Page 53 of Shadow Witch

“I’ll take the couch. Paige, you can have the bed.”

“And me,” Dewey announced as he buzzed across the room. “Oh, but I’ve got to have this side. It’s a thing. I can’t explain it.”

He tossed back the covers before he landed on the mattress. “Ohh, these are nice, Devon. This is exactly the bedding I would expect for a vampire prince.”

He flopped onto his back and snuggled into the pillow. “Cover me up, won’t you, Paige?”

Paige clicked her tongue as she eased onto the mattress. She flipped the covers over the dragon, covering him entirely.

He pushed them back with a grumble. “Be nice, Paige.”

“Sorry, I’m just tired. I just want to lay down and get some sleep without a vampire trying to kill me.”

She crawled under the sheets and settled back into the pillow as she tugged the covers higher. She let out a long sigh, appreciating the mattress’s comfort.

“Stop groaning,” Dewey said.

“Sorry. I ache everywhere. I should have taken a pain reliever or something.”

“I could whip up a batch of slime,” Dewey offered.

“Pass,” Paige said without opening her eyes. “I don’t need to be high.”

“Please. I’m not making that mistake again. I also know you don’t weigh two hundred and fifty pounds now, so–”

“Will you two please be quiet so we can get some sleep?” Devon asked.

“Sorry, Muscles,” Dewey said with a hint of snark in his voice, “we’re just settling in.”

A long sigh came from Devon as silence fell over the room. Paige sucked in a deep breath, trying to relax herself enough to fall asleep. With everything that had gone on, her mind raced. What would she face tomorrow? Could she win? Would she wrap up the contest?

She allowed her mind to imagine herself stepping out of the competition realm triumphant. Dominic raised her hand in the air and declared her the winner. A smile curved her lips. She’d marry Devon, find her mother, and live happily ever after.

“What are you smiling about?” Dewey whispered in her ear, startling her awake.

She snapped her eyes open before she slid her eyes sideways. “Why are you staring at me while I’m trying to sleep?”

“I was trying to see if you were asleep or not. I can’t sleep.”

“Me either,” she admitted as she turned on her side. “There are too many things on my mind.”

“Me too. I’m worried.”

“So am I,” Paige admitted with a slump of her shoulders. “What if I don’t win? I mean, I know I don’t have to win the next one, but I’m worried I can’t win at all.”

“I’m worried I picked the wrong cake for the shower.”

She snapped her gaze to him, a frown on her face. “I’m in a life-and-death situation here, and you’re worried about the cake?”

“Yeah,” Dewey said. “I ordered the one with raspberry filling, and now I’m concerned some people won’t like that. But I thought the chocolate was a little too much.”

Paige clicked her tongue. “It’ll be fine. Here’s an idea. Maybe we could skip the shower entirely so I can focus on winning these challenges.”

“Where’s the fun in that? Do you really want to get married without a shower or a bachelorette party?”

“I think I’ll be okay considering it’s a fake marriage.”

Devon cleared his throat loudly.

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