“Magic is home in our people. It draws strength from us as we draw strength from it. And as long as it’s being forcibly used by others, it will never be what it was for our people again.” Her hand, fire, cups my cheek. “Jelani, you are the gifted exception. The final arrow in the quiver. But even your hands have only had a taste of what we are truly capable of. Can you move mountains? Do your fingers command the wind?”

I shake my head.

She shows me her palms. “Mine once did. Return your Ancestors’ magic stored in that onyx to the earth. Let the soil soak in its richness, and it will flow fiercely through our people once again. Your heart for humanity, the rare tenacity you possess, the way you balance justice and mercy. You’re the perfectly balanced blend of the best parts of my saisa and coquella, Yakanna and Beerchi.”

Perfect. No, not me.

“Your perfection isn’t in that you don’t make mistakes, it’s how you grow from them,” she says, as if she can read my mind. “You have to fix this, dear one. You, Jelani. No one else. Our time is done. Trust yourself. Remember, as the onyx is returned, the magic will be restored.”

“O-okay, b-but…” Wind howls so loudly it drowns out my words as she blows away like dust. I blink several times, but the sky has cleared. In moments the thunderclouds evaporate, and the sky is empty as if it were all a dream. Golden dirt is caked under my nails, so it had to be real.

“Th-they can’t help. They can’t—” The words choke me. I stare at everyone who is also staring at me. They all heard the Ancestors say that I’m the exception. It has to be me. My heart rams in my chest and I try to gulp down air, but I can’t take it in fast enough.

I can’t…

This can’t…

I rake my hands through my hair and run.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

RUE!”

It’s Julius, but I keep charging ahead, back to the shade of the jpango trees. Away from all the eyes, expectations. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

“Dammit, Rue, slow down. I’m supposed to be the track star.”

The ground softens under my feet when I slip beneath the canopy. Moonlight hides and I can barely make out my hands in front of my face. I pause for a breath, panting. Where am I going? Where can I truly run to on this island? I press my back into a thick trunk and slide down it, hugging my knees, itching to breathe. But the forest’s leaves, the blanket of darkness, this island. I claw at my neck.