Page 31 of The Wishing Game

The audience responds with a resounding yes.

I find myself nodding as well, licking my lips as I remember the sweet taste of the beverage. Just a while ago, I'd chastised myself for drinking one too many glasses, but now I'm craving another one. It's quite the addictive flavor...

"What you all enjoyed was a punch mixed with a drop of ambrosia—just enough to give youalla fair chance in this competition."

I frown at the mention of ambrosia. What is that? I'm not familiar with the fruit. Others seem to be equally confused, but as the complaints resound in the room, they seem to be more concerned about the effects of the drink—orlackthereof.

"No, I'm afraid immortality is not on the menu tonight." Inu chuckles. "Although you can wish for it—and get it if you win."

"The drop of ambrosia was meant to get everyone in peak condition for the game. Shall we, Inu?" Inara shares a glance with her brother.

He stretches his arm toward her. As they join hands, a bright light engulfs the entire room. I squeeze my eyes shut, blinded by the blast.

A panicked breath catches in my throat as I bring my hands to my eyes, rubbing furiously. I dare to blink, moisture clinging to my lashes. Yet I can see—there's nothing wrong with my eyes.

My brows furrow as I glance around, trying to ascertain what just happened. But when I reach for Thea to ask her if she's all right, I'm shocked to discover the ease with which I can use my left arm. There's no...pain. No numbness. No discomfort at all.

I can move it perfectly fine—as if it had never been broken in the first place.

My eyes widen as I incredulously pat my torso, feeling for my bruised flesh and broken ribs. Where they used to hurt with just one touch, now there's absolutely no pain. Still in shock, I pull my hair to the side, searching for the place the doctors drilled a hole in my skull. If before I could feel the ridges of the sutures, now there's only smooth scalp.

"How is this possible?" I mumble in shock.

I'm not the only one in awe. As I look at the other side of the room, I spot someone who'd been in a wheelchair suddenly stand up and walk. Others who'd had various disabilities are healed as well. Even those costumed are rejoicing, although I can't see how the ambrosia worked for them.

The most striking, though, is a guy weeping on the floor. I vaguely remember noticing before that he had crutches and he was missing one leg.

But now...

How the hell could a person suddenlygrowa leg?

Murmurs envelop the entire area, and while I can't make out what everyone is saying, I'm willing to guess they are all exhibiting some sort of life-changing healing.

Thea is watching raptly, a wide smile on her lips. Her brother, on the other hand, looks entirely bored. Resting his chin on the back of his hand, he releases an annoyed sigh.

"What is this, Thea? What is happening?"

Panic swells in my breast, yet at the same time, I'm physically perfectly fine. How is this possible? Am I dreaming? Am I in an alternate reality? Or, worse, am I still in a coma? That must be it because otherwise how can this be real? How can someone be healed with the snap of a finger? How canambrosiagrow a leg?

I'm either going crazy or something seriously messed up is afoot here.

"Sometimes it takes seeing with your own eyes to believe something, doesn't it?" Thea smiles at me. "Inu and Inara are minor deities of mischief and gossip, respectively. Together, they have a bit more power, hence the hand holding. But they're notthatpowerful. The ambrosia healed you. They merely activated its effects," she notes glibly.

"What? You... Deities? You're messing with me."

I stare at her, my mouth hanging open in shock.

"Please tell me you're joking," I whisper.

"I'm not and you know it. You canfeelit," she says as she grabs my left hand. "How else would this be real, Luce?"

"I'm going crazy," I mutter to myself. A mixture of calm and restlessness fights for supremacy within me. One side of me wants to accept this as truth—the evidence is right in front of me. But the other side—the skeptical one—would rather believe I'm going crazy than admit that thiscouldbe real.

I lived most of my childhood believing that agodcontrolled our homeland, only to find out it was a charlatan who only wanted to take advantage of people's worship. Back then, too, I believed the so-called miracles and his divine intervention. So how can I believe this now when I've been burned before? Yet the evidence...

There's no pain. That's all I can think about. There's absolutelynopain.

"You're not going crazy, Luce." Thea pats my thigh. "Just open your mind to the impossible."

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