Page 3 of Monster's Baby

We finished the hike up the edge of grassland next to the beach, and stood for a moment, catching our breath.

“One more step...”

I could feel the magical barrier before I crossed it, a tingle in the air that made me think of fizzy soda tickling my nose.I took the step as Aiden requested, and the chateau appeared, right at the edge of the beach.

I nodded, impressed.“Okay, yeah, this is bigger.But mine is on a cliff.”

Aiden chuckled.“That obviously makes it better.”

“I’m glad you agree with me,” I teased.

“My family owns everything around the castle, too.There are several miles of untouched moorland in all directions.We host many magical creatures in our forests.”

“I know you’re not bragging, but it feels a little like you are,” I said absentmindedly, tipping my head back to take in the full height of the chateau.

It was easily five stories tall, the full center part of the building a wall of windows looking out over the sea.The wing closest to us was rounded, windows interspaced evenly around it.On the far side, I could just make out the stretch of the south wing continuing on past my view.Ivy covered a good portion of the stonework, making it glow green in the last of the sunlight that was rapidly vanishing behind a thundercloud.

I glanced nervously past the castle at the sky.“I hope Grandfather makes it home okay.”

“He’s a tough old coot,” Aiden said.“He can handle a little weather.He’d probably just push it aside and fly home in that yacht to avoid the choppy waves.”

I chuckled.“You’re not wrong.”

“I was going to show you around the grounds first, but we should probably get inside.”

“There’s plenty of time to show me the outside later,” I agreed.“I’m dying to see the inside!Did you ever get lost?”

“Still do,” Aiden admitted easily.“There are underground portions that I haven’t fully explored yet.”He led me around to the other side of the castle, away from the sea.

“I find that hard to believe,” I said, shocked.“I thought you were the sort of kid who got into everything as a child!”

“Oh, I absolutely was!But I was also shipped off to boarding school the moment I was old enough.”

I frowned.“I’m sorry.I didn’t realize.”

“Don’t be sorry.It’s typical here.I made some great human friends.Once my powers manifested, I obviously was moved to magical schools.”

“Obviously,” I repeated robotically.“Aiden?”

“Hm?”

“I don’t want our future children to go to boarding school unlesstheywant to.”

Aiden’s eyebrows rose.“I would have thought you wouldn’t want to be tied down to one location so that they could go to school.”

I waved off his words.“We’d bring them with us.A traveling homeschool.They would learn so much more with us than they would stuffed in a box.”

Aiden tilted his head, considering my words.“If that’s what you wish, then we can give it a shot.I don’t know much about children.”

“Neither do I,” I admitted.“My mother’s siblings all had kids before I was born, so all my cousins are older than I am.I think one or two of them have kids of their own, but I haven’t met them.”

The heavens opened up at that moment, drenching us in seconds.I held my hands out and laughed, letting the water run down my face and arms.

“Wow, that’s cold!”I said.“We should get in and warm up.”

Aiden hugged me tightly.“I would rather get caught in a rainstorm with you than be anywhere else.”

A flash of lightning in the distance was followed by a roll of thunder.

---