Page 22 of Monster's Pet

The professor smiled. “Wait difficult.”

“Problem travel portal? No magic?” I asked.

“No. Separate magic.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “No danger travel?”

“No problem. You help solve problem?”

“Work. Hurry.” I frowned, thinking of the best way of explaining. “Difficult. Old.”

“Old problem. New solution. You success.”

I couldn’t help the slight smile. “Luck me.”

Professor Akhtar laughed. “Luck you.” He nodded and said, “You may go to the next test.” His voice sounded grating on my ears after the silence of the conversational test.

“Thanks for the luck.”

“May it begoodluck,” he said seriously.

I swallowed hard. “Truer words were never spoken.”

The halls were quiet as I moved through them, passing several closed classroom doors on my way to the stairs. There was no point in waiting for Aiden, as there was no guarantee that he’d be next.

On the main floor, I slipped into the kitchen, hoping to grab a quick bite before heading to my swimming test. There was a class taking place in there as well, but the classroom for the chefs was tucked in the back. I avoided them and went straight for the fridge that contained fresh fruits. Grabbing an orange, I headed back out and found a niche to sit and wait near the basement stairs.

The tangy scent of the citrus hit my nostrils the second I pierced the skin with my thumbnail and I inhaled, my mouth watering in anticipation.

The skin fell away in a spiral. I could have used magic, but even if the ley lines had been present, I would have used my hands. There was something satisfying in the way the peel came off, and the way the scent lingered on my fingers made me happy.

I placed the peel in front of me and started filling the large base of it with the white veins left of the sections. Grandfather teased me that the white was the best part, but I found it chalky and bitter.

Satisfied that the orange was clean, I split it in half and took out the middle, adding it to my pile, and popped the first section in my mouth, humming happily as the flavor burst on my tongue.

“I’d know that sound anywhere,” Aiden teased from down the hall.

I poked my head around the corner of my niche and waved at him.

“Did you get me one?”

I swallowed and shook my head. “You can have this half?” I offered.

His eyebrows shot up. “You’re giving up food? Are you feeling all right?”

“I’d give you anything,” I said shyly.

“Aww.” Aiden sank down beside me and pulled me into his lap. “I think I love you more for that.”

“You wouldn’t return the favor?” I asked teasingly.

“You know I would,” he said, burying his nose in my neck and inhaling.

“Orange?” I asked, holding up the next section for him.

He took it gently, licking at my fingers before pulling back. “Juicy,” he mumbled as he chewed.

I chuckled. “Right?”

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