Page 128 of The Wishing Game

I hold myself still even as he relaxes.

Damn it, why did I agree to this? It somehow feels too intimate, not only him sleeping on my lap, but also me sleeping on his.

He doesn't sleep long. In fact, he's up in a matter of minutes, dusting his clothes and looking entirely unbothered.

"Okay, so what's next now? Where are we going?" I ask as I get to my feet.

He scans the ground for a twig, which he uses to draw in the sand the map he memorized.

"We're here. We need to go north and then farther west to reach the forest," he explains. "You will need to be more vigilant as we get closer to the forest. We won't be the only ones searching for that plant."

"Do you think the others already got there?" I ask as I nibble my lip.

"Yesterday at the convocation, I studied some of the competition," he says as he uses his foot to wipe the map. "There are people who I am sure will not make it. But there are also plenty of dangerous species in the competition—even some that have powers to rival those of a god."

My eyes widen.

"What does that mean for us?"

"We will need to be more careful. I am not at my full potential in this realm," he adds as he clears his throat. "Otherwise, of course, I could take each and every one of them," he amends. He straightens his back, his hand going to the hilt of his sword as he caresses the dark handle.

"Of course." I nod, a smile pulling at my lips. His pride would never allow him to admit anything less.

"As I am limited, however, we shall have to avoid a direct confrontation," he continues. "We will also have to avoid drawing too much attention to ourselves, although I suppose killing the foxes did not help," he muses to himself.

"Why would someone so powerful join this competition then? If they are so strong, why would they need a wish from the game?"

"Not all desire a wish," he says, his lips flattening in displeasure.

"What?" I frown.

"There are some that make a sport out of this competition, training in between editions to get greater results."

Realization dawns on me. If they've trained in between editions, they must be hundreds of years old.

"You mean there are some who've participated in the game before? And won?"

"Participated, yes. Won? A few might have. The ones who did not were smart enough to quit at the right time."

"But why? Why would anyone do this?"

"Recognition. Ambition. Pride," he answers glibly. "There is one resolute rule in this competition that has been around for thousands of years. No god or demon can participate. This is all to make the game fair to participants, but that doesn't mean that distant relatives of gods are not competing. And if they are hybrids of another powerful species, that is all it takes for someone to have powers to equal those of a god."

"Oh. Wow. I didn't realize this wasmorethan just a game of wishes." I force a wobbly smile.

"The gods are watching this game closely," he explains in a tight voice. "Those who will make it to the last trial may even gain the favor of one. The opportunities are endless."

"Is that why you're here? To gain recognition? Or is it to gain the approval of a god?" I ask, tilting my head to study him. How is it that until now I haven't even questionedhisreasons for participating in the game.

A sardonic smile takes possession of his lips, and he stares at me for a moment.

"I am here to gain...something."

"Something?"

"There issomethingof interest to me in this competition," he amends, but his vague reply suggests he doesn't want me to probe further.

I nod slowly.

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