Page 235 of The Wishing Game

"But I want you to know you don't have to let yourself be tolerated. You don't have to live your life at other people's whims and take whatever scraps they throw your way. You deserve better, Ze."

His lips part, his breathing becoming labored.

"I know you don't need friends. But don't you wish to at least surround yourself with people who...don't hate you?"

Tension fills his jaw.

"I do not need to be liked," he grinds out. "It is the nature of my position to be hated. I do the job no one else dares to."

"But do you have to?"

He stares at me, his mouth opening and closing as if he cannot find the words to answer me.

"Why do you care?" he eventually asks as he averts his gaze, a flush going up his neck. "A few days ago, you were telling me how much you hate me—just like everyone else."

A hopeless sigh escapes his lips as he stares at the faraway wall. My heart clenches in my chest at that lone sound, and something akin to a punch in the gut makes me gasp for air.

I did say those things. I did tell him how much I hated him. Yet despite all he's done and said before... I understand. He was never given a chance to be better, and to my great shame, I behaved just like the others.

"I don't condone your actions, Ze. Hell, I don't like most of them. Yet even when I don't like you, there's something about you that calls to me." I give him a sad smile. "I may not agree with you, but I care about you. And I want you to be better. If you want that, too, that is."

He doesn't move, his eyes fixed on me.

"I would like"—he clears his throat as he rolls his shoulders and straightens his back—"to be nice. To you."

"Prove it then. Make an effort and be nice."

He gives me a brisk nod, his cheeks heated. My hand falls from his face and I tuck it by my side, not wanting him to misconstrue my actions.

"Does that also yield me extra points?" he asks eagerly.

My brows shoot up in surprise before I burst into laughter.

"Fine. I'll reward your good deeds with extra points."

A satisfied smile blooms on his face, and he once more leans back in his seat, resuming his relaxed stance.

Our conversation continues on a lighter tone, and I even manage to elicit a few smiles from him that are as foreign to me as they are to him.

Yet despite our easygoing interaction, the atmosphere is still tense. The hairs on my back stand to attention as I feel people's eyes boring into me. I glance around from the corner of my eye, not surprised to see people staring at us. Some do so directly, their distaste written all over their features, while others are more discreet. The staff of the establishment appears to have a problem with us as well. Since we've taken our seats, a few other people have come in, all ordering and receiving their orders within a short period of time. Meanwhile, we've been waiting for ages. I may not be sure how things are done around here, but I can feel when I'm unwanted.

I wonder if they haven't brought out our orders because they thought if we waited long enough, we'd cut our losses and leave. Alas, we will not.

Ze seems oblivious to the hostile atmosphere, and in order to avoid more trouble, I keep things to myself. The last thing we need is for him to say or do something that will just confirm people's opinion of him. So to distract him, I put on a pleasant smile and inquire about his general.

"Why did the Supremes choose a mate for Aethon? Is he not allowed to choose for himself?"

His lips press together in a tight line.

"Aethon is a special case. He is the only blue dragon in existence and the Supremes are afraid his line will die out. For thousands of years, they have been trying to find someone who is a biological match to him and who would be able to bear him blue dragon younglings."

"So he has no choice at all in who he takes as a mate?"

"If the Supremes decree it, he will have to obey it."

I nod slowly. Poor Wyn. She's going to be heartbroken.

"And who is this mate they've found for him?" I probe further.

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