Page 10 of Shadow Witch

“Oh come on, Dru, I was only having a bit of fun. Hazing the newbie, if you will.”

“No, I won’t. And I can’t imagine Devon will either.”

“Devon is making a gigantic mistake. I’m fairly certain you know that.”

Drucinda narrowed her eyes at the woman, offering her an unimpressed stare. “Devon’s choices are his own. And it seems Dominic isn’t displeased.”

“Dominic is far too lenient with Devon. And it’s going to cost him.”

“I’m certain he’s shaking in his cape.”

Ivy sneered at her. “He ought to be. This little wedding is going to cause a schism in his organization.”

“Hardly.”

“You’ll see. This is a warning. Take it back to Devon and Daddy. Marry Paige Turner, and we will destroy you and everything you’ve built.”

Drucinda crossed her arms and lifted a shoulder in the air. “I’ll let him know, and we’ll share a good laugh over it. Now, get out of here you blood-sucking tramp.”

Ivy strode toward the door, shooting a hostile glance over her shoulder. “You’ve been warned.”

With that she pushed out of the door, the sounds of Paris floating in until the glass thudded shut.

“What a nitwit,” Drucinda said as she collected several dresses.

Paige still stood frozen, trembling inside from the attack and the threat.

Dewey’s carrier bounced around as he tried to right himself. “Help!”

“Snap out of it, Paige. Did you pick dresses?”

“I…yeah,” she murmured.

“Hello,” Drucinda snapped her fingers in front of Paige’s face, making her blink a few times. “Come to your senses, Paige. If you’re going to be a Durand, you’ve got to get used to this stuff.”

“I’m not,” she finally said as she rescued her dresses from the floor. “I’m only faking that.”

“Well, you’d better fake it better than that. Ivy isn’t the only one who’s going to be sore over this.”

Paige crinkled her brow as Drucinda led her to the checkout counter.

“You can come out now, she’s gone.”

One of the girls climbed from behind the desk, her hands still shaking. “Bit of a fight over the groom?”

“Yes,” Drucinda said with a coy half-smile. “He’s quite a catch.”

She flicked her gaze to Paige as she rang up their order. “Lucky girl.”

“Thanks,” Paige said with a wrinkled nose. Was Devon really putting that much on the line for her?

They paid for their purchases using a Durand account and Drucinda had them sent directly to the castle. She slid on her sunglasses as they stepped into the Paris sun.

“So, will there really be a list of people who detest me simply because I’m marrying Devon?”

“Long and varied, darling,” Drucinda said as she strode along the sidewalk. “Get used to it. He is one of the supernatural world’s most eligible bachelors. I wouldn’t be surprised if there aren’t several attempts on your life before the weekend is out.”

Paige’s eyes went wide. “Seriously?”

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