Page 232 of The Wishing Game

He stares at me.

"Good. For ninety-one extra points, I shall stop."

"Ninety-one?" I blink.

"I must recover my losses." He shrugs.

"Fine, you got it. Now let's go," I mutter as I try to steer him out of the shop. "Sorry about this." I give Thea a strained smile. "I'll find my way back to the house with Ze. I think you two need some time alone."

Thea nods, her expression worried.

In a lower voice, I whisper, "I think you should tell her that he's missing. She'll be even more disappointed when he doesn't show up for her ball."

She purses her lips, expelling a deep breath.

"You're right. Thank you, Luce. I'll see you later."

I incline my head and, leaving the two of them behind, I drag Ze with me out of the shop.

God, but the man doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut. And ninety-one points? That was stretching it and heknowsit, especially with the smug smile he has plastered on his face.

FORTY-NINE

The two suns are blazing in the sky, a burning red against clear blue. As the door of the shop closes behind us, we step into the bustling street.

A few gasps erupt around us, and people stop to stare. Men and women of all ages come to a halt, their eyes widening as they take us in.

My brows scrunch up as I look up at Ze questioningly. His lips are pressed in a thin line as he glares at the pedestrians—his way of telling them to move along and mind their own business. But it's clear why they're gawking at him with a mix of awe and trepidation. He's easily the largest man around, with a good head taller than the rest. His shoulder breadth alone is the size of two normal males put together. He'd be a frightening sight to everyone, especially since his sword is dangling by his waist, the white of the scabbard a stark contrast to his black clothes.

A few kids here and there continue to stare at him on the verge of tears, while their parents are cooing to them in a comforting voice, dragging them away.

"So," I start, plastering a smile on my face. Thea had mentioned that s’Aperiotes don't particularly like deities, no matter their rank. They must have recognized Ze as one and they no doubt have plenty of opinions against him for that alone. Some people who haven't scurried away still glare at us, their nostrils flaring as they mutter something amongst themselves.

"Thea mentioned there's a shop around that serves sweet ices. Let's go there?"

Ze turns to me, his brows going up in surprise.

"You want to go get sweet ices? With me?"

"Why not? Thea and Wyn will likely be at the seamstress's shop for a while, and I don't have anything planned for today. Wait, do you?" My face falls as I ask.

"No. I do not," he hurries to add as he straightens his back, a smile tipping at his lips. "I will accompany you to get sweet ices."

"Great. If chocolate is so good in your world, I'm curious how this will compare."

"I would not know," he adds pensively.

"Of course. You do not engage in frivolities, and I bet sweet ices are the height of such frivolities," I say as I crack a smile.

He nods, his expression serious.

"You are correct, human. But for you, I shall make an exception."

"Happy to hear that, Ze." I chuckle, grabbing his arm and threading mine through the crook of his elbow. He blinks in surprise at my gesture, but his lips settle in a pleasant smile and he draws me closer to him.

As we walk to the ice shop, the whispers around us abound. The sea of people splits to make way for us as if we were a pair of diseased individuals no one wanted to be near. It's quite odd. I glance left and right, noticing men who hunch their shoulders in fear, averting their gazes as Ze and I pass, while others glare at us belligerently, cursing under their breaths.

I do my best to ignore it, but the heavy weight of their malevolent gazes makes the hairs on my body rise up. Ze does not comment on it, however, and I don't bring it up either. Instead, I make some small talk on the way, keeping his attention on me so he doesn't register the extent of people's dislike. Knowing him, he would take umbrage at people failing to recognize his greatness and that could lead to a conflict no one wants.

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