Page 33 of The Wishing Game

"That is an anomaly," she notes thoughtfully.

"Now that we've gotten the boring talk out of the way, who's ready for the game?" Inu asks, eliciting cheers from the crowd.

Thea too claps enthusiastically until her brother gives her another one of his dry looks. The corners of her lips lower, her gaze dipping to her feet.

"Your brother is an asshole," I lean to whisper.

"Tell me about it," she grumbles. "I can never enjoy anything." She sighs dramatically. "But now I'm here. And I met you. And we're going to have such a fine time. Of course, you can't withdraw now, but you can do it after the first trial and?—"

"Wait a moment," I stop her senseless rambling. "Who said anything about withdrawing after the first trial?"

"Well, you wanted out. That's your way out." She smiles blithely.

"Not if the prize isanywish," I oddly find myself saying.

Until a moment ago, I didn't even think I believed this whole god talk—I'm still not entirely sure I do. But if there is the slightest chance I can get Nikki back, I'm going to take it—regardless of how crazy it sounds. The flames of revenge, previously raging uncontrollably, slowly fan out, replaced by a much more potent fire.

The goal I thought I had is all but gone until only one objective remains.

Nikki.

My beloved Nikki.

To have him in my arms once more, I would payanyprice. I would even gamble my immortal soul.

"But... Luce..." She blinks in surprise. "You can't... You're..."

"I am?" I raise a brow.

"Never mind." She strains a smile.

"You didn't tell me what your wish is," I shoot back. "Why areyouhere?"

"Yes, do tell, Thea. Why are you here?" her brother interjects, leaning in to watch her closely.

"My wish is"—she pauses, a look of uncertainty crossing her face—"to find love!" she suddenly declares. "Yes, that's it. I want to find love."

"You want to find love?" Cer repeats ominously.

"Uhm, yes..." she stammers, looking anywhere but at him. "Like at least a quarter of the people present here do. The others want money, power, immortality, or just like you," she addresses me, turning her back to her brother, "to get back someone they lost."

I nod thoughtfully. Everyone here must have their own circumstances, and knowing my own desire, I can't judge anyone for their choices.

Turning my attention to the crowd, I note that everyone is debating the merits of the competition and if their wish is worth their immortal soul. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot the girl I'd bumped into previously—the one with the fluffy white tail. My eyes slowly widen as I note that her entire body is now covered in white fur—is that even her?

"Thea?" I ask tentatively. "This isn't a costumed event, is it?"

"Costumed event?" She frowns. "Where did you get that idea?" She pauses as realization dawns on her. "Oh, Luce." She giggles.

"That's why everyone kept referring to me ashuman. It's because some arenothuman, is that right?"

Even as I utterthe words, I find it hard to believe that any of this could be true. Yet if gods exist, if they have the power to heal extensive injuries, then it stands to reason that other creatures could exist, too. And considering the girl's control of her tail...that only leaves me with one conclusion. It wasn't a mechanical tail. It was a real one. Just like the other people I assumed were costumed as animals—they're not. Theyarethe animals.

My God—or is it Gods now? This is too much information for my feeblehumanmind. And although I find that I am oddly okay with the existence of all these creatures, it doesn't make the experience any less eerie.

Thea gives me a tight smile.

"Yes, you would be correct." She takes a deep breath. "Most of the individuals here arenothuman. And those whoareeither have ties to the underworld, or their messengers explained the situation in detail when they were invited to the game. It's why I was so surprised you had no idea about...well, anything. It's certainly not done to not explain the situation, least of all to a human."

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