Page 1 of Monster's Mystery

CHAPTER1

I feltsweat trickle down my back under my sports bra and grimaced. I didn’t bother wasting my energy to cast a spell to refresh myself; I still had a fifteen minute bike ride ahead of me before I reached home. On top of that, it wasn’t worth using my draining energy on a spell. It wouldn’t get replenished as fast as if I were at school.

I reached the top of a hill and paused for a moment, resting with one foot on the ground while I popped the top of my water bottle and squirted lukewarm water into my mouth.

It wasnotrefreshing.

As I dropped down the other side of the hill the breeze was better, and I felt my sweat dry on my temples, matting my auburn hair.

I found my thoughts drifting as I continued on my way home, bouncing from my work at the golf course to school, which I wouldn’t be returning to for another month.

A sigh rose from my chest unexpectedly. I missed my boyfriend. I missed having my magic feel as powerful as it did at the school. I missed my studies.

And did I mention I missed my boyfriend?

A subtle ache made itself known between my legs, and I resisted the urge to rub myself over the seat of my bike.

I’ll have an hour when I get home to play with one of the new toys Aiden bought me.After a shower.

I banished the sexy feelings of Aiden from my mind, focusing instead on my studies and magic. Blackthorn Academy was situated on a nexus point; a connecting point of the ley lines that crisscrossed the Earth. Some nexus points were extremely powerful, others less so, depending on how many lines crossed at that point. In the case of our school, it was three, which was fairly low, but was enough to boost the replenishment of energy spent on magic. Being away from that boost for the summer was difficult, but I’d have to get used to it. I only had two years left at school before I graduated.

Look out, world, here I come!

I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do yet, but I knew it would have something to do with traveling. I wanted to explore, not just specifically other nexus points and the magical communities that existed in the surrounding areas, but everywhere else, too.

I turned onto the little tree-lined street that my parents and I lived on. The neighborhood was quiet, the kids inside to keep out of the heat of the afternoon. They’d be out after dinner, playing road hockey or basketball with their friends on the street. I’d miss the familiarity, but this place would always be here for me when I came home to visit. I was looking forward to making my own way.

The little white house came up on my left, and I swung one leg over the bike, coasting up the driveway and hopping off at the garage. I walked the bike into the shelter, leaning it against the wall with the others. My parents had taken the car to their jobs in the city center, carpooling with a neighbor who worked with them.

I picked up my purse and water bottle, heading into the house and the blessed relief of a shower.

Halfway through stripping off my clothing, my mirror shimmered, indicating that someone was calling me. I picked it up, making sure only my face was visible, and answered the call.

“Hey, babe,” Aiden’s voice, a deep rumble, met my ears before his beautiful brown eyes filled the mirror’s surface. “I miss you.”

I smiled. “I only put you on a plane yesterday afternoon. You should be able to make it until the end of summer without a problem.”

“It’s not the soul bond thing. I just miss you,” he explained.

One of the trickiest things to maneuver was Aiden’s soul bond with me. He wasn’t human, he was a beast shifter, and they only had a soul bond with one other person. Sometimes, they lived their whole life without meeting that person, like our Dean of Students, Professor Dunlop. Once they met their soul bond, though, being apart from their mate could actually kill them.

Unfortunately, Aiden’s family wasn’t too thrilled that he had bonded with me, a witch, rather than a more ‘suitable’ choice, another shifter or monster. He hadn’t fared well, losing weight and energy, until his family let him come to visit me in midsummer for a week. He had completely recovered, and should be able to survive until we were together again at school. Aiden’s grandmother had not been allowed to continue seeing her soulmate, my grandfather, and she had died. His family wasn’t happy about our bond, but at least they weren’t trying to force him to marry someone else.

My parents didn’t have similar issues, but they were worried that I had tied myself to someone when I was too young to know better. I tried not to roll my eyes. They didn’t understand. My grandfather did, thankfully, and was extremely supportive. I may not feel the soul draining that Aiden did when we were apart, but I loved him and felt like I was missing a part of myself when we weren’t together.

“I was at work today. I didn’t have time to miss you,” I teased him.

“Ouch, she bites,” Aiden said, a crooked grin appearing on his lips. “How are your parents?”

“Same as ever. They were glad to get to know you and enjoyed having you here.” I bit my lip. “How are yours?”

“They’re happy I’m home and healthy. I think they truly believe that you’re my soulmate now.” He rolled his eyes. “Is it as hot there as it is here?”

“Probably worse. Isn’t it raining in Manchester?” I replied.

“It doesn’talwaysrain here,” Aiden protested.

I raised an eyebrow.

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