Page 81 of Monster's Delight

“A weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and after carrying it for fifty years, I feel nothing but relief, my dear,” Mr. Brecken said gratefully. “Thank you. You don’t know how much it means to me.”

“I understand,” I replied, smiling at him. “Thank you again.”

I took Aiden’s hand and we climbed the stairs to Hazel’s waiting form in silence. I couldn’t stop thinking about how relieved Grandfather was going to be when I told him. I squeezed Aiden’s fingers in mine. “Thank you for helping me to clear Grandfather’s name,” I told him. “You didn’t have to believe me, or even trust me, especially after watching what had happened that first time in Apollo’s mirror.”

“You know what I saw in that mirror?” Aiden asked quietly. “I saw a man who had lost someone he cared deeply about, and thought it was his fault. How could I do anything other than help you clear his name?” He raised my hand and kissed my knuckles. “Besides, you’re my mate. Whatever you need, I’m there for you.”

“I’m starting to feel like a broken record, but thank you,” I said, heat rising in my cheeks. “Right now, I need to talk to Grandfather.”

“Then let’s do that.” He cleared his throat. “I’d like to apologize for not saving you from that vampire.”

“How could you have?” I asked, puzzled. “She had me—”

“I know exactly how she had you.” Aiden’s face blanched. “It will haunt my nightmares. I froze. I’m incapable of being your—”

“If you finish that sentence, I’m going to make you wait until after the holidays before you can knot me,” I said, lowering my voice so Hazel couldn’t hear me. “Don’t be ridiculous. You didn’t have a good angle, Mr. Brecken did. End of story.”

Aiden looked conflicted. “But I’m supposed to protect you.”

“How very macho of you,” I teased.

“Wait, did you say—?”

“Let’s go up to our room, Hazel. You can hear all about everything when I call Grandfather,” I said, interrupting Aiden.

I slipped from his grip and took Hazel’s arm, walking in front of him. When I looked back over my shoulder, Aiden’s gaze was focused on my ass. I giggled internally, and swayed my hips slightly more than necessary as we walked up the stairs.

On the fifth floor, I headed for our corridor, but he didn’t follow. “Are you coming?” I asked.

“Not yet,” he muttered.

Hazel squeaked a shocked laugh.

“I’ll meet you at my room after you’re done on your call. You will come, won’t you?” he asked anxiously.

I hesitated. “Will your roommate be there?”

“He’s going to mysteriously disappear by the time you arrive,” Aiden promised. “We’ll figure something out.”

“Then yes, I’ll come.” I winked at him and Hazel’s laughter increased.

Once we had walked out of earshot, she said, “I can’t decide if he’s a good or a bad influence on you. I know what Una would say.”

I nudged her gently. “I know what you would say too.”

Her face softened. “Yeah, you’re right.”

CHAPTER24

Heart lighterthan it had been since the beginning of November, I closed my door behind me.

The call with Grandfather had gone extremely well, once he got over his shock that I’d been looking into the incident. Hazel had listened with rapt attention as I explained what Aiden and I had been up to for the past month and a bit.

Tears had been glistening in his eyes when we hung up. They were tears of happiness, I knew. Tears of relief. But also tears of sadness for what had been lost.

Grandfather told me that he was looking forward to hearing from my professor too. He’d missed his old friend and had cut most of his old ties after Bridget’s death due to guilt.

Everything is going so well,I thought happily.

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