Page 302 of The Wishing Game

"Can't you get him back? Since you're from the House of Psyche..."

"It does not work like that, unfortunately. There are two ways in which a god can die. One is due to an injury. When that happens, their soul can be salvaged. But if they die through the second way, it is permanent. My husband died through the second way."

"What is that?"

"Execution," she deadpans, her eyes meeting mine.

I freeze, and my intuition gives me a kick in the gut.

"Once a god is executed, their soul is obliterated. And that is because the sword used to execute them,The Infallible, is the only weapon in existence that cankilla god."

The expression on her face changes. No longer does she sport a kind and inviting smile; now there's only resentment.

"I should go," I murmur as I back away.

She's faster. Her fingers curl around my arm as she pulls me to her.

"Are you not curious who I am talking about, little human?"

"I know who you're talking about," I whisper.

"You know who he is—whathe is—and you're still by his side?" She snarls.

"It's his duty. If your husband was executed, he must have done something bad..."

"You want to knowwhyAzerius killed him? Because he refused to marry the chit the Supremes commanded him to. Because he choseme.That is why he had to die."

"I... I'm sorry. But your gripe is with the Supremes, not with Ze. He only enforces the rules. He doesn't make them," I say as I try to escape her hold.

"And yet, you remain by his side while knowing he is a cold-blooded killer?"

"I don't understand why you're telling me this. I have nothing to do with it."

"You don't? Think better." She smirks. "I am doing you a favor, little human, because it seems the unfeeling commander has finally caught feelings. But his ability for empathy continues to be nonexistent."

"I don't?—"

She cuts me off.

"Tell me you haven't wondered about the coincidence of it all. Your husband dies and you magically get an invitation to The Wishing Game. And if that wasn't enough, you suddenly get a team of the most powerful gods in existence aiding you win trial after trial. Do you think everything was by chance?"

"What are you talking about?" My lashes flutter in confusion.

"Are you not curious how you got your invite to the Game?"

"I was desperate to get my husband back and?—"

She laughs. She throws her head back and laughs at me.

"If only it were that simple." She shakes her head, her tone mocking. "When I saw him save your life after you fell from that bridge, I was intrigued. It was completely antithetical to the cold, emotionless Azerius I knew. He does not help people. Hekillsthem. So if he went out of his way to save you, what else was he willing to do? Had I actually stumbled upon the one weakness the great Azerius had?"

My eyes widen. Ze saved me? He was the one who...

I swallow hard, my throat dry. One by one, her words start to make sense. Ithadbeen a coincidence that I got the invite, and soon after, three powerful gods teamed up with me and helped me pass the first two trials.

"Yougave me the invite?" I ask in a tremulous voice.

She nods, a smug smile on her face.

---