Page 29 of Shadow Witch

“Oh, it will be. I hope Dominic really puts out a spread for the event. I can’t wait to sit back with a huge bowl of popcorn and watch you battle it out with Ivy. And then…Devon with Henry. A double duel. This is just…amazing.”

“Dewey!” Paige shouted, startling him. “I could die! This isn’t fun and games. Stop planning your watch party.”

“Speaking of parties, I still need to get a few things for your shower and bachelorette parties.”

Paige stared at him with her jaw agape. “Are you serious? I don’t think we’re going to have time for that. Plus, I may be dead.”

“Oh, Paige. Stop being so dramatic. We’ll have plenty of time. There’s downtime between each event. We’ll have the parties then.”

“If I’m alive.”

“Well, yeah. I mean…if not…we could still have the party, though. You’d just miss it.”

She let her head fall back against the cushion behind her as she slumped down with a groan. “I hate my life. I hate it.”

“Paige,” Devon said, reaching forward to take her hand in his. “You’ll be okay. You’re going to win. You know why?”

“Because Drucinda is going to kill Ivy for me?” Paige flicked a hopeful gaze toward the Valkyrie who shook her head in response.

“No, because you are a genuine person. And all that emotional stuff is going to be so easy for you. You’re just going to fly through this. As will I in my challenges.” He leaned back, puffing his chest out.

“What are your challenges?” Paige asked.

Dewey took to the air again, fluttering back and forth at an aerial pace as he named them. “The Feat of Valor, The Duel of Devotion, The Test of Selflessness.”

“And what do those involve?”

Dewey struck a pose, raising a fist in the air. “The Feat of Valor. A dangerous quest in which both parties must venture into a mystical and perilous realm to retrieve an artifact.”

“That sounds sufficiently horrible,” Paige answered.

Devon scoffed. “Child’s play. For you, Paige, I could walk around the globe seventy times.”

Paige screwed up her face at the words. “Okay, right. And the next one?”

“The Duel of Devotion,” Dewey shouted. “A battle of words and emotions where each man will express their love for Paige through heartfelt speeches and gestures.”

“Seriously?” Paige asked. “Like they say this stuff to me?”

Dewey bobbed his head up and down. “Oh, yeah. And you judge it.”

“Well, that’s easy. Obviously, I want Devon to win, so…”

“Thanks, Paige,” Devon said with a grin. “I really appreciate that.”

“Unfortunately, it’s not only your decision. So…you only are part of the equation. Still, voting for Devon is probably the best thing to do,” Dewey answered.

“Right, okay, and the last one.”

Dewey lifted his chin, projecting his voice again. “The test–“

“Please stop saying everything like you’re announcing at a monster truck rally.”

Dewey frowned at her. “Fine. The test of selflessness. Devon and Henry will be presented with a situation where they must make a sacrifice for your happiness. The catch is it must be genuine.”

Paige heaved a sigh. “Well, this is a fine mess we’re in, isn’t it? We both have to risk our lives for this fake marriage so we can get the soul compass and save my mom.”

“It’s okay, Paige,” Devon said with another squeeze of her hand. “We can do this.”

---