIyikado this?”

“No.” Mother shakes her head. “I did.”

A ferocity shines in her amber gaze, one I haven’t witnessed before. Every attempt I’ve made to do magic has almost left me comatose, but Mother seems to command the might of gods.

“I didn’t know I wasn’t like the others until those maggots attacked,” she says. “The new tîtáns harmed themselves with their abilities, but I was able to absorb their power. I wielded it with a strength no maji could match.” Her voice rises in pitch as her conviction builds. “For so long we’ve been defenseless against the havoc the maji wreak, but now the gods have blessed us as well. We’re powerful enough to annihilate them, Inan. The only way to achieve lasting peace is to cleanse the maggots from this land.”

Her words make my fingers grow cold. To cleanse Orïsha of maji would be finishing Father’s work. It would be another Raid.

As we approach the ruin walls shielding Lagos from the forest, the weight of the world presses down on my shoulders. I’m out of time. I need to make a choice.

“I can break through these ruins,” Mother says. “But I cannot bring them back. Do you really want to risk our only defense for a few rebellious maggots?”

General Jokôye and the other advisors watch from a safe distance, but their disapproval hangs over me like the smoke in the air. If I’m wrong, we could all suffer.But if I’m right…

Raifa’s sunken brown eyes sear their way through the noise in my head. The young Burner may have spit in my face, but like the rest of my villagers, sharp bones protruded from her sagging skin.

“We have to try.” I exhale a deep breath. “I have totry.”

This is my chance to bring the peace my father couldn’t.

Mother purses her lips together, but nods as she dismounts in front of the ruin walls. At a sharp wave of her hand, her tîtáns form a circle around her, imposing in their golden suits of armor.

“Your Majesty, this is a mistake.” Jokôye shakes her head as I join her and the other members of the royal council.

“General, I know how you feel, but the maji need peace as much as we do.”

“They don’t care about peace,” Ojore mutters. “They want victory no matter the cost.”

His hand travels to the burn scars on his neck and I glance up at the sky.Please, I send the prayer to whatever gods lie above.Prove me right. Let them be wrong.

All conversation halts when Mother summons her magic. The air twists around her as she opens her hands, igniting an emerald glow within her chest. Deep greens crackle around her golden armor like lightning and veins bulge against her neck. Mother stretches out her fingers, making the circle of tîtáns around her freeze in place.

“Skies,” I curse, flinching at the sight. The tîtáns around Mother seize, grunting as she rips the ashê from their veins.

The soldiers fall to their knees when Mother’s eyes glow green. With a grunt, she thrusts her hands forward and her power breaks free. Emerald light cuts through the mounds of rubble like a knife, carving the dirt wall into pieces.

We shield our eyes as the ruin wall explodes, a mess of twisted metal and debris flying through the air. My chest tightens when the smoke starts to clear. Seven members of theIyikastand at the top of the highest hill overlooking Lagos.

Here we go.

Stillness descends as we take the rebels in. Dirt mars their facesand white coils. Frayed kaftans hang from their limbs. They don’t look friendly, but their presence is enough. It’s the first sign of hope.

The first sign this peace could work.

“Raifa.” I raise a hand to the young Burner standing in front. She takes the first step forward. I mirror her approach.

“I’m glad you came.”

Mother tries to keep me from stepping beyond the broken gates, but I push her away. If this is going to work, they need to see that I trust them. They must think I’m not afraid.

“It’s alright.” I wave the others forward. “You’re protected under my orders.”

Raifa doesn’t say a word. Despite our distance, I can hear her labored breaths. But as she nears, she extends her hand. I smile at her resolve, extending mine as well.

Then I see the sparks firing at her fingertips.

“Protect the king!” Mother’s voice turns shrill. In a second, chaos abounds. Soldiers drag me back as Mother’s tîtáns storm forward, deploying every majacite bomb they have.

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