Page 63 of Monster's Baby

“What?”

“Sex.”

Pierre’s eyes widened slightly.

“Make of that what you will.”

* * *

I wason edge through my classes, and begged off watching the Olympics once I found out that I wasn’t competing that day.

I returned through the portal before everyone had finished leaving the academy.The old wizard checking me back in shook his head in confusion, but let me go up to my room without complaint.

I worked on my thesis until I fell asleep at my desk.I woke briefly when Aiden moved me to the bed, but not long enough for more than a sleepy kiss and a mumbled “I love you”.

The next morning, I was woken up by frantic pounding on our door.

I leapt out of bed, saw that I was still in my clothes from the previous day, and ran to the door.

Una stood there, still gasping for breath.“Ran here,” she panted.“Earrings gone.”

I nodded my understanding.“Want to come in?”

She collapsed on a chair near the door and fanned herself with a hand.

“You okay after the break-in?”I asked.“Did you feel safe with Pierre in the room?”

“Safe, sure,” she said with a snort.“He didn’t even try to get a peek at me in my pajamas!I wore the skimpiest ones I could think of, and made them almost entirely sheer!”

I covered my mouth with a hand to hide my smile.“Maybe he’s gay?”

Una thought about that for a moment before shaking her head.“No.He’s interested in me, damn it!Why won’t hedosomething about it?”

“Maybe he’s afraid you’ll get bored with him.”I tried to say it gently.

“Bored!”Una slumped in the seat with a sigh.“Just...Do the spell thing to track the earrings,” she said with a wave of her hand.

I cast the spell and the bright white line leading me to the stolen earrings shot out the door and around the corner.“Gotcha.Aiden?You coming?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Una?”I asked.

“I’m with you.”

We followed the trail—or rather,Ifollowed the trail and the other two followed me—down the stairs to the second floor, all the way up to an unmarked door at the end of one hallway.

I tried the doorknob only to find it locked.“What’s in here?”I asked.“An unused classroom?”

“That’s the janitor’s office,” Aiden said grimly.

“Grain?Oh dear,” I said, frowning.I knocked on the door.

It took a moment, but the giant opened the door, looking confused to see us.

“Sorry about this, but I’m following a magical trail,” I explained.“Can I come in?”

“Magical trail to what?”he asked, suspicious.

---