Page 266 of The Wishing Game

"Howdarea male come into the temple of her ladyship?" she grits out, her chest expanding with each labored breath. She doesn't wait for a reply as she summons her strength, sending blast after blast at Ze.

He dodges each blow easily, moving through the blasts as he stops in front of her, staring her down. Despite her high heels, he's much larger than her, and a sliver of fear enters her gaze.

"You know who I am," he notes, his voice suddenly changed. There's a coldness there that was not present before.

"You're the God Killer," she spits out at him, doing her best to keep her calm. "The king warned me you would attempt to come inside, but I did not think you would succeed."

A smirk pulls at his lips.

"Nothing can stop me if I want something," he drawls, walking in a circle around her. His hands are at his back, his sword still sheathed at his hip. He makes no effort to arm himself or even muster a defensive stance. "Your king must have also told you the reason for my visit."

"You will not get anything out of me," she straightens her spine in an attempt to hide the tremor of fear racking her body. And I do not blame her. As Commander Azerius, Ze appears frightening even to me.

"That remains to be seen." He shrugs. "I am doing what is best for Aperion. If I entered the temple, a demon could do so as well. You were suspecting her to be related to a son of Tenebreis, were you not?"

She wets her lip, her body taut as she's undoubtedly gathering all her strength to attack him when an opportune moment arises.

"You are a rather half-witted female, high priestess," he drawls in a mocking tone. "You suspected her to be the enemy, yet you opened the doors of your temple to her. If she were an actual threat, she would have annihilated you and your precious temple just as she did that sphere."

"What are you?—"

"You know I speak the truth. You have no one to blame but yourself.Youinvited danger. Well, do not be surprised when the danger strikes."

"What is she? Are you working with them?" the priestess asks, her tone as venomous as the hatred in her eyes.

"She is my person. That is all you need to know." He smiles, a sinister smile that does not reach his eyes. "And I do not appreciate it ifanyonemakes her anxious."

She narrows her eyes at him.

In the span of a second, he's in front of her, his fingers wrapped around her right wrist. "Was it this hand you used to attack her? Or this?" He grabs the left one as well.

She draws back, seeking to escape his grasp.

To my surprise, he lets her go easily. But it's only for a moment before he withdraws his sword and cuts her right hand in one smooth slice. Blood pours out of the wound, the bone visible where he cut it. She releases a sharp cry as she presses her other hand to stop the bleeding.

Ze doesn't even blink as he wipes the residual blood off his sword before sheathing it.

My eyes widen at the pure ruthlessness rolling off him.

"That is merely the beginning, Priestess," he adds casually.

"You will not get me to sayanything. I made a vow."

"I am aware. And breaking that vow will mean death, but you will die regardless. The question is whether it will be peacefully or...violently."

"I cannot. You don't understand." She gasps, her features strained with pain. "No priestess would willingly betray her duty."

"Really?" He raises a brow. "What about Helen? Her duty to Elias was far more important than her duty to the temple."

"She is an anomaly. Priestesses have a duty..."

"Spare me the rehearsed speech. I am here because I have a duty as well, the only difference being that mine extends to the entire universe. Shall I remind you what will happen if the demons get their hands on the vial? We are already at a crossroad. If I could so easily break into your sanctified temple, it is only a matter of time before the demons will as well."

She shakes her head, her breath harsh and punctured. Her blood courses freely and her features become paler by the second.

"I will ask this just one time before I will be forced to get the answers myself. You either tell me of your own accord and embrace your death or you will die a slow and painful death as I examine every thought you have ever had."

Her lips flatten in determination, and with a loud battle cry, she hurls herself against him, using her other hand to conjure her blasts.

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