Page 20 of Monster's Pet

The kitten downed the last bit of cream and started washing Aiden’s thumb with her little pink tongue.

Aiden chuckled. “I think you’re supposed to bathe yourself, not me.”

“It’s how she shows affection,” Rhiannon said with a smile.

Once his impromptu bath was done, he slid the kitten over to Rhiannon.

She handled the kitten again, this time paying close attention to her shoulders. “There you are,” she said. “Wing nubs on the scapula. I don’t know how I missed them last time.”

“You were checking for broken bones, not wings,” I pointed out.

“True. Still.” Rhiannon frowned. “Aiden, you’re flaming again.”

I hadn’t even noticed the increased heat beside me and I turned to look at him. “Are you okay?”

“Maybe I should go see Professor Dunlop,” Aiden said, getting to his feet. “I don’t usually lose control like this.”

“I’ll come with you,” I said, putting my fork down on my empty plate.

“I’ll take care of your dishes,” Lilia offered.

“Thanks.”

Aiden scooped up the kitten and we headed for the main office, where the main doors of the teacher’s offices were located.

CHAPTER 6

“Beg!”Aiden ordered.

“I don’t think that’s how it works,” I observed, sitting cross-legged on Aiden’s bed. I had my grimoire open on my lap, and I was flipping idly through the pages, hoping I’d come across some useful spell or other that could bring the ley lines back.

Aiden had gone to see Professor Dunlop about his loss of control, but the professor had no idea why it was happening. He was the only beast who was having this sort of issue, but he was also one of the few who was soul bonded.

“Perhaps it has something to do with your bond, combined with overusing your magic, and with the ley lines being gone, your body is overcompensating,” the professor had said.

It made my heart hurt that I was partially the cause, so I was trying to find a solution.

“Beg,” Aiden said again, holding his hand up with a treat in it.

The kitten, who we had christened Moonbeam, yawned and flicked the tip of her tail, her eyes fixed on Aiden’s face.

“Maybe you need to show her what you want her to do,” I suggested mischievously.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Aiden said with a chuckle. “I’ll try something simpler. Lie down!”

“Sit!” I said. “Good girl!”

“Cheater,” he muttered out of the side of his mouth. “Sit! Good girl.” Aiden gave her the treat.

She ate it out of his palm, licking his hand thoroughly before he pulled away.

“We should probably head to class. The tests are today,” Aiden said, stretching his arms over his head.

I checked the clock on his desk. “We’ve still got a little time. Why don’t you try teaching her to give paw?”

“Give paw?”

“Yeah. It’s pretty simple to pick up her paw and put it in your hand, and then she can associate you putting your hand out with her placing her paw on yours.”

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