Page 15 of Shadow Witch

Devon slid his phone into his pocket. “He wants us married before the weekend is out.”

“What? This is your engagement party and now your wedding.”

“He says if she really is committed to me, it won’t be a problem.”

“It is a problem,” Paige shouted. “We’re engaged, isn’t that enough?”

“Apparently not. And Ivy’s still waiting in the wings.”

“Oh speaking of, we had a lovely chat with her in the boutique. She’d like to kill Paige.”

“Yeah, I gathered that from my dad’s message. Here’s the deal. He says no matter which way this goes, I’m no longer a bachelor after this weekend. So, I either marry Paige or Ivy.”

Paige’s jaw dropped open as she stared at him. “What? Wait…do I still get the soul compass either way?”

Devon gave her an unimpressed stare. “No, Paige. That’s only on the table if you’re my wife. Outside of that, you get nothing.”

Paige slapped a palm against her forehead. “OMG. This is a mess.”

“There is a simple solution, here,” Drucinda said with a shrug.

“Steal the compass from Dominic?” Paige asked, her eyes wide.

“No, darling,” Drucinda answered with narrowed eyes and a shake of her head. “Marry Devon. It’s not that awful, you know?”

“Marry Devon?” Paige repeated. “Are you insane?”

“Standing right here, Paige. And I really appreciate that.”

“No offense, but a forced marriage wasn’t exactly on my to-do list this weekend.”

“It wasn’t on mine either. I’m just trying to help you out.”

“Oh, right, because you didn’t ask me to marry you once already. This plays right into your hands.”

“I’m not going to insult you and say it’s not a good outcome. But I didn’t do this on purpose.”

Paige crossed her arms, tugging her lips into a frown. She was stuck. If she wanted to find her mother, she needed the soul compass. And to get it, she needed Devon.

She hated feeling helpless and relying on others. And she really detested that she’d come out of this married, but maybe they could strategize once at the castle and find a new way out of this.

She slid her eyes closed, stretching her neck before she forced the words from her throat. “Fine.”

Devon raised his eyebrows, his features turning surprised. “Seriously?”

“Well, that’s the only way,” Paige said as she flung her arms out to the sides. “So, looks like we’re getting hitched.”

“I’ll tell my dad. And then we can head back to the castle.” Devon tugged his cell phone from his pocket.

“What is this that I heard?” a new voice said. “You’re marrying that beast?”

Paige let her head fall back between her shoulder blades. “Henry, now isn’t the time.”

“Isn’t it? I think it may be, kitten. You are my fiancé!”

“I’m no one’s fiancé. Well, okay, I’m Devon’s, technically, but–“

“How could you?” the storybook knight asked. “After I took care of Dodger for months!”

---