Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

P aige wrinkled her nose as she pushed her legs harder. Dominic's words echoed in her mind. "Poor sportsmanship is encouraged."

With a push, she flung herself in the air, leaping forward and landing on Ivy's back. She wrapped her arms around the Venompire's neck as she flailed, trying to throw Paige off her.

"I don't think so," Paige said, hanging on for dear life.

"Get off me, you little miscreant," Ivy shouted. Her fangs lengthened as she prepared to bite Paige.

"Not on your life, Ivy," Paige growled. She grabbed hold of the woman's sleek ponytail and tugged her head back before she sank her teeth into her neck.

"Ow, you bit me, you minx!"

Ivy shook her off, and Paige landed hard on her backside. With a sweep of her foot, she tripped the wounded Venompire, then climbed to her feet, ran across her back, and charged toward the doorway floating in the air.

She flung herself toward it and burst through it, landing in a heap on the cold floor of the banquet hall .

Applause burst out as she rose to her feet. Dominic strode toward her and raised a hand in the air. "The winner of round one is Paige Turner!"

Paige sucked in deep breaths as the thunderous clapping continued. Ivy slinked into the room, anger etched into her features as her mother rushed forward to press a handkerchief to her wound.

"Dang, Paige," Dewey said as he floated over with an empty popcorn container. "You clobbered her."

"Yeah, well done, Paige," Devon said with a grin. "And that bite…wow…you're going to make a great vampire."

"Ew," Paige answered as she wrinkled her nose.

Devon stepped closer, rubbing at her lip with his thumb. "Just got a little blood there."

"I can't believe I did that. I bit someone to win a challenge."

"Poor sportsmanship is not only allowed, it's encouraged," Dewey said with a claw poking in the air.

"Well done, darling. Do you see what a pair of leather trousers can do for your confidence?" Drucinda asked.

Paige glanced down at them. "Actually, they are also surprisingly comfortable."

She stepped forward into a lunge, flexing her thigh muscles. "I really thought these were going to be far more restrictive than they are. I had no trouble tackling Ivy in them at all."

"No, and the leather likely helped you hang on to her without slipping at all," Drucinda answered.

"Right. I'm really becoming a fan of the leather trousers."

"Just in time to become a vampire. No self-respecting vampire is going to wear yoga leggings all the time," Dewey responded.

"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."

Paige chuckled as she pulled her door open. "I don't know about that. Henry got kind of tough. I feel like he can definitely give Devon a run for his money."

"Whoa, you're betting against your fiancé?" He landed on her shoulder as she snaked through the halls.

"I didn't say that. But you're the one who said Devon is only deceptively capable."

"But he seems super motivated. It's like you've ignited a fire within him. A fire of passion."

"Ew," Paige said with a wrinkled nose. "Stop saying that. Devon cannot be in love with me. Devon just thinks he's in love with me. Probably actually the thing is, Devon doesn't want to marry Ivy so suddenly he's in love with me."

"If Ivy wins and marries Devon…I bet the entire world will collapse."

"Really?" Paige asked as they spilled into the foyer and started toward the ballroom.

"Yeah, think about it. The joining of two major families. It could pitch the world into chaos if they decide not to remain in the shadows. Then we'll live as slaves, forced to work in the mines, starved, cold, barely alive."

"Why are there always mines in these scenarios of yours?" Paige asked as she reached the room. A waiter hurried past with a tray of hors d'oeuvres, and she snatched a few. "Mmm, these are good."

"Don't get used to it. When we're working in the mines, we'll eat gruel. "

Paige sauntered closer to Drucinda who rubbed Devon's shoulders as he rolled his neck around.

"Hey, you made it. I thought you abandoned me," Devon said with a grin.

"Nope. Just…had to change. How are you feeling?"

"Ready," he said, his muscles bulging as he puffed his chest.

"Well, you look ready, Beefy. Don't disappoint me because I'm laying some serious cash on you," Dewey said with a raise of his eyebrows.

"I'm gonna make you some money, man," Devon said as he flexed again. "I got this. No chance for him."

"That's it, darling. You've got this," Drucinda said as she massaged him again. "You are the champion."

"I'm the champion," he repeated.

"You will win," she said.

He smacked his hands together and rubbed them. "I will win."

"You are a beast," Drucinda said.

"Hell yeah, I am. Beast mode activated," he said as he transformed into his beast form and back to Devon.

Paige wrinkled her nose at the exchange before Dominic drew her attention toward the center of the room.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as you all know, we have a double event planned this evening before our banquet. In a stunning twist, my own son has been challenged for Paige's hand by Prince Henry of Acadia. Tonight, they will compete in the Feat of Valor.

"Each man has been given an artifact that they must retrieve. Devon will play for the soul compass."

Paige's eyes lit up as she stared at the item he showcased before it was tossed into the realm to hover at the end of a long, difficult path.

"And Prince Henry will play for his own diamond-dipped sword, an item I acquired some months ago when he nearly skewered my son with it."

Ooohs and aahs sounded from the crowd as the blade hovered next to the compass.

"Are the competitors ready?"

"Ready!" Devon shouted, pounding a fist against his palm.

"Of course," Henry answered. "Paige, I shall save you from this foul beast."

"Didn't really ask you to, but okay," Paige murmured.

"Will the competitors step forward?" Dominic asked.

Both men approached the spinning realm entry point. "On my mark, you may enter and begin. Three, two, one, enter."

The two men raced forward, diving simultaneously into the portal. The spinning circle disappeared, and a massive split screen appeared hovering above everyone's heads.

On one side, Devon raced through a jungle scene. On the other, Henry hurried through a desert setting. Two announcers appeared between them, discussing the events as they unfolded.

"It looks like we're off to a quick start, Charlie," the dark-haired one said into his microphone.

"That's right, Sam. What'll be interesting to watch is how these two very different men get through this course designed to challenge…well, anyone, but especially them."

"Wow, this is…intense." Paige eyed the screen as Devon hurdled over a fallen tree, then pushed himself at a hard pace to get through the first area. Above his screen, a map hovered, showing his progress toward the artifact he sought.

"He's got a long way to go," Dewey said as he tossed a few oyster crackers into his mouth.

"Yeah. Why is he running that fast? He's going to run out of steam at the end. It's a marathon, not a sprint."

"Oh, the odds are with you on that, Paigey. Look at how they're going down. Henry's coming up. His pace is slower, but he could keep that up for the entire course."

"So much for Devon wiping the floor with Henry," Paige said with a shake of her head.

"Wow, you're judgy," Drucinda replied. "While you were in there, Devon remained supportive of your chances to win."

Paige frowned at the woman's comment, guilt coursing through her. "Hey, what was with the weird pep talk?"

"Devon requires lots of praise and bolstering. You'll see once you're married. Shower him with praise, and you'll be just fine."

"Are you serious? He's so needy."

"But he's hot and rich, so it doesn't matter," Dewey said. "Uh-oh…Devon's in a spot of trouble."

Paige slid her eyes back to the screen as he skidded to a stop at a large drop off. The camera panned across, showing a chasm that was impossible to jump.

Devon glanced at it for a second before he transformed into beast mode and flew across. The announcers continued with their analysis. "And the first challenge is handled easily by Devon who activates his wings and sails right over it."

"Did they announce like this in mine?" Paige asked, sliding her eyes momentarily sideways before she flicked them back to the screen.

"Oh, yeah. Only yours was like ‘And it looks like Paige Turner has died yet again as she continues to struggle with this first challenge'," Dewey answered. "Oh, and like a twenty-minute discussion of whether or not that was your real name."

Paige's shoulders slumped at both comments.

"See, I told you if I use your real name in my book no one will believe it's real," Dewey answered as he munched on a few more crackers .

"Unbelievable," Paige grumbled as she watched Henry sliding down a giant mountain of sand before he continued across the scorching desert.

"Is it?" Dewey asked. "Wow, I have got to stop eating the snacks. I'm going to be full before the banquet."

"I can't believe how popular this is."

"Oh-ho-ho, a double Amor Fortis? This is better than winning the lottery, Paige. I mean, come on. Watching four people battle it out for love? Yes, please," Dewey answered as he grabbed another cone filled with trail mix.

"I thought you were going to stop eating?" Paige asked.

"Yeah, after this. This is health food to keep my strength up. We still have some time. Neither of them has reached the midpoint of the course yet."

Paige stared up at the progress trackers at the top of the screen. Neither man had made it even one-third of the way through. "This is going to take forever. I'm going to need more snacks."

"Watch your salt content or you'll never get those leather pants on again," Dewey said before he tipped the paper cone and slid the remaining contents of it into his mouth.

"I'll get a bigger size," Paige said as she grabbed another bin of popcorn. "Does he have any chocolate?"

"He does. There's an entire table of sweets over there," Dewey said. "You'd better ask to size up now."

"Very funny," she said as he landed on her shoulder. She strode to the table and perused the layout of chocolates and fruit. "Wow, he really does put out a spread."

"You know it. And you don't want to be his daughter-in-law. I can't believe you. Imagine this being your life all the time, Paige."

"There's not going to be an Amor Fortis every day."

"No, but there's probably chocolate."

Paige tossed a few nonpareils into her mouth followed by a handful of popcorn. "Okay, you have a point. Oh, Devon made it to the one-third mark, but he's stopped."

"He's got to battle a realm demon to move on to the next section."

Paige's features pinched as she took her snacks closer to the screen and settled into one of the seats set up to watch the big screen.

The dark-haired announcer leaned closer to his microphone. "Seems like Devon is having no trouble with the jungle beast. He's making short work of this monster."

"That he is, Sam. We're seeing some serious rage against the jolly green giant that I can only assume is fueled by his intense love for Paige Turner."

"And with a name like that, you've got to be surprised. Am I right?"

Paige frowned at the screen. "Shut up, guy. Like your name's so great."

"Actually, it is," Dewey said. "That's Sam Scoreboard and his partner, Charlie Competition."

Paige screwed up her face. "What? No."

"Yeah."

"And they're talking about my name? My name is way more normal than Sam Scoreboard."

Dewey shrugged before he returned his attention to the screen. "Looks like both guys are through the first bit. It'll be interesting to see if Devon starts to lose speed when he hits midway."

"I think he already is," Paige answered as she pointed to the progress board. "Looks like Henry is catching up."

"Oh, yeah. Slow and steady wins the race. I'm going to cream Devon if he loses. I put way more than I said on him."

Paige rolled her eyes and flicked her gaze back to the screen. The two men continued to fight their way through the challenges in the realm .

They arrived at the last battle at the same time and defeated their final enemy at almost the exact same moment.

Only the retrieval of the artifact remained. Paige inched forward onto the edge of her seat, her throat going dry as she waited to see who would claim the first victory.

If Devon lost, she'd not only be stuck marrying Henry, but she'd never get that soul compass.

She held her breath as both men raced toward their prizes. With their fingers stretching forward, they latched on to their respective artifacts at what looked to be the same time.

"Oh, that's going to need a replay, Sam. I didn't see who grabbed it first."

"Me either, Charlie, but it may not matter."

Paige's heart skipped a beat as she stared at the screen. Henry grabbed his sword and immediately turned it onto Devon. With the tip grazing his chiseled chin, Devon held his hands in the air. One slash with that blade could kill him…and cost Paige the soul compass.