Page 106 of Shadow Witch

“My pleasure.” Devon morphed into beast mode and stamped a foot at Henry.

Henry sliced his blade at Devon’s dark form. Devon flapped his wings, rising in the air away from Henry.

The prince’s gaze raised into the air before he backed his way toward the portal to defend it. “You won’t get away, beast!”

Devon snarled at him as he slashed his sword through the air. Devon bobbed and weaved above him, searching for an opening to strike.

“Why aren’t they doing anything?” Paige asked. “Where is that reverse blocker?”

“Probably locked in a safe somewhere,” Dewey said before he raised his voice. “Get him, Devon!”

“This is insane.” Paige shook her head and pushed through the crowd toward the realm portal. “Henry? Henry! Stop this nonsense.”

“Sorry, Kitten, but I must avenge you.”

“I don’t want you to avenge me. I’m marrying Devon of my own free will. I agreed to it.”

“He forced you. You’re under his sick vampire spell.”

“I’m not,” Paige said with a shake of her head. She bit her lower lip as she wondered how true the statement was. What if she was under his spell? With a shake of her head, she dismissed the idea.

“You can’t know that. Actually, you can. Once I slay this foul creature, you will return to your normal self. Then you shall see the light!”

“There is no light. I’m not going to marry you. I didn’t marry you in the fracture fairy tale or when you came to the real world. I’m sorry, Henry. But I don’t love you.”

“What’s love got to do with it?” Henry asked as he thrust the sword again, driving Devon back.

“What’s love but a secondhand emotion?” Dewey sang.

Paige shot him an unimpressed stare. “Shut up, Dewey, this is serious.”

“Sorry.”

“Henry, stop it. You’ll find someone else. Someone…way better than me. Who actually loves you for you. And you won’t have to fight a duel to win them. They’ll just…like you back.”

Henry frowned as he let the tip of his sword fall to the ground. “But…”

“But nothing. This is a waste. I…appreciate your efforts. I really do, and I’m very touched. But we’re not in love. And we’re not getting married.”

Henry let his gaze fall to the ground as his shoulders slumped. “But, Kitten–“

“No, Henry.” She shook her head. “Look, just come out and…after the wedding, I’ll…set you up on a few dating apps. And you’ll see that there are plenty of fish in the sea. Some of them will love that you’d battle a beast for them.”

Henry’s forehead creased. “Do you think?”

“Oh, I know it. We can totally find you a new girlfriend. Just…put the sword down and come out of there.”

Henry’s lower lip jutted out in a pout. “Okay.”

He turned off his portal blocker and stepped from the realm. He tugged a corner of his lips back as he approached Paige. “Beautiful Paige. A light in my life. I shall allow you your choice, but shall always regret the day you slipped from my fingers.”

Paige offered him a tight-lipped smile as she clapped him on the shoulder. “Yeah, tough day, but… you’ll find someone else.”

Henry sucked in a deep breath as Devon stalked from the realm in his human form, glaring at him.

Henry lifted his chin and sheathed his sword before he stuck his hand out. “You won her, fair and square. Good luck. Treat her right.”

Devon hesitated a moment before he took his hand, slowly pumping it up and down. “Thanks. You were a good competitor.”

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