Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha)

er in the village. You would never guess a woman her age could be so lethal.

Duty isn’t enough when it means destroying the girl I love.

With one final cry, Kwame erupts like a dying star. Fire explodes in all directions, leaving the earth with the last remnants of himself.

She raises her hands in surrender. “I don’t want anyone to get hur—”

It happens so fast. Too fast.

One moment Zu stands.

The next, an arrow pierces through her gut.

“Zu!” I scream.

We sprint in vain, trying desperately to escape the archers striking from the sky. One by one divîners go down, pierced by an onslaught of arrows that never seems to end.

My face heats, growing warmer when Amari studies us. I turn away and focus my attention elsewhere, trying to ignore the way Inan’s answer makes something inside me tingle

Before I can make another objection, Inan wraps his arms around me and spins. His smile stretches so wide it’s impossible for me not to smile back. I laugh as he sets me down, though it takes a moment for the world to stop turning.

Her fingers dig into my back, pulling me closer. Everything in me wants her. Wants this. All the time.

I look down at her. It’s hard to believe we’re both awake. How many times have I wanted to hold her like this? To have her hold me back?

I squeeze Zélie tighter, a warm rush running through me when she squeezes back.