Heart of the Bayou Beasts

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he made sure Draven saw. "Fine Lorraine," I said, I hadn't called her mother in years. She tisked as usual, but pressed the button to allow me in. I walked up the long drive enjoying the plush gardens, taking the long way around the back through the kitchen, and grabbing an apple and sl

nd in a casual tailored suit but yuck. On Silas' left, a seat between them was Beckum. 'The Dog,' was the quiet one. He seemed to just follow the others like a puppy waiting for his inevitable reward. He was middle-aged, late 30s, with shoulder-length jet-black hair, a leather jacket stretched over broad shoulders, and bik

tare her down, ready for a fight. The far corner called me, in an attempt to isolate myself and ignore them. Fat chance of that ever happening. I could shock them all and s

here but welcome to the Le' Blanc manor." I mocked at being cordial before I whispered just so he and Andrew could hear. "Sorry this is l

," I said simply. "You work seven days a week unless there is a Sabbath." She challenged me. "Yep," I said, popping the P while tearing off another piece of bread

me, swallowing them up. I forced myself not to give Beckum a wide berth, stopping beside The Big Cat, hands clasped before me. "Look at me!" he ordered sternly. 'Shit,' I breathed out, removing a tendril from the box. What looked like nerves was me picking and siphoning a small part of my magic for him to observe. Ensuring it would be big enough for his appraisal but not so big I'd have to amp it too far up the next time. "Brianna!" my mother scolded me from next to Silas. I

uldn't control the hitch in my throat when he got too close for comfort. He poked and prodded, a slimy phantom nudging within my consciousness until he found the morsel I had sacrificed for his scrutiny and he sunk his claws into it greedily. I let out a strangled garbled sound. The darkness tightened around my heart where it protected the rest of me, the whole of me. What felt like hours of torture were mere moments and Silas's big rough hands, caught me as I slumped forward. How were the hands of a business