Page 90 of Children of Virtue and Vengeance

“Zélie?”Inan shoots up, brows knitting together.

“They call her the Soldier of Death. To them, she’s a living legend. But if that happens…” my voice trails as my chest grows tight. I want to believe that Zélie would do the right thing, but after all that’s happened since magic came back, that feels naive. She has no interest in unification. Only annihilation.

“What are they after?” Inan asks. “What do they need to end the fighting?”

“Power.” I picture the elders’ faces. “True freedom. They want an end to the torture and the baseless persecution. A real place in this monarchy and a say in what happens in this kingdom.”

Inan inhales, chest seeming to expand with each demand. He rubs his fingers together as he considers my words.

“That’s it?”

I shrug. “More or less.”

“Alright.” He nods. “How do I give that to them?”

I grab onto his arm, eyes nearly bulging out of my head. “You’re serious?”

“If that’s what it takes to end this war,” he says. “I want those things myself.”

“I knew it!” I clap my hands together. Excitement floats like a balloon in my chest. But as soon as it rises, reality dawns. This still isn’t enough.

“What’s wrong?” Inan asks when my shoulders slump.

“It doesn’t matter that we want the same things. TheIyikawill never trust that your declaration is real.” I shake my head. “As soon as they hear that I’ve talked to you against their orders, they’ll be too enraged to listen to what I have to say.”

Inan rubs his fingers together, brows creasing as he thinks.

“What if they don’t hear it from you?” he asks. “What if they hear it from me themselves? I could draw up a treaty. Present it to their leaders.”

My heart skips a beat as I realize the sincerity of his words. If the king himself offered a treaty like this, even Zélie would have to listen.

“You’d have to come alone…” I tread with care.

“I don’t have a choice. After what happened at Chândomblé, the royal council would have me executed before they ever agreed to this.”

“But how would you get out of the palace?” I ask.

“Ojore will cover for me if he knows I’m going to meet with you.”

Inan holds out his hand and a tightness fills my chest. This is everything I wanted; the peace I knew we could get.

But as I stare at the lines along my brother’s palm, Zélie’s voice bleeds into my mind.

He’ll do the right thing when it’s easy, but when it matters most, he’ll stab you in the back. You can’t trust him, Amari. All he leaves us with are scars.

“What will happen to me?” I look up at him. “When you were gone, I prepared to be queen. What comes after peace?”

Inan sets down his hand, considering my words. “Mother is a fierce ally, but she’s tainted by the past. Orïsha needs a queen who’s willing to do whatever it takes to make amends.”

My fingers fall limp as Inan opens his arms, extending the invitation.

“You mean it?” I ask.

“We’ll rule the kingdom together,” he says. “The way we should’ve from the start.”

The weight of the world falls off my shoulders as I lunge forward, wrapping my arms around my brother. My heart swells to see him this way. I always knew he could be a magnificent king.

But as he hugs me back, a prickle erupts along my scars.

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