Children of Blood and Bone - Tomi Adeyemi Page 0,121
If I can convince the crown prince, we’ll have the future king of Orïsha on our side!”
“If you could hear the dung you’re spewing.” Tzain pulls at his hair. “He doesn’t care about you, Zél. He just wants to get in between your legs!”
My face burns. Hurt twists with shame. This isn’t Tzain. This isn’t the brother I love.
“He’s the son of the man who murdered Mama, for gods’ sakes. How desperate do you have to be?”
“You pine after Amari!” I scream. “How does that make you any better?”
“Because she’s not a killer!” Tzain yells back. She didn’t burn our village to the ground!”
The air around me hums. My heart pounds against my chest as Tzain’s tirade continues. His words cut deep, sharper than any attack I’ve faced before.
“What would Baba say?”
“Leave Baba out of this—”
“Or Mama?”
“Shut up!” I shout back. The hum in the air rises to a fiery buzz. The darkest part of my rage simmers, though I try to fight it down.
“Gods, if she only knew she died so that you could be the prince’s whore—”
Magic rushes out of me, hot and violent, raging without the direction of an incantation. Like a spear, a shadow twists from my arm, striking with the fury of the dead.
It all happens in a flash. Tzain shouts. I stumble back.
When it’s over, he grabs his shoulder.
Blood leaks from under his grip.
I stare at my trembling hands, at the wispy shadows of death that twist around them. After a moment they fade.
But the damage remains.
“Tzain…” I shake my head; tears spill from my eyes. “I didn’t mean to. I promise. I wasn’t trying to!”
Tzain stares at me like he doesn’t know who I am. Like I’m a betrayal to everything we have.
“Tzain—”
He blows by me, face hard. Unforgiving.
I choke back a sob as I fall to the ground.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
ZÉLIE
I STAY ON THE OUTSKIRTS of the settlement until sunset falls. I don’t have to face anyone in the trees. I don’t have to face myself.
When I can sit in the dark no longer, I travel back to my tent, disappointing Zu, praying I don’t run into Tzain. But as soon as Amari sees me, she rushes over with a silk kaftan.
“Where have you been?” She grabs my hand and pulls me into her tent, practically stripping me to pull the dress over my head. “It’s almost time for the celebration and we haven’t even done your hair!”
“Amari, please—”
“Don’t bother fighting me.” She slaps my hand away and forces me to sit still. “These people are looking to you, Zélie. You must look the part.”
Tzain didn’t tell her.…
It’s the only explanation. Amari applies carmine to my lips and charcoal around my eyes like an older sister might, then makes me do the same to her. If she knew the truth, she would only be afraid.
“It’s gotten so curly,” she says, pinning one of my coils back.
“I think it’s the magic. Mama’s hair used to be like this.”
“It suits you. I’m not even done and you look stunning.”
My cheeks flush, and I gaze at the silk kaftan she’s forced me into. Its purple pattern twists with vibrant yellows and deep blues; it shines bright against my dark skin. I finger the beaded neckline, wishing Amari would take it back to whoever lent it to her. I can’t remember the last time I wore a dress; I feel naked without fabric covering my legs.
“You don’t like it?” Amari asks.
“It doesn’t matter,” I sigh. “I don’t care what I wear, I just want to get tonight over with.”
“Did something happen?” Amari pries delicately. “This morning you couldn’t wait. Now Zu tells me you don’t want to share the scroll?”
I press my lips tight and grip the fabric of my kaftan. The way the smile dropped off Zu’s face filled me with a different kind of shame. All these people looking to me to lead them, yet I can’t even keep my own magic in check.
And not just my magic …
The memory of Kwame’s inferno rages so hot, my skin prickles at the imagined heat. I convinced myself I had nothing to fear, but now fear is all I feel. What if Zu couldn’t control him? What if she had never arrived? If Kwame hadn’t stopped his flames, I wouldn’t even be here.
“It’s not the right time,” I finally say. “The solstice is only four days away—”
“So why not give these divîners their powers back now?” Amari’s hold on my hair tightens. “Please, Zélie, talk to me. I