Page 83 of Monster's Pet

“Then you tell them no.” The giant frowned. “I shall cleanse this world of the mundanes that are greedy. They are destroying this planet. Witches and beasts should be in control.” He nodded in the direction of the ledge. “And dryads. I haven’t forgotten you, my dear.”

“What gives us the right to reign over others, just because we have power that they don’t?” Professor Akhtar asked. “That’s not how the world should work.”

“Which is exactly why you would be the right person for the job,” the giant said slyly.

“No. You are going back to sleep.”

Grandfather showed me the tablet in his hands. The splotch of manducare was now practically on top of the center of the circular lines.

“I think it’s time,” I whispered.

Professor Dunlop nodded his agreement, and we threw off our invisibility spells, Lilia and Hazel a few seconds after the rest of us.

“That would have been more impressive if I hadn’t already known you were there,” the giant grumbled.

“You like the theatrics?” I asked. “Unfortunately, you’re going to miss the standing ovation.”

The giant chuckled. “Big words from a tiny witch.”

“Paige, you need to modify your spell. Remove the size factor, emphasize the sleep component,” I said to her.

Paige looked worried. “I’m not sure how to calculate that, especially with the amplification by the ley lines.”

Aiden turned his back on the giant and bent his head to whisper in Paige’s ear. His hands sketched out designs in the air as he explained.

Even if I could overhear, I’m sure the math would’ve gone over my head. The exponential growth of the magical power had been calculated in Professor Akhtar’s office, but adding it into spells was beyond me.

“You’re sure that will work?” Paige asked.

“Do it,” Aiden said.

When Aiden turned back around, the giant frowned. “I thought I smelled something not quite right. What is that in your sling, boy?”

Aiden adjusted the edge of the sling, making sure Moonbeam was hidden from view. “We rescued an orphan creature. She’s not ready to leave her mama.”

Gràineileachd chortled. “Pretty words. There’s an absence of magical energy around her. She’s one of thosemanducare,” he spat angrily. “The magical community bred those to put me to sleep last time. They had three mature creatures. If this one fits in a sling, she’s barely old enough to tickle me. This was your plan? Bring a baby manducare into range and have her eat my magic until I fell asleep? I’m not going to sit still for her to do her work.”

Moonbeam hissed and flailed in her sling until her head popped out and she mewed.

“No, Moonbeam,” I whispered, but I wasn’t close enough to reach her.

Aiden struggled to tuck her back into the sling, but she hooked her talons into his sleeve and used that to hop out, jumping onto the ground. She hissed and spat at the giant, her hackles raised and tail puffed out.

“No, sweetheart, you wouldn’t be able to drain me,” the giant said with a chuckle. “You’d hurt yourself if you tried.”

Moonbeam settled into a pouncing position, her haunches wiggling.

“Stop her!” I shouted.

Rhiannon lunged for the kitten, but Moonbeam was faster, flinging herself off the ledge toward the giant.

For a moment, the kitten arced through the air, her fur crackling with energy. She hit a magical barrier and froze for a second, and then ricocheted off in a different direction, hitting the wall of the cavern and dropping to the ground in a heap.

“No!” I screamed.

CHAPTER 23

Aiden yelled wordlesslyand launched himself off the ledge, using his fire in a burst to slow his landing on the cavern ground far below. He ran toward the kitten and fell on his knees to pull her onto his lap.

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