Page 95 of Monster's Baby

Edgar shrugged.“Sneak the book in, use the magic within it to get out, and then hide away from the world in a little cottage somewhere.”

Niamh rolled her eyes.“Well, you can hide away from the world in a jail cell.”She picked up the grimoire.“You know this wouldn’t have worked for you once you were in your cell, right?We have power dampening spells all over the jail.”

“That’s why I used it here,” he said.

“And if I hadn’t left you alone?”

He shrugged.“I would’ve figured something out.”

She sighed and looked up at the guards.“Take him away.I need to return these to their owner.”

The guards were mostly out the door before she stopped them.

“Get Grain, please.He needs to be released from our custody, and since one of the teachers of the academy is here, it’ll be easier on everyone.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the guard said, saluting her.

Niamh rubbed the bridge of her nose before returning to the observation room.

I gratefully took my belongings back.“All my thesis notes are in here, not to mention every spell my family has ever built.”

Niamh smiled.“I’m glad you are reunited with your property.”To the professor, she said, “Will you take formal custody of Grain, to return him to the academy to complete his probation?”

Professor Reynolds frowned.“I thought only the headmistress had control of custody?”

Niamh wavered her hand in the air.“There are loopholes.In this case, you’re in control only until you return to the academy, where it will shift back to her.”

“In that case, I formally accept custody of Grain to transport him back to the academy.”

“Thank you,” Niamh said.“I wasn’t looking forward to going back to Northumberland Island twice in one day, and it’s unfair to ask Grain to stay in his cell for even one more minute now that his innocence is proven.”

“Thankyou,” I said fervently.“I’m glad he can come home.”

“We try not to punish the innocent,” Niamh said, a quirk to her lips.

CHAPTER24

Professor Dunlop interceptedus on our way up from the basement.He greeted Grain pleasantly, nodded to Professor Reynolds, and pointed at us.“You two, my office, now.”

“They were with me,” Professor Reynolds said, stepping in.

“I know where they were.They’re not being punished.I’m afraid you have a lot of grading to do, Professor.Please do let me know if you have any questions about my notes.”

“I’m sure they’re as meticulous as ever,” Professor Reynolds said courteously.He spared one last anxious glance at us before heading up to the second floor with Grain.

Professor Dunlop led us to his office, gesturing for us to enter before he closed the door.

He sighed and leaned against it.“While I am very glad to have an unexpected resolution to the problem of Professor Reynolds’s curse, I’m afraid I have bad news for the two of you.”

My heart dropped to my stomach.“What happened?What’s wrong?Is Grandfather okay?”

Professor Dunlop frowned, his bushy eyebrows snapping together.“Declan is just fine, or at least he was the last time I talked to him.Stop jumping to the worst possible conclusions, girl.The bad news is that you need to move back to your own rooms.”

Aiden pouted.“I’d hoped that the administration would’ve forgotten about that.”

The professor chuckled.“I can only pull so many strings, m’boy.That isn’t one of them, I’m afraid.Those rooms are for married couples only.”

“I know,” I said with a sigh.I rubbed Aiden’s arm.“Iamlooking forward to being with the girls again.”

---