Page 23 of Beast of the Bayou

"Okay." I perk up. "For one…Edgar talks, doesn’t he?"

Solomon laughs. "He does. Too much sometimes."

"I knew I wasn't tripping!" I gasp in excitement. "How though?"

"He's a spirit animal."

"Get the hell out of here?" I sit up intrigued. "So that's a literal thing?"

Solomon sits up with me. He stretches wide and smiles. "They are. Edgar is actually my great-great-great grandfather. Edgar Mourne. The founder of this town."

My eyes widen and my mouth parts in disbelief. "That is amazing, Solomon." I grab his hand excitedly. "You have an actual ancestor living with you. How lucky are you?"

He lifts my hand and kisses the top. "Even luckier now that you've meandered your way into my life and my heart."

"I'm the lucky one," I reply gratefully.

With ease, he lifts me off the bed and sits me on his lap. He pulls me closer by my hips. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything." I nod.

"Most people don't wander here. What brought you to Bayou Mourne?"

I swallow, my heart beginning to thud at the memory. "Fate," I mumble.

Solomon immediately places his big hand over my chest. "I believe that, but I know there's more. I can hear your heart racing and I can smell the fear on you, my love." His kind eyes search mine. "Did something happen?"

Tears blur my vision and I wipe them away. My head drops down, but he tilts my chin up to meet his eyes.

"I meant what I said—no one will ever hurt you again," he states adamantly. "I've already taken care of one issue for you."

My brows furrow. "What do you mean?"

Solomon holds my eyes. "The roommate's boyfriend."

My eyes widen again. "Did you…kill him?" I whisper.

He shakes his head, the faint glow around his eyes brightening. "No. But my gator Dubois had a nice meal."

My body locks up at the revelation.

"Are you upset at me now?" he asks quietly.

I pause to process it. It only takes me a few seconds to shake my head. "No. He was a bad man."

"He was." Solomon nods once in agreement. "Now…are there any other bad men in your life who hurt you, my love?"

"Why do you wanna know?"

"Fear tastes bitter in my mouth, and I don't like the way it smells on you."

The words sit heavy between us. "Are you gonna kill them if I tell you?"

"Yes," he replies with no hesitation.

I'm momentarily struck speechless. Half of me feels guilt for even considering sanctioning what will likely be a brutal death at the hands of Solomon. But then...I remember that night. The helplessness that I felt. The lack of support shown to me. The utter disregard for what that night did to my psyche. And any guilt that I have…fades.

I focus my eyes on this beautiful man. A monster to some, but the most gentle and kind man I've ever met. And I tell him what led me here—