The Wishing Game

Chapter 43

FORTY-THREE

I ncessant knocking at the door wakes me up from my nap. I yawn, rubbing my eyes as I fling the sheets off me and get out of bed.

"Luce! It's me!" Thea calls out from the other side.

As I unlock the door, she barely gives me time to react before she barges in, her arms full of boxes.

"My parents are home. We need to get ready for dinner," she casually says as she drops the boxes to the ground.

I blink at her, confused.

"Uhm, what?" I ask groggily.

"I brought you some shoes to choose from. I think I got your size right," she says as she eyes my feet pensively. "You have tiny feet, so I got the smallest size. I'll also do your hair and makeup," she drones on, and it's then that I realize that her hair is already styled in a prim bun at the back of her head, her makeup simple yet elegant, with lip gloss, peachy blush, and winged eyeliner. She's wearing a beige dress made out of a combination of silk and lace, the silhouette fitting her perfectly and accentuating the contours of her body but without seeming too risqué.

"Is it that formal?"

"Unfortunately." She rolls her eyes. "My father is a stickler for propriety. My mother is a bit more lax, but she still follows his decrees. If you are out of your room, then you must be presentable. It's all about image." She clicks her tongue.

"Oh. Let me quickly wash my face."

I go to the bathroom and splash some water on my face in an attempt to chase the sleepiness away. The cold water is refreshing, and I soon feel slightly more alert.

"Come." Thea waves me over to the vanity. "We'll do hair and makeup first and then dress and shoes. Okay?"

"Sounds good." I nod. "Are you sure it's all right for me to be here, though? You know, with me being human and all that..." I trail off. Her attempts to beautify me and make me presentable for her parents make me doubt I'll get a good reception, particularly since her kind seems to look down on humans.

"What? Of course not. I told you, they won't mind it. They'll be so happy I brought a friend, they won't even care you're human." She chuckles. "Besides, this is to my advantage as well since it will take the focus off me."

She takes a jar of cream and starts applying it to my face.

"What do you mean?" I frown.

"The same old." She shakes her head. "My parents, well, my father mostly, want to see me mated and married off as soon as possible, so he's been adamant about arranging meetings for me with single males. It's one of his greatest shames that his oldest daughter is still unmated at this age." She sighs dramatically.

"But you're not old," I protest.

She smiles.

"I might not seem old, but I'm six thousand eight hundred years. In our world, that's three thousand years over the marriageable age. I'm considered an old maid." She chuckles.

"But your brother isn't mated, and he's older than you. So is Ze."

"For them it's different. They are considered an asset for Aperion due to their role in the military, so no one is forcing them. For me, however..."

Opening a drawer, she studies the assortment of cosmetics, chooses a few, and places them on the vanity. She unscrews a jar with what looks to be foundation, and she starts applying it all over my face.

"I should have been mated a long time ago, but I managed to put it off because I was still working on my qualifying exams. But lately my father has become obsessed with finding me someone. In our world, especially for the upper class, it's frowned upon if a female is not married by a certain age," she explains.

"And you don't want that?" I ask. "You don't wish to have a family someday?"

A sad smile pulls at her lips.

"It is not that I do not wish to have a family. Rather, it's that I do not want any of the males my father thinks would be suitable for me. And..." she trails off, nibbling at her lip.

She's quiet for a moment as she finishes applying the foundation, after which she dusts some creamy pink blush on my cheeks.

"I trust you, Luce," she finally takes a deep breath. "This isn't something...that I normally advertise, because, well, Ze was right. It could get me shunned, or worse, killed."

I blink in surprise, but I don't probe, letting her tell me at her own pace.

"Our world is very strict. Unions within the upper class have to be approved by the Supremes. And despite Ze's protestations, this world is much harsher on females than it is on males."

"Is it because you haven't passed your exams then?"

"If only it were just that." She gives a dry laugh. "Females of my class are expected to be...pure." She swallows. "There have been cases in which a female did not come to her mate untouched, and the male reported her to the authorities. Not only was she and her family shamed, but she was also imprisoned for her offense."

"What?" I ask, my eyes widening. "Imprisoned?"

"Our class is in power due to our abilities. Without them, we wouldn't be here. The gods wouldn't be here. The universe as we know it wouldn't be here. So the rules are made to ensure those abilities are passed on. But more than anything, a female's first child is always the most powerful. And power is the goal of every union. The male that reported his mate? He did it because he considered himself cheated out of a powerful offspring."

"But what does her not being a virgin have anything to do with children?"

"Because if she came to him touched by another, he could not be sure she did not bear a child in the past, thereby depriving him of his powerful firstborn. That entitles him to compensation from the female's family and a harsh punishment for her."

"Wow... I have no words, Thea. I gathered that your world wasn't very nice to women, but I didn't realize it was this bad."

"Individuals don't matter. It's all about power and prestige. Every family measures their worth by the number of Supremes they produced."

I nod, my heart hurting for her.

"Were you...in love with him?" I ask tentatively.

She releases a bitter laugh.

"Maybe it would have been better if it had been some great love story. It was one time only, and I was so intoxicated I barely remember a single thing. Just...the morning after. The shame." She pauses, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Thea." I reach for her hand. "Did he take advantage of you?"

She shakes her head.

"We were both inebriated. Not that it makes it any better. But it was my fault... I..." She swallows a sob as she brings the back of her hand to wipe off the moisture clinging to her lashes. "If my father forces me to marry someone, it will be all over. I can't bring that type of shame to my family. I couldn't bear to see them disappointed in me."

"Why don't you tell him then? Surely, if he knows how this would affect you, he would stop pressuring you."

"That's the thing, Luce. I don't know which one is worse. My father finding out, or the world finding out."

I stare at her and it finally dawns on me that behind her easygoing appearance hides a mountain of turmoil—oh, and how well it hides. She has everybody fooled that she's some type of carefree rebel, but she's only a woman trying to survive in a world that has her cornered.

"Is this what Ze threatened you with?"

She nods as she dries her tears, patting her face with a napkin to fix her ruined makeup.

"He saw me. The morning after, he saw me leave the male's room. And since then, he's been holding it over my head. One wrong move, and he threatened to expose me."

I shake my head in disappointment. How could he do that to her? Knowing the type of secret he's been blackmailing her with makes me realize just how badly I misjudged him.

"I have a question, and I don't want you to take it the wrong way." When she nods for me to continue, I ask, "Why would you tell me something so sensitive? If it's so dangerous for you, why would you risk it?"

A faraway look appears on her face.

"Ze was right about one thing. I... I don't have the best reputation in Arche. I have no girlfriends. No one to talk to, really. There is my sister, but she's too young to understand. I guess..." She sighs deeply. "I needed to tell someone and I thought you wouldn't judge me."

Getting up from my chair, I take a tentative step toward her. I open my arms for her and she comes easily, hugging me tightly as more tears fall down her cheek.

"Never," I whisper. "I swear to you I'll never say a word of what you just told me. Your secret is safe with me, Thea," I whisper.

She cries harder, sobs racking her entire body.

"I'm sorry to burden you with this," she says brokenly. "I think being home just got to me and I..."

"No. Don't even mention it. We're friends, are we not?"

"Thank you." She swallows hard. "Thank you."

"I'll do what I can to help you avoid any talk of marriage," I tell her, slowly patting her back.

She nods, leaning back to grab more tissues, blows her nose, and wipes the smudged eyeliner from under her eyes. It takes her a few moments to get herself under control as her sobs subside, but the same helplessness is still echoed in her features.

"Is this why you're still in the game? Why you didn't quit when Ze and Cer did?"

Her lips flatten into a thin line.

"If I can take advantage of that loophole, I want to do it. It might be my only way out of this."

"Then all the more reason to win." I smile.

"You're right. We need to win." She pushes her chin up, newfound confidence slowly suffusing her features. "Now let's get ready for this dinner."

She quickly does my makeup before fixing hers. For my hair, she does a single braid that she wraps into a bun at the back of my head.

When we're done with that, she helps me pick a dress and shoes suitable for the occasion. And to make me feel more confident since the dress has a lower neckline, Thea covers the marks on my chest with foundation.

"This is such a pretty gown," I whisper, feeling both pretty and like myself for the first time in forever. I glance at my reflection in the mirror, and the lack of dark spots on my skin shows me the what-ifs —who I would be without the stain of my past to always remind me I'm still a prisoner despite being free.

The dress is long, a light pink color, with an empire waist and square neckline. The sleeves are made of diaphanous lace that flows down my arms. Although simple in design, the luxurious fabric elevates the entire look.

For the shoes, she gives me a pair of white slippers with a little bit of heel and a single jewel on the tip.

"You look so beautiful." She nods, pleased with her work.

As she regards me, her head tilts to the side, a look of concentration on her face. Slowly, her lips spread in a smile.

"My sister is on her way here. I hope you don't mind," she mentions.

Not a moment later, someone knocks on the door.

Thea opens it to receive her, immediately wrapping her arms around her and hugging her tight.

"Thea, you were gone for so long," the girl cries out, her voice young and lively.

"I know. I'm so sorry I wasn't here," Thea comforts her.

They stay like that for moments on end before Thea draws back, a look of happiness unlike any I've seen before settling on her face.

"Come meet my friend," she says, pulling her inside the room and closing the door.

"Luce, this is Wyn," Thea introduces her, and I give her a bright smile.

"Pleased to meet you."

She returns the smile, bending down in a curtsy. She's so damn cute that I can't help but warm up to her right away.

She looks to be about seventeen or eighteen, her hair black as midnight while her eyes are a startling green. She's dressed in a pale green gown adorned by golden ribbons. The style is similar to the one Thea and I are wearing, with an empire waist and long, wide sleeves.

Her hair is tied down her back with a dark green silk fabric.

Yet the most startling thing is how much she looks like Thea. Aside from their different colorings, their features are the same, so much so they could pass as twins. The only difference is that Thea is much taller while Wyn is closer to me in height.

"You brought a friend?" Wyn squeaks as she looks me up and down. "It's so nice to meet you, Luce. Welcome to our home. I'm so happy Thea finally brought over a friend," she says excitedly, coming closer and grabbing my arms. "You're going to stay with us for a while, right? My debut is in a few weeks, and I would love for you to join us."

"Debut?" I blink, sneaking a glance at Thea.

"It's her official debut into adulthood," she explains in a soft voice. "Our kind reaches majority at three thousand years old. She's also going to start her qualifying exams soon."

Wyn turns to her sister and mouths, "Our kind?"

"Luce is human."

Wyn's eyes widen.

"You're human? I've never met a human before," she declares, her eyes sparkling with excitement—not at all the reaction I was expecting. She circles around me, studying me full of curiosity. "I didn't expect this," she adds pensively as she stops in front of me.

"That bad?" I chuckle.

"Oh no. You're so pretty. The humans I've seen in picture books were...not." She flashes me a guilty smile.

"I'm glad I surpassed your expectations."

"You have no idea how happy I am you're here," she continues. "When Thea told me she brought a friend, I couldn't believe it! She's never had anyone over."

"Luce is special," Thea adds. "You know I have high standards for people," she huffs in good humor.

"Maybe too high." Wyn coughs, and Thea raises a brow at her.

"You little..." Thea shakes her head. "Just because you're the queen of popularity doesn't mean I have to be too."

"No, but you could use more fun. When I heard you were away, I was so happy thinking you might meet someone and?—"

The mood instantly changes as Thea's face drops. Wyn notices this too as she quickly amends with a blush. "Well, you met Luce. Our parents will be happy too. Mother's been worried sick when you were gone for so long."

"Were they too angry?" Thea asks tentatively.

"They were when they first noticed you were missing. But Cer assured them you were fine and that he was with you. You know how much Father trusts him."

"Right." Thea forces a smile. "He's the favorite."

"Oh, don't say that. Even with his assurances, Mother was constantly thinking of you. She tried to reach you countless times and she couldn't, so you'll have some explaining to do for that."

"I'm prepared for their lengthy speeches, trust me." She sighs.

"Don't worry too much." Wyn winks at Thea. "With my ball coming up, there's so much to plan and discuss, I'm sure they won't mind your disappearance too much."

"But that's just the thing, Wyn. Your ball is just another opportunity for them to make me meet eligible males. And you know how much I hate that."

Wyn sighs.

"I know, but I'll make them promise not to try anything. I'll tell them I don't want you to steal my shine." She giggles.

"You're a gem, Wyn." Thea smiles.

"In return, you must do something for me," her sister adds conspiratorially.

"What do you want?"

"You must ensure that Aethon will be present at my ball," Wyn says bashfully, her cheeks tinted with pink.

Aethon? The Aethon that is missing?

"Wyn, we've talked about this before." Thea purses her lips. "He's too old for you."

"He's not !" Wyn exclaims. "Why, Father is several thousand years older than Mother and their union was perfectly acceptable."

"We're talking about more than several thousand years," Thea adds in an exasperated voice. "He's close to fifteen thousand years old."

"So?"

"It's just a crush, Wyn. You'll get over it when you meet other males—more suitable ones."

"No." She shakes her head. "It's not just a crush."

"Wyn." Thea sighs. "He hasn't taken a mate in all this time. What does that tell you?"

"That he's been waiting for the right female to come along." Wyn bats her lashes. "As in, me ," she says as she does a little twirl. "He just needs to come to my ball and see me all dolled up, and I'm sure he'll propose," she adds dreamily.

"I'm sure there's nothing wrong with her crush," I interject, unable to keep silent as I witness Wyn's enthusiasm.

Thea shoots me a warning look.

"There's plenty wrong with her crush. I don't want her to get her hopes up and get heartbroken."

"I won't!" Wyn protests. "He's the right male for me. I know it."

"He's not right for you, Wyn." Thea sighs.

Wyn takes a step back, her shoulders slumping.

"What you mean to say is that I am not right for him, no?" she asks in a low, hurt voice.

"That's not..."

"You don't think I'm worthy enough to be considered by him, isn't that right? After all, I'm only the thirdborn and I haven't exhibited any special abilities while he's the firstborn of the House of Pyros."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to. I know very well what my place in society is. I know that he's far above me in, well, everything. But that doesn't mean anything. He likes me. I know he does. He always brings me gifts when he comes to visit. Just a few weeks ago he came and brought me this," she says as she rolls up her sleeve to reveal a pretty diamond bracelet with two Ws intertwined.

Thea's eyes widen as she grabs her hand, closely studying the bracelet.

"You saw him? When?"

Wyn blinks.

"When you and Cer were gone," she answers weakly.

"Tell me you were not alone with him, Wyn. Tell me," she demands sharply, her fingers tightening around the girl's wrist.

"Thea... What..."

"Were you alone with him, Wyn?"

"Y-yes, but I've been alone with him before..." she stammers, a look of confusion crossing her face.

"When you were a child!" Thea exclaims. "This is different," she murmurs, breathing harshly. "Did he touch you? Did he do anything untoward?"

"Thea, you're hurting me," Wyn whimpers.

"Answer me, Arwyn. Did he touch you?"

"He k-kissed me."

Thea's features darken, her nostrils flaring.

God, I've never seen her like this before.

"On my forehead," Wyn hurries to add.

"Thea, calm down," I whisper as I come to her side, trying to get her to release Wyn, who is already frightened by her outburst.

"He kissed you. And he's been giving you gifts," Thea repeats numbly. "Cer is going to kill him," she mutters under her breath.

"No, please, no. Don't tell him. Please," Wyn pleads with her. "It was just a friendly kiss. He wouldn't take advantage of me..."

"This isn't friendly , Wyn." Thea points to her bracelet. "Don't tell me you don't know what these stones are or how much they are worth."

Wyn swallows.

"He was just being nice."

Thea lets out a dry laugh.

"I'm going to have a serious talk with him about this. You're not even out in society and he's giving you gifts? Kissing your forehead? Goodness, Wyn, if anyone found out, you would be ruined. Ruined ."

"But—"

"No buts. You are not to ever be alone with him. If he likes you so much, he'll go to Father and declare his intentions, though I doubt that will happen." She shakes her head. "And this?" She takes the bracelet off. "You can't tell anyone about this. Do you understand me?"

"You can't just take it. It's mine..." Wyn adds weakly as she tries to get back her bracelet.

"Do you understand me?" Thea repeats, raising her arm and keeping the bracelet out of reach.

Wyn blinks back tears as her eyes flit from her sister to the bracelet.

She gives her a reluctant nod before she flies out of the room, sobs echoing in her wake.

As the door closes behind her, Thea releases a deep breath as she sinks to the floor.

"Are you all right?" I whisper as I sit next to her, reaching out to pat her shoulder.

She shakes her head, her features tense as she tries to hold back her tears.

"She can't end up like me. I won't allow it. I won't," she mumbles as she draws her knees to her chest. "I thought her crush on Aethon was just a silly thing she'd grow out of. I didn't realize... I should have paid more attention to her."

"Is he so bad? He's Cer's friend, isn't he?"

"He's not bad. But he will never mate her. Of that I am sure."

"But why? She's such a beautiful and lively girl..."

"She is, isn't she?" Thea smiles. "But it's not enough. The Supremes will never allow him to mate with any random female. He's one of the last of his bloodline, and that means he has a duty to perpetuate his line. The only way he can successfully do so is by mating with a compatible female."

"Does Wyn know this?"

Thea shakes her head. "No. She's so innocent. We've all done our best to keep her away from politics. But she will need to know soon."

"She'll understand you want the best for her."

"I hope so."

The time comes for us to head to dinner, and we head down to the dining room. I'm a little nervous about being introduced to Thea's parents, but I hope everything will be fine.

As we reach the dining room, there are servants lined up on each side.

In the middle of the room there's a giant table that must seat over twenty or thirty people—then again, I wouldn't expect any less considering what I've seen of the house so far.

Wyn is already sitting down and staring dejectedly into her plate.

She raises her gaze when we enter the room, but she doesn't say anything. Thea nibbles on her lower lip worriedly, and she takes a seat right next to her sister, motioning for me to sit next to her.

"Wyn, I'm sorry," she whispers as she places her hand over her sister's. "You know I just want the best for you, don't you?"

Wyn slowly nods, her lips trembling.

"It was my bracelet," she speaks in a low voice, not glancing at Thea. "I promise not to do anything improper, but may I have it back?"

Thea's features are tense as she debates what to do.

"Do you give me your vow that you will not allow any intimacy from a male who is not your mate?"

Wyn's eyes flare open as she stares at Thea.

"I vow it," she quickly says.

Thea sighs and, reaching inside her small reticule, she takes out the bracelet and fastens it around Wyn's wrist.

"Thank you," she says thickly. "I promise I'll be careful, Thea. I don't want you to be upset with me."

"I'm not." Thea smiles, patting her on her head. "I love you, Wyn."

"I love you too." She nods, a smile finally probing at her lips.

Watching their interaction warms my heart and makes me yearn for it too. Thea has no idea how lucky she is to have such a loving family, despite the unfortunate circumstances of her position.

Neither Nikki nor I had that, and to an extent, it made us closer since we were all the other had. It was perhaps the reason why we decided to wait to have a child, too. It had always been a goal, but we wanted to spend as much time with each other as possible first.

I gulp down against the deluge of feelings that clogs my throat.

We put it off so much and now we might not be in a position to have it.

I plaster a pleasant smile on my face as I try to immerse myself in the conversation and not dwell on those gloomy thoughts.

Animated once more, Wyn tells us about all the gowns she commissioned for her ball, as well as her vision for the event.

"According to the latest count, there will be at least five hundred people—" She pauses as both she and Thea stand up. She motions for me to do the same.

I blink in confusion as I look around, but not a moment later, a man and a woman enter the room—her parents.

They look to be in their thirties, barely older than Cer and Thea. The man has dark hair and tawny skin while the woman has Thea's red hair and a creamy complexion. They're both dressed in formal clothes, with Thea's father wearing a white suit adorned with gold while her mother is wearing a deep red gown with matching gold jewelry.

"Erithea, you are back," her mother exclaims when she sees her.

"Yes, Mother." Thea nods, a shy smile on her face.

They come around to greet us, stopping right in front of us.

Thea's mother moves to give her a hug while her father is standing behind. They don't seem to notice me just yet, their attention wholly focused on their daughter.

"You and I need to have a talk later. It is not at all like you to disappear for so long without a word."

"I thought Cer told you?—"

"Your brother has a soft spot for you, Erithea. He will always take your side, even when you are in the wrong."

Thea blushes as she averts her gaze.

"But enough of that for now. I heard you have brought a guest?" she asks as she turns to me. Her eyes widen and she goes pale for a moment.

"You..." She opens and closes her mouth as she sways from side to side.

Her husband places a hand at her back, steadying her.

"This is my friend, Luce," Thea quickly introduces me. "These are my parents, Maros and Rhea, the Duke and Duchess of Sigmore."

"Pleased to meet you, Your Graces," I murmur, attempting a curtsy.

"Luce..." Rhea swallows. "For a moment, I thought you were someone else. She looks identical, does she not, Maros?"

"The resemblance is, indeed, uncanny," he grunts.

I frown, not understanding what they're talking about, but Rhea quickly recovers and gives me a smile.

"Do not mind me. You just reminded me of an old friend who has passed on. It has been many years since I last thought of her," she adds fondly.

"She's human, Mother," Thea whispers.

"She is?" Rhea's eyes widen. "Well, that is a surprise. We have never had a human over. Please be seated. It is our pleasure to host Erithea's friends."

"You mean her first friend," Wyn adds mischievously.

"Young lady." Rhea does a good job of appearing scandalized even as her lips curl around the corners.

Thea straightens her back as she threads her arm through mine, pulling me closer. "She is a dear friend, and she will stay with us for a time. I trust that is all right with you, Mother, Father?"

"Of course, of course." Rhea smiles, though Maros is still staring at me skeptically. "Why don't we start eating, and your friend can tell us more about herself."

We all sit down, and the servants bring the first course in. But just as they settle the plates in front of us, a sudden noise erupts from the back of the house, followed by a flurry of movement.

A man in a blue uniform enters the dining hall, and we all turn to stare at him.

"All rise. Commander Azerius has arrived," he declares in a formal tone.

Rhea and Maros promptly get to their feet, and I note that Thea and Wyn do the same, so I follow along.

"Who is that?" I lean in to whisper to Thea when I note the sudden change in her demeanor. Her lip is twitching in displeasure, her hands curled into fists by her side. Based on this grand entrance and the way her parents are reacting, it must be someone very important—at least someone with a higher rank.

Heavy steps echo in the hallway before the man in question, Commander Azerius, comes into view.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me," I mutter under my breath, my eyes widening with shock.