Page 73 of Shadow Witch

Paige’s forehead creased as she tried to sort through the information.

“No,” Ivy answered, “I’m ready.”

“Uh, me too,” Paige said with a nod, wiping her sweaty palms against her pants.

“Then we’ll begin. I’ll throw the coin. The challenger, Ivy, will make her call. You can choose from petals or roots.”

The flower readied the coin on a hand-like leaf and shifted his head toward Ivy. “Petals,” she said.

He nodded and tossed the coin in the air. “It’s roots. Choice goes to Ms. Turner.”

The odd, talking flower turned toward her for her answer. “Uhh, I’ll go second.”

It worked for Henry, she thought.

“All right. Ms. Delacroix, you are first. Begin your memory process now and press the button when you’re ready. You have a two-minute limit on memory conjuring. If you do not press the button within two minutes, you will automatically forfeit the round.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Ivy said with a smirk as she pressed her hand against the button. “I’m ready.”

Paige leaned back as a giant three-dimensional hologram of Ivy’s memory filled the space between them. A dapper Devon in a tuxedo danced with a ballgown-clad Ivy. Both grinned at each other.

Paige shifted her weight as she studied the memory, likely of their first dance. “Great,” she murmured under her breath as the memory faded.

“All right, over to you, Ms. Turner. Same rules, you have two minutes.”

Paige sucked in a breath, her palms turning sweatier as she strove to find as chic an image as the one Ivy conjured. With a shrug, she went for one of the kisses Devon had recently planted on her, hoping it had some emotional impact.

She pressed the button and let the image form.

“All right,” Fleur answered as it faded. “Word from the judges?”

Paige flicked her gaze to the screen containing the live feed from the real world as the judges conferred. “The first round goes to…Ivy.”

Paige’s heart sank as she saw her chances to win slipping away. She cursed under her breath as she rolled her shoulders back. “Shake it off, Paige.”

“Ladies, the second round starts now. Ms. Delacroix, you have two minutes.”

Across from her, Ivy pressed her button already, filling the air with the image of a moonlit night and a garden stroll that ended in a kiss.

Paige rolled her eyes at it, wondering why Devon hadn’t married her already.

“Very good, now, Ms. Turner,” Fleur answered. “Two minutes, starting now.”

Paige’s heart thudded against her ribs as she tried to conjure something equally romantic. Her mind struggled. She’d used a kiss in the last round and it hadn’t won. As the clock ticked closer to zero, one memory stood out in her mind. She slammed her hand onto the button and filled the air with the image of their first meeting.

In the hologram, Paige tumbled down the stairs, and Devon helped her up and slid her glasses back onto her face.

The image faded, and Paige shifted her weight from foot to foot as she stared at the judges. Was she about to lose the Amor Fortis or would she get one more chance to win?

Finally, the head judge leaned forward. “Round two goes to…Paige Turner.”

Relief washed over Paige, and she blew out a sigh as she shook her head, her mind already spinning as she searched for the next memory to use.

Across from her, Ivy glared at her until Fleur announced the next round. She immediately slammed her hand onto the red button. The image of her writing Mrs. Ivy LeBlanc with hearts filled the air between them.

Paige heaved a sigh. She’d never compete with that. Ivy was trying to suggest that she truly loved Devon and had for some time. Doubt crept over Paige as Fleur sent the round over to her.

Her throat parched, and her knees wobbled. How could she find a memory to beat that?

---