Tomi Adeyemi Quotes

No matter what the world said, my magic was beautiful. Even without powers, the gods had blessed me with a gift.

In this man - this one wretched man - is an entire kingdom. An entire nation of hate and oppression, staring me in the face. It may have been the guards who broke down the doors in Idaban that day, but they were simply his tools.

Here lies the heart.

She smiles. A beautiful smile. With it, I glimpse the sun. When she turns, I long for that glimpse again, the warmth it spread through my bones.

I can't go back to that world. I won't survive that pain.

He shrugs and brushes non-existent dirt off his shoulders.

Everyone else feels like being caught in the rain. You're the whole tsunami.

I could screw everything up for the remainder of his days, yet Tzain would still die trying to keep me safe.

Your people, your guards-- they're nothing more than killers, rapists and thieves. The only difference between them and criminals is the uniform they wear."
She pulls herself to her feet and palms the tears from her eyes.
"Fool yourself all you want, little prince, but don't feign innocence with me. I won't let your father get away with what he's done. I won't let your ignorance silence my pain.

Mama Agba says you've chosen me. Baba agrees, but I … I'm scared. This is too important. I don't want to screw it up.

Our lack of power and our oppression are one in the same...

Count to ten," I whisper to myself. "Count. To. Ten." Becuase when I finish counting, this horror shall end.

I release the throwing knife as something I can't place deflates in my chest. It sinks like disappointment.

It breathes like relief.

Love is too strong, too intense, for what I feel. For what I am allowed to feel.

Are you alright?" Amari whispers. Though her voice is gentle, her amber eyes are knowing.
"Just cold."
"Amari tilts her head, but she doesn't pry. Instead, she laces her fingers through mine and looks back out at the sea. Her touch is kind. Forgiving. Like she already knows the truth.

We're the children of the gods." I lift my chin. "If someone's running away, it's not going to be us.

You don't have to be afraid - "
"I am always afraid!"
I don't know what shocks me more - the power in my voice or the words themselves.
Afraid.
I am always afraid.
It's a truth I locked away years ago, a fact I fought hard to overcome.

You raised me to fight monsters," I mutter, stepping forward with my sword. "It took me far too long to understand that the real monster was you.

When the elders built this place, it was only bare mountaintops.' I look to the crowd. 'It didn't become a home because they filled it with towers. It became a home because they built it together. This land, these temples--they're not what matters. As long as we have each other, we will carry Orisha in our veins. No one can ever take that away.

You don't get to judge me," I whisper. "I didn't ask for any of this!"

"No one ever aks, but you're here. You're here when so many people aren't!

Even in the darkest times the gods are always there.

I rest my forehead against hers, and we sit in a comfortable silence, translating our love through touch. The Princess and the Warrior, I decide in my head. When they tell the story of tomorrow, that is what they shall call it.

Those are Father's words, Inan. His decisions. Not yours. We are our own people. We make our own choices.

If you could just see where I'm coming from--"
"Go--"
"You don't have to be afraid--"
"I am always afraid!"

I don't know what shocks me more--the power in my voice or the words themselves.

Afraid.

I am always afraid.

Afraid.

I am always afraid.

It's a truth I locked away years ago, a fact I fought hard to overcome. Because when it hits, I'm paralyzed.

I can't breathe.

I can't talk.

All at once, I crumple to the ground, clasping my palm over my mouth to stifle the sobs. It doesn't matter how strong I get, how much power my magic wields. They will always hate me in this world.

I will always be afraid.

Reality told us we would fail. But again and again, we fought. We perserved . We rose.

No matter how much I crave peace, the gods have other plans.

Her spirit seems to hover around me, crashing with th force of the turbulent sea.

It avoids rather than hurts, it hurts rather than maims, it maims rather than kills - the staff does not destroy.

It doesn't matter how strong I get, how much power my magic wields. They will always hate me in this world.

I didn't know it was possible to fit so perfectly inside someone else's arms.