Page 250 of The Wishing Game

"Would you like some?" I ask as I push forward a tray of pastries toward him.

He shakes his head.

"When do you even eat, Ze? You're a big guy. You must need a lot of fuel."

"I have my feeding times," he grumbles, looking away.

"Your loss." I shrug. "This is marvelous."

"I like watching you eat. You humans get happy at the smallest things," he mentions casually.

My brow goes up as I side-eye him.

"Maybe you should learn a thing or two fromus humans." I roll my eyes, grabbing a sweet pastry and shoving it in his mouth—half to shut him up and half to make him see why this human would be happy about it.

His eyes widen in surprise and he slowly munches on it, nodding.

"It is good," he agrees as he swallows. And now that he's had a taste of it, he doesn't stop at just one, going for another, then another.

Odd man. He claims I am the odd one when he can't even eat by himself, needing someone else to urge him to eat. I shake my head at him, though a slight smile plays at my lips. We eat in silence until all the food is gone, at which point Ze reclines in his chair, gracefully dabbing at his mouth with a napkin.

"Two days from now, the temple will open its doors to outsiders," he states, his tone suddenly serious. "It is an annual event in which they recruit a new apprentice. It is open only to females who exhibit spiritual abilities. They are required to go through a round of tests, after which the high priestess elects one female to join the temple. It is a highly sought-after position due to the training priestesses receive, and many Supremes have at one point been priestesses." He pauses, giving me a pointed look. "You have said our society is unfair to females, yet the temple is an institution that catersonlyto females. There is no equivalent for males."

I cross my arms over my chest, regarding him through narrowed eyes.

"What do you want me to do?"

"You will masquerade as a recruit to gain access to the temple," he answers simply.

"But how will I be able to enter the recruitment process if they only accept females with spiritual abilities? I fear I must remind you I am a mere human," I add sarcastically.

Now it's his turn to roll his eyes. He nods to my bracelet.

"That is where the pearl comes into the equation. The first test will measure your spiritual abilities. I have filled the pearl with my energy, so it should allow you to pass that test."

"Of course you wouldn't give me a gift out of the kindness of your heart," I mumble under my breath as I rotate my wrist, watching the purple of the pearl change hues depending on the light.

He doesn't acknowledge my words as he continues. "Passing the first test will gain you an invite inside the temple to participate in the second test. You will not, however, undertake it. You will sneak into the altar room and temporarily disable the runes keeping males out of the temple. I will then come inside, interrogate the high priestess, and get the location of the vial from her. If we are lucky, the artifact will be within the temple's premises."

I stare at him.

"It is all very simple." He nods, satisfied.

"Uhm, human here?" I say as I put my hand up. "I don't know how to recognize those runes you speak of, let alone disable them."

"You will have my voice guiding you." He smiles.

"You planned this all, didn't you?"

Everything makes sense now. He's been staging this from the very beginning, hasn't he? I don't know why, but an aching hole forms in my gut as I realize that he's been orchestrating all of our interactions to reach this point.

"Of course," he readily admits. "I have accounted for every probability. You are the best option. The king has undoubtedly told the temple to increase their security. They are expecting me, but they do not know how I will be able to get inside. And since I am not known to have any female friends—least of all one who would possess spiritual powers worthy of the temple—they will not suspect that a female will infiltrate the temple on my behalf."

"What if I get caught?"

"You will not," he assures me.

"But what if Idoget caught? You said it yourself. They will expect you, so they will likely increase security. What will happen to me if they realize I'm human?"

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