Page 37 of Shadow Witch

“Hey, I still like my leggings. But for occasions like this, I may just be a convert.”

“Well, if you’re changing back to leggings since your battle is over, you’d better hurry. The Feat of Valor is starting in less than thirty minutes.”

Paige sucked in a breath, shooting Devon a glance. “Oh, right. I nearly forgot. Yeah, I think I’ll change. And then eat some popcorn. I’m starving.”

“You change, I’ll grab the snacks. They’ve got some nonpareils that are out of this world,” Dewey said

Paige nodded and headed for the door, snaking her way through the halls toward her bedroom. As she closed the door behind her, she breathed out a long sigh. The weight of the situation crashed down around her as she slumped to the floor. She had just survived the first round of an epic battle that could claim her life.

She’d used her wits, but in the end, it had come down to a physical fight. She’d won, probably because Ivy had never expected her to attack. What would happen in subsequent rounds? Ivy would be prepared the next time around. She’d never get away with that again.

She wondered if she could conceal a weapon in her leather pants. She may need it.

A knock sounded at the door. She forced herself to her feet and pulled it open. Dewey floated inside with a large container of popcorn. “Hey, buddy. Thought you may need some sustenance sooner than later.”

Paige grabbed a handful and munched on it, still quiet.

“Also, thought maybe you could use a friend.”

The words melted her heart and her eyes turned glassy as she bobbed her head up and down.

“I mean I didn’t really want you to start crying, but–“ Dewey wrinkled his nose. “Fine, fine, go ahead and cry.”

Paige covered her mouth with a hand before she waved it in the air, trying to fan away the tears. “Sorry. I just…it’s a lot.”

“But you did it. You were awesome. The bets were insane, too.”

“Bets?”

“Oh, yeah. This is like big-time, Vegas-style betting. They update the odds on a constant basis and people place bets. Lemme tell you whoever bet on you made a mint. Your odds of winning were like…insanely low. Like a hundred to one. And they got worse after the first disaster with the riddle.”

“How much did you make?” Paige asked, grabbing another handful of popcorn.

“What?” he asked.

“How much did you make? You bet on me, right? So you probably won something good.”

“Oh, ahhh, of course, I did. Yeah…I don’t know what the final spread was but…”

“OMG,” Paige exclaimed, her features twisting, “you bet against me. I can’t believe this.”

“I didn’t say that,” Dewey said.

“You did it though, didn’t you? My own best friend. My maid of honor. Bet against me in the pool.”

“I thought…it was a quick way to make some money. I figured you’d recalibrate after the first one and win the whole thing. But the first time out…I just…thought…you’d lose.”

Paige shook her head as she swallowed the last of her popcorn and retreated to the bathroom to change. “I can’t believe you. Did everyone bet against me?”

“No, Devon bet on you and made a mint. Stupid Devon and his stupid good lucks. Money goes to money, huh? Like he needed the extra ten g’s.”

“Devon won ten thousand dollars betting on me?” She tugged her tunic over her head and straightened her ponytail.

“At least. He went in when the odds were so high it was ridiculous and bet big.”

“At least someone believed in me,” she murmured.

“Well, anyway,” Dewey said as she emerged, “let’s get down there and lay some bets on this round, huh? I got a hundred bucks that Devon wipes the floor with Henry.”

---