Page 69 of Monster's Delight

“I suppose,” I said, following him down the narrow hallway. “Do all the monsters have rooms like this down here?”

“No.” Aiden held back the tapestry and I stepped out into the basement hallway. “Some aren’t legacy monsters, so they don’t have their family’s room. They’re given special rooms in the teacher’s wing for their practice. It’s not as private though.”

“They wouldn’t be able to have sex in their room?” I asked.

“No, they’re under supervision when in use.” Aiden took my hand in his and we strolled slowly down the hall.

“That’s awkward.” I cringed at the thought of trying to figure out my powers while a teacher watched over me while my clothes burned away. “Is it normal to lose your clothing at the beginning?”

Aiden smirked. “It depends on how strong you are and how much you understand about your powers.”

“I take it your clothes didn’t burn?”

“Oh, they did. Just once, when I was in high school. God, that was a mess.” He rolled his eyes. “I got angry. Really angry. It was my first time shifting, and everything just went up in flames. My father had to come to the school and soothe ruffled feathers.”

“So you were at a magic school?” I asked.

“Thankfully.” Aiden laughed. “Can you imagine how a human would have reacted? Oh my God, that would’ve been even worse!” He had to stop to lean on the wall, he was laughing so hard.

“Siobhan!” called a voice from down the hall.

I turned to see who was calling me and sighed when I saw it was Chuck.

He jogged up beside us, unfairly not out of breath, and smiled at me. “My dove, I missed seeing you at dinner. Would you care to accompany me to Wellspring to catch up over a meal?”

I stared at him. “Chuck, I’m with Aiden. You know that, don’t you?”

Chuck glanced at Aiden dismissively. “I don’t care who you spend time with, I know we’ll end up together in the end.” He put his arm around my shoulders and tried to steer me down the hall away from Aiden.

I ducked out from under his arm. “No. What about this aren’t you getting?” I frowned. “This isn’t funny.” I stepped closer to Aiden.

“Come on, chickadee, I’m trying to be nice here,” Chuck said, reaching for my hand.

I whipped it out of the way. “Stop! Just stop! Why aren’t you listening to me? We were never together, and we never will be. I’m Aiden’s soulmate and I’m never leaving him.”

Chuck’s face screwed up in an ugly sneer. “You can’t possibly want this... thismonster?” he snarled. “What does he have that I don’t have?”

I scoffed, trying to bite back the words, “a second cock”. I succeeded. Barely. “Where do I start? Empathy, devotion, kindness, patience, oh, and my heart,” I spat. “He’s as smart if not smarter than you, and I can’t think of a single thing you’ve got that he doesn’t.”

“Aww really, babe?” Aiden murmured. He contoured my cheek with a finger. “You’re so sweet.”

It looked like Chuck was going to spit fire. Considering my activities a few moments ago, the thought didn’t scare me that way he probably intended it to.

“I’m a witch! He’s a monster! No matter what happens, I’ll always be better than him. He doesn’t deserve you!” Chuck shouted.

“Wow, way to be racist.” I scowled. “You haven’t changed a bit since our date in first year. I was right to turn you down.”

“No, no, he’s got a point,” Aiden said, startling me. “You are better than me and I don’t deserve you.”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s not for you to decide. I’ve pledged myself to you. We are mates.”

Chuck scrunched up his face. “Mates? Are you telling me you’ve had sex with thisthing?”

“It’s the term we monsters use for our one true love,” Aiden began.

I interrupted. “Yes, I have had sex with him, not that it’s any of your business. And you know what?” I lowered my voice. “Nobody has made me scream like him.”

Chuck turned red, in anger or embarrassment I wasn’t sure. “I bet I could do it.”

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