Page 131 of The Wishing Game

He gives me a side glance, his lips twitching.

"Indeed." He straightens his back. "Veryexpensive. It is one of the most ostentatious palaces in the realm."

"And you live there alone?" I blink. "Don't you get... lonely?"

Fifty rooms is alotfor a single person.

His brows furrow.

"Lonely? What is that?"

I stare at him. At first, I think he's joking, but his expression of confusion is genuine.

"You know... alone?"

"I am used to being alone." He frowns.

"But you shouldn't be. Don't Cer and Thea visit you?"

"Ipreferto be alone," he replies smoothly. "Cerenios and Erithea know better than to show up unannounced. I have wards all around the premises, and if an intruder thought to enter, he would be turned to dust."

"No one prefers to be alone," I remark softly, my heart clenching at the certainty I hear in his voice. "Have you never invitedanyoneto your palace?"

"Why should I? It is my home. I do not like strangers in my home."

"You're telling me you'recompletelyalone in a fifty-room palace?"

"Averyexpensive palace," he interjects.

"Right. You're the only person in a fifty-roomveryexpensive palace?"

"Indeed." He nods, pride emanating from his voice.

I thought talking about a mundane subject like his palace would lift up our spirits, but instead, this is even more depressing. What's worse is that he doesn't even realize how strange this is.

"Okay, got it. You live alone in yourveryexpensive fifty-room palace. But who cleans? Who cooks? Who keeps the palace in shape?" Something of that size is usually maintained by a crew of tens if not hundreds of people.

"Me, of course," he answers in indignation. "I would never trust a stranger with my belongings."

Well, at least he's self-sufficient. I guess that's something...?

Although Nikki had a similar outlook, at least he had me. We were never lonely because we were together.

"You don't have to live like that, you know?" I add softly. "You're not a bad guy. I'm sure you'd have more friends if you tried."

He slowly turns to me, his eyes pinning me to the spot.

"Does that mean you think I am nice?" he asks, his lips twitching.

"Yes. You are quite nice." I smile. "You're a good friend, Ze." I pat his arm.

He preens at my praise. "You can't take it back," he warns.

I chuckle. But my laughter is cut off as Ze moves with shocking swiftness. I don't even have time to react as he engulfs me in his arms, tackling me to the ground and rolling with us so that he cushions our fall with his body.

As we come to a stop, I'm flat on my back with Ze looming over me, his body draped over mine. His arms are around my waist, holding me tight but making sure he's not overwhelming me with his weight. His face is a razor's edge away from mine. Up close, I can see his features better—the almond shape of his eyes and the swirling darkness of his irises, his high cheekbones and his strong, masculine jaw. I rectify my assessment of him from earlier. Heisa very handsome man. It's odd that I've never quite realized that before.

I study his features at leisure, my eyes dipping lower to his straight nose and full lips—he has very full lips for a man. If he weren't such a peculiar man, I'm sure he'd have women falling all over him—of course, I don't believe his claims that he's sought-after. The man can barely string together two sentences without offending someone—that someone being me in particular. I fail to see how any woman would find that attractive. Maybe it's cute in a maladroit way, but mostly rude.

---