Page 46 of Monster Daddies

We stand like that for a long time, tangled together in the moonlight, with Sparrow meowing softly against my side like he approves.

But eventually, the practical part of me stirs.

The guests.

The spell.

The decision.

I pull back, wiping my cheeks before either of them can fuss too much. "We have work to do," I say, trying to smile.

Viraat snorts. "Bossy little thing."

Jodrick chuckles, sliding an arm around my shoulders. "We’ll handle the spell first."

"But the guests—" Panic rises sharp and fast, flashing through the bond. Just a few more days and they'll be here.

"We’ll be ready, precious girl," Jodrick promises. "We’ll make it work. And honestly, I'd rather us be human so we can help you throughout the entire ordeal.”

I cling to that promise like a lifeline.

Because ready or not, everything is about to change.

The spell circle is simple. The ingredients for it can all be found inside the house, so it doesn't take long to get our hands on everything we need.

We set it up in the library where the moonlight can pour in through the stained-glass windows. Jodrick arranges the chalk lines with careful precision, murmuring instructions while Viraat grumbles but helps, tracing protective runes around the edges. I hold the book in my lap, fingers trembling slightly as I flip to the page marked by the manor itself.

The language is old. Almost too old. But I canfeelthe ring of truth to it.

"Are you ready?" I ask them both, my voice barely above a whisper.

Viraat lifts his chin. “We were ready the moment you showed us the book.”

Jodrick’s smile is soft. “Speak the words, little one.”

I step into the center of the circle with the book in hand, barefoot, nightgown brushing the tops of my thighs. I swear the whole manor is holding its breath. I can feel its attention like a weight at my back, watching, waiting.

The words roll off my tongue like water, each syllable vibrating through my chest. The moment I finish, the candles flicker. A wind rushes through the room despite the closed windows, blowing my hair into my face.

Then... Silence.

The air stills. The candle flames return to normal. My heart pounds.

"Did it work?" I ask quietly.

Jodrick looks down at his hands, flexing them. Viraat turns his wrists, waiting. They both exchange a look. Tense, uncertain.

Viraat moves his hands, his long, clawed fingers still present.

"I... don't feel any different," he mutters.

Jodrick crouches, drawing a thumb along one of the runes. “The magic was cast, I’m sure of it. But perhaps... it takes time.”

I wrap my arms around myself, unsure whether I’m disappointed or relieved. I was braced for pain, for glow, for some dramatic shift. But all we get is silence.

Nothing changes.

Not yet.