Page 21 of Shadow Witch

“Challenge? I mean, based on what grounds? I’ve never been married before or anything so I’m not already married or whatever. I’m perfectly capable of getting married. Oh, unless Devon’s been married once and isn’t properly divorced.”

“No,” Devon said. “And that has nothing to do with it. It’s…a challenge for my hand, basically. It means you’d need to…prove your worthiness to marry me.”

“What? How?”

“A series of challenges. The one who accumulates the most points…and remains alive, wins.”

“Remains alive?!” Paige cried. “Are you kidding me?”

“No. It’s quite rigorous. If you wish to marry Devon, you will have to prove yourself.”

Paige clamped her hands on her head. “This is unbelievable.”

“I should show you to your rooms. You’ll undoubtedly want to prepare for the challenge. They will start this evening at sundown.”

Paige stood with her jaw gaping open for a moment before Devon dragged her toward the door. “Come on, Paige. It’ll be okay.”

Paige shuffled her way into the massive foyer, her mind trying to make sense of the situation. Within ten minutes, she’d been settled in the same suite she’d occupied after she’d been kidnapped.

She paced the floor, chewing her lower lip as she imagined some sort of death duel with Ivy. A knock sounded at her door a moment later. For a split second, she wondered if she’d find it locked like she had the first time she’d stayed here.

She twisted the central knob and pulled it open, happy to find it swinging freely. Dewey buzzed in. “Wow! An Amor Fortis. What a weekend this is going to be.”

Paige shoved the door shut with a frown. “I’m so glad to know this is entertaining for you. Hopefully, it’ll be just as entertaining when I’m dead.”

“Dead? You can’t die, Paige. I mean…you need to fight for your epic love with Devon.”

“I don’t have an epic love with Devon. And I have no idea how I’m going to defeat a Venompire in challenges. This is…awful.”

“I’ll say,” Drucinda said as she pushed through the door. “You’re going to choke.”

Paige stared at the woman for a moment. Her leather trousers hugged her toned legs perfectly. Her biceps flexed as she crossed her arms over her toned abs.

“Wait a minute!” Paige shouted. “Can I have a stand-in?”

“Stand-in?” Drucinda asked.

“Yeah, like a second. Like in a duel. You know, if I can’t participate, my second fills in for me?”

Before she received an answer, Devon knocked and poked his head into the room. “Oh, you started the party without me.”

“Hardly a party,” Paige grumbled.

“Yeah, we’re not exactly celebrating Paige’s impending death,” Dewey added.

“Thanks, Dewey. Really appreciate knowing you believe in me. Though if I can get a stand-in, I think I’ll be good.”

Devon crinkled his brow as he sank into one of the chairs near the fireplace. “Stand in?”

“She thinks it’s like a duel, and she can bow out and let someone else take her place. Sorry, darling, but you have to fight for your own true love.”

“But–“

“It’s not an option,” Drucinda said, sinking onto the loveseat and kicking her feet up on the coffee table. “And besides, who would you get anyway?”

Paige perched on the edge of the couch next to her. “You.”

“Me?” Drucinda cried, her voice incredulous. “Are you joking? Pass. Hard pass.”

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