Page 27 of Monster's Mystery

“No. I was alone.”

“That’s so weird.”

“Where do we go from here?” Bruce asked.

“I have absolutely no idea. There are suddenly dozens more questions and none of them seem related.” My shoulders sank. “And Geoffrey is missing, as far as we know. This is so frustrating!”

Una, Rhiannon, Lilia, and Brom joined us, their trays full of food.

“What’s new?” Una asked, sliding into her spot. “Justin! Where have you been?”

Justin blushed under her attention and we filled the new people in on the events we’d uncovered.

“This is so weird,” Rhiannon said quietly.

“That’s what I said!” I exclaimed.

“You poor thing,” Una cooed, cuddling up to Justin and putting her hand on his leg. “I’m available for whatever comfort you can think of.” She batted her eyelashes at him and he flushed a darker red.

I smirked to myself. Trust Una to turn a traumatic situation into sex.

“When did you arrive at school?” I asked Justin, distracting him from Una’s low-cut top. “Did you get here on Sunday?”

He shook his head. “No, I arrived Monday morning. Why?”

I sighed. “I was hoping the common link between the disappearances was an early arrival. So you didn’t see Richard at all, then?”

Justin sobered. “No, I didn’t. I’m horrified to learn of his death. Not to speak ill of the dead, but good riddance.”

“Did he bully you, too?” I asked.

“No, but I ran a lot of interference between him and Geoffrey. I don’t understand why he had such a grudge against him.” Justin clenched a fist on the table.

“You’re such a good person,” Una said, putting her hand over his. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m all that good,” Justin replied, entirely focused on her again.

“ButIwould,” Una said flirtatiously. “I can show you just how much I appreciate you standing up to bullies, if you like?”

Justin visibly swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Yeah, okay.”

“Come with me,” Una said, climbing to her feet, not letting go of his hand.

Justin towered over the petite blonde as they left the cafeteria.

“Well, that’s one way to be welcomed back to school,” Bruce said, returning his attention to his food.

Lilia chuckled. “One of my favorites.”

Brom blushed.

CHAPTER8

That evening,after visiting the library for some intensive searching for books on what might cause magic to leave an area as well as ones on ley line research, Aiden, Lilia, Brom, and I were relaxing in our room.

“It’s so weird that Hazel isn’t here,” I said, looking over at her empty bed. There were no flowers, and just the one bonsai tree on her desk. It felt quiet without her there, not that she was particularly noisy.

“Were you needing her help in Herbology?” Aiden teased me, pressing a kiss to my neck.

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