“Rue,” Julius says, but it’s too late. The sting of Jhamal’s betrayal and now this catches fire and I burn. I burn all over. I burn in the parts of me I’d buried.

Kai gasps. She’s shifted to Jhamal’s bed, legs curled one over the other, her robe hanging off one shoulder. Jhamal’s beside her, his shirt wide open.

“Jelani,” Jhamal says, moving away from her. “Wh-what are you doing here? I-I mean, when did you get back?” He reaches for me, but I step back.

“It’s not how it looks.” Jhamal swallows, stepping toward me. Julius steps forward too.

“You think that’s why I’m here?” I huff a laugh. “I shouldn’t be surprised. Add it to the list.”

“Clearly.” Kai pulls her shift into place, and something inside me snaps. Magic streams from my fingertips and slams into Jhamal’s chest. He flies backward, pinned against the wall. I hold him there; my magic, strands of burning white light, claw at the edge of his throat.

“I’m sure it’s exactly how it looks. I’m seeing clearly for the first time. But no, that’s not why I’m here.”

“No. Hear me out,” he says.

“I’m listening, but you ain’t saying shit!”

He parts his lips to speak but says nothing for several moments. “Jelani, I tried. You know me.” His eyes dart in Kai’s direction. “Come to Kai’s side. Join us.”

“Us.”

“Jelani. My…”

My Queen, he was going to say, but he stops.

“Join you? I can’t even look at you.”

“You said she didn’t want the crown,” Kai says. “Looks like she does.”

“This isn’t about a crown, Kai. If that’s what this is about for you, take it. I don’t want a crown. This is about honoring our Ancestors by keeping us alive. Moi Ike Yakanna herself—”

“Don’t speak to me like you know more about the Mother than me.”

“Shut up.” I fling a sticky spell at her lips. “Feey’l.” I shove the air and she falls to sitting position. “You’re a disgrace to the Mother herself.”

I turn back to Jhamal. “I remember everything. The Patrol you were colluding with. The potion you fed me to weaken me and make me forget. So I’d be trapped in prison for months. Never mind how if you’d mixed that potion even slightly wrong, it could have killed me.”

His eyes widen.

“What’s been your plan, huh? What did Patrol promise you for your betrayal? I’d bet you it’s a lie. Or was it all for her?” I look at Kai. “You just wanted to keep me under your thumb so you could conspire to put her on the throne? Did I even get rescued from that cell? Or was it a part of some master plan all along?”

Kai’s expression flashes with recognition.