Page 46 of Shadow Witch

“Hey, Paige?” Dewey called.

“Dewey!” she choked out before Ivy doubled down on her choking.

“I don’t think so.”

“Paige? Are you really asleep already? Well, I’m coming in. We have things we need to talk about.”

The door creaked open, and Dewey flew into the room. “Hope you’re dressed because–OMG, Paige!”

Paige shoved at Ivy, trying to remove the woman from on top of her.

“Ivy’s trying to kill you.”

Paige nodded as she rasped out, “Get the knife.”

“Huh? Ohhh, right, because you’re going to be Devon’s wife. I know. She’s really not happy about that, is she?”

“Knife, knife,” Paige repeated.

“Yeah, well, you know how women can be. It’s…ohh.” He twisted to face her. “Wait, did you say knife or wife?”

“Knife!” she tried again with a wrinkled nose.

“Ohh, knife. Oh, there’s one across the room. Just a second, I’ll grab it.” Dewey buzzed toward it when the pressure finally released from Paige’s neck.

The threat of the dragon snagging the knife was enough to send Ivy diving across the floor for the weapon.

“Dang it, she got there first.”

Paige sucked in gasps of air as she rose to her feet, the edges of her vision blackening. “Run!”

“Yeah, right,” Dewey said. “We totally should. Maybe find Devon or Drucinda.”

Paige waved a hand at him as she stumbled toward the door. “Run!”

“Oh, you mean now. Right.” Dewey fluttered toward the door but Ivy slid in front of it, slamming it shut.

“I don’t think so,” she said with a sneer as she sliced the knife through the air.

“Dang it,” Paige said with a shake of her head.

“Missed our chance,” Dewey said. “We’ll have to fight this devil another way.”

“Any suggestions?” Paige danced around from foot to foot. “You didn’t happen to bring a stake with you, did you?”

Dewey dug under one of his scales. “Got a toothpick.”

Paige stared at the skinny stick. “Yeah, don’t think that’s going to cut it.”

Dewey tossed it to the side as Ivy lunged at Paige. She lunged sideways, smashing into the floor and rolling across it.

“Get up, Paige! Quick!” Dewey shouted.

Ivy reoriented herself in Paige’s direction, but before she could dive toward her with her knife, Dewey fluttered past in the air and smacked her on the head. “Ow.”

“That’s what you get for going after my friend,” Dewey said. “I’m a full-service maid of honor.”

“Seriously?” Ivy asked. “You picked a tiny, male dragon for a maid of honor.”

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