Page 75 of Shadow Witch

Dewey tugged a paper from under his scale and unraveled it. “Hello. How about that last challenge, huh? I guess that’s why it’s dangerous to marry a vampire. Ha ha. You guys might not know this, but I’m a bit of a loner. I’m a one-dragon wolf pack. But when Paige walked into the library, I knew she was one of my own. And my wolf pack grew by one. So now, in case you’re not keeping track, there are now two of us in the wolf pack. I was alone in the wolf pack, and then Paige joined in. And then Drucinda arrived, and there were three people in the wolf pack. And with Devon, there are four. So, four of us wolves, running around in a vampire castle, looking for fun and shenanigans. So tonight, I toast…the wolf pack.”

Paige stared at him as he raised his glass. He offered her a wide-eyed glance, and she lifted hers. “Right, thanks, Dewey. I’m glad I’m in your wolf pack.”

She leaned closer and whispered, “Did you hijack that from The Hangover?”

“Of course not. I wrote that from the heart.” He shook his head at her before he buzzed across the room and picked up the sashes for each guest. “Now, ladies, let’s party.”

Paige slipped the BRIDE sash around her before she took another sip of her champagne. She was only drinking one glass. She did not need to have a hangover. She also hoped he hadn’t booked any raunchy entertainment. A nice relaxing evening was just what she needed after winning the Amor Fortis.

She eased onto the plush velvet couch and took another sip of the champagne, her mind already feeling fuzzy. She assumed she was tired from the adrenaline surge of the challenge and let her head fall back against the cushion behind her. Her eyes slid closed.

When she opened them again, bright light streamed through the windows, blinding her. “Ugh,” she said as she squinted against it. Her stomach rolled and her brain felt like someone had melted it.

She pushed up from the puddle of drool underneath her on the velvet cushion. As she scanned the space, she spotted nothing but chaos.

Colorful streamers hung haphazardly from the ceiling, mingling with floating balloons and shimmering confetti. Glittering banners and flashing neon lights created a kaleidoscope of colors across the room.

A makeshift stage stood in the center of the room, the karaoke machine on it still blasting music that made her head pound.

Paige tried to take it in as she fought the urge to vomit. She pressed a hand to her forehead as she sat up. Drucinda lay sprawled on the floor, wearing a cheerleader uniform.

Paige wrinkled her nose at the sight before she stumbled toward the door. A unicorn blocked her way. She skirted around it, finding a monkey riding a unicycle.

“What happened last night?” she murmured. Her own voice made her head pound and her stomach whirl with nausea.

“Ugh,” she moaned as she stumbled back over to Drucinda and nudged her with her foot. “Drucinda…wake up.”

She collapsed onto the couch again, letting her head fall into her hands. “Drucinda, come on, wake up.”

Paige let her eyes slide closed as she flopped back against the cushion behind her. “Why do I feel so bad? Dewey! Dewey?”

She snapped her eyes open, her head thudding at the temples. “Where is he?”

“Stop shouting,” Drucinda answered, her voice slurred with sleep and whatever else that had led them to feel so bad this morning.

“I’m not shouting. How drunk did we get last night?”

“I didn’t drink that much,” Drucinda answered as she pushed up and sat back on her haunches. “Oh, what happened?”

She pressed a hand against her forehead and winced.

"I'm not sure. All I can recall is sitting here, attempting to unwind, and then suddenly waking up to find this room in chaos, feeling as though I've been through the wringer."

Drucinda climbed to her feet, her cheerleader skirt flouncing as she rose. “Please stop talking. There is no way liquor did this.”

“I think it did. What was in that champagne?”

“No,” Drucinda answered. “I could drink three bottles of that stuff and not even feel it. Valkyries are very good at handling liquor. This is something else.”

“What?” Paige asked, screwing up her face and immediately regretting the motion as it made her headache worse.

“I don’t know. Someone…drugged or something. Maybe some form of magical powder.” She collapsed onto the couch next to Paige and sank her head into her hands.

“Magical powder?”

Drucinda swallowed hard as she struggled to keep her eyes open. “Yes. Something like Dream Dust or the like.”

“Dream Dust?” Paige questioned.

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