Page 31 of Monster's Pet

“You are evil, you know that?” Aiden rumbled, his body a warm presence at my back. “I didn’t have time to grab a dessert.”

“I thought I was your dessert?”

He growled, powerless to do anything else, and I chuckled.

I was relieved to see that Brom and Lilia had left our table, but Clarissa and Bruce had joined them, and Clarissa grinned widely when she saw me.

Her gaze flicked to Aiden and then back to me. “Is he not seeing to your needs, Siobhan?” she teased.

“Right now, what she needs is—” Aiden began.

I put up a hand to cut him off. “He’s great. I’m just needy.” I grinned at her smirk and sat down.

“I’ll say.”

“Not to interrupt this fascinating conversation,” Una said, “but what are we doing about this kitten?”

“What do you mean?” Aiden asked, sitting practically on top of me. “She got out of my room. I’ll bring her back.”

I glanced at Rhiannon, playing with Moonbeam, while I twirled my spaghetti. “Are the purple markings more visible now, or is it just me?” I asked.

“Her coat is coming in beautifully,” Rhiannon said, making kissy faces at the kitten. “Although it is a little strange. She was only born a couple of days ago. She should still be stumbling about, completely blind.”

I shrugged. “Magical animals. Maybe her species matures faster than regular cats. Who knows?”

“That’s the thing, though. Ishouldknow.” Rhiannon frowned. “I’ve never heard of a creature like her before.”

“I’m always learning something new in Nexus class. Why can’t you learn something new about magical creatures?” I asked.

Moonbeam lapped at Rhiannon’s fingers and rolled onto her back, exposing her soft white belly. Rhiannon tickled the kitten, who curled up, trying to grab at the hand with her paws.

“No clawing,” Rhiannon said firmly, bopping the kitten on the nose. “Soft paws with me. Claws are for attacking.”

Looking suitably chastened, Moonbeam retracted her claws and kept batting at Rhiannon’s fingers.

“You’re so good with her,” Aiden said admiringly. “Are you sure you can’t take care of her?”

Rhiannon shook her head with a smile. “Moonbeam saw you first. You’re her mama.”

Aiden made a face. “Why can’t I be her papa?”

“That’s not how it works in the animal world,” Rhiannon said with a chuckle. “The young form attachment bonds with the first adult they see, which is usually the mother, since she usually ends up giving birth on her own.”

“What about pack animals?” I asked.

“That’s different. The cubs would look to all the adults, but would only receive nourishment from their mother.”

“How do we know Moonbeam isn’t part of a pack?” Aiden asked.

“Could be,” Rhiannon acknowledged. “She seems fine with letting you out of her sight.” She waved her hand. “Although she did go looking for you this afternoon. I’m not really sure. We could ask Professor Wright. He might know. But no matter what, I’m not taking her. She bonded with you, and on top of that, I’m looking after enough familiars with this ley line mystery.”

“The blanket isn’t working?” I asked, worried.

“It is!” Rhiannon beamed at me. “But I’m going to have to go around and wake up everyone and make sure there aren’t any side effects or other problems. Highly magical creatures, like Lilia’s dragons, might not react as well to the blanket as, say, this little girl. Professor Wright said we can start waking familiars after dinner.”

Moonbeam purred and butted her head into Rhiannon’s hand.

“Rhiannon, are you ready to get started?” Professor Wright boomed from halfway across the mess hall.

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