Page 70 of Children of Virtue and Vengeance

That fact should fill me with fear. But with only a wall between us, all the words I want to say muddle in my chest: incomplete sentences within a mountain of unfinished letters.

I thought whatever connection Zélie and I shared was broken. Damaged beyond repair. But the way she looked at me…

Skies.

It’s been so long since I inhaled her sea-salt scent.

“Your Majesty!” General Jokôye runs down the hall, Mother and Ojore at her heels. The sight of them makes my scar burn. After this, they won’t want to hold back.

I was ready to attack, yet one look at Amari and Zélie and I could barely utter one command. I don’t know what to do next.

Who I need to protect.

“Are you alright?” Jokôye pants.

“I’m fine.” I nod. “But theIyikagot inside.”

“Surround the room.” Jokôye turns to the soldiers. “If they tunneled in, they may try to tunnel out. Chidi, take care of Emeka. Get him to a medic.”

I look away as two soldiers approach, lifting the soldier who lost his forearm. The poor boy’s screams hit my ears like knives. I squeeze the bronze piece tight.

With only seven fighters, theIyikahave left dozens of our best strewn across the floor. We only have forty soldiers left. I don’t even know if we can take them.

“Summon all of our forces,” Jokôye shouts. “I want every single tîtán stationed outside this door.”

“No holding back,” Mother yells. “Strike to kill!”

“General, wait.” I stop them both before their orders can hold. “I still want theIyikataken in alive.”

“With all due respect, Your Majesty, we can’t afford to exercise restraint.” Jokôye gestures down the hall, and I’m forced to take in the blood of my soldiers. In the corner, a medic tends to the soldier whose arm was severed. Even with distance and sedation, the boy’s moans echo through the twisting halls.

“I empathize with your struggle,” she continues. “But theIyikarisked their lives to retrieve what’s in that room.”

“She’s right, Inan.” Mother grabs my shoulder. “We can’t allow them to obtain it. They may become unstoppable.”

My stomach throbs with a pain so sharp I have to lean against the wall. Deep down, I know they’re both right. I can’t allow theIyikato leave this temple alive.

Duty over self.Father’s voice rings through my head.Duty above all else.

But last time, I chose him; him and Orïsha, when Amari and Zélie risked everything to choose me.

“If they die here, this war will only escalate, and we’ll never locate their base. Take them inalive.” I turn to Jokôye. “That’s an order, General. Not a suggestion.”

Jokôye’s eyes flutter close. I can almost hear the crunch of her biting her tongue.

“Soldiers, get the king to the back of the hall. I don’t want him here when the wall opens.” She fingers the white streak in her braid before placing her hand against the crooked wall.

“Be ready to apprehend the rebels at a moment’s notice. This was their only way in. That means it’s their only way out.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

ZÉLIE

KENYON’S FISTS SLAMagainst the walls of the scroll room, a thud reverberating through the metal shelves. The Burner hits it again and again until Kâmarugrabs his wrists and forces him to stop.

“Keep it together,” the Grounder shouts. “We’re never getting out of here if we fall apart now.”

Kenyon breaks free of his hold and slams the wall again. “We shouldn’t be in here at all!”

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