Page 16 of Monster's Baby

I was getting whiplash from the conversation.“His office was locked and he didn’t come to the door.”

He grimaced.“If you’re serious about not being like the other girls, he’d know that you are genuine if you use your name.”

I nodded my thanks.“Good idea.I’ll give that a shot.If it doesn’t work, Aiden might be able to help.”

“Some of the guys have tried, too.”

“Oh dear.”

Grain picked up his mop again and continued cleaning the floor.“Good luck.”

“See, you’re not so bad,” I teased.

“Bah.”

I left the grumpy janitor behind, pleased with my progress with him, and returned to the professor’s office.I knocked, calling through the door, “Hello, Professor.It’s Siobhan.I need to speak with you urgently, please.It can’t wait for class tomorrow.”

Silence stretched on for far too long.I was just about to give up and go retrieve Aiden when the lock squeaked and the door opened a crack.

“What’s so urgent that it couldn’t wait?”Professor Reynolds asked once the door opened fully.

He looked tired.I decided not to comment on his appearance.He had dealt with enough.

Instead, I launched into describing the conversation I had overheard upstairs.“Emma made a love potion this summer, and plans on spiking your drink the first chance she gets,” I explained quickly.“She used one from her grandmother’s spell book, and she made it in June.I know you can handle yourself, but the side effects of an old potion could be rather drastic, and I thought it was best to warn you.”

“Thank you.I’ll keep an eye out.”He moved to close the door.

“I’m sorry this is happening to you,” I said.“Is there anything you can do?Report her to the administration?”

Professor Reynolds looked sad.“Then she would get expelled and wouldn’t receive her education.”

“They couldn’t find a less drastic way to punish her?”

“Once I report, the punishment is out of my hands.I have no say in how extreme the consequences are.I’d rather handle the situation on my own.”

I shook my head.He was too kind hearted.“I can talk to her?”

“If you like.”He smiled a little.“Don’t go making enemies in your last year on my behalf.”

“No, I’ll only make them for myself.”

He chuckled, looking a little more alert.“I have enjoyed having you in my class.”

“Thank you.I’ve enjoyed your classes.”

I left him and returned to the third floor, finding my room without trouble.Lilia and Hazel had started decorating our room, the furniture arranged in our usual configuration.

“You’re looking better,” I said to Hazel, wrapping my arms tightly around Lilia.

“You were right about Lilia having a potion that would help,” Hazel said.“I can’t wait until the end of the year.I only have to cross the water once more, and then I can put down roots.”

“Literally,” I teased the dryad.“I’ll make sure there’s a portal to my house so you can come visit without crossing the water.”

Lilia stared at me.“I thought you were going to make Doyle Manor your home base.What changed?”

I wrinkled my nose.“We’re still on the fence about that.It’ll depend on what the Evans family is like at Christmas, I suppose.But Hayden made a good point about heritage and strengthening the Evans power at the Chateau.Our house hasn’t been in our family as long as theirs, and my father chose not to live there, so making it our summer home wouldn’t change much.”

“You’d become British for him?”Hazel said, shocked.

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