Page 38 of Love Me Forever

With the withering glare Éloïse gave him, one would think she was Sébastien’s true child. “All monsters are bad.

“I’ll go check, and if there’s anything, I’ll kill it this time,” said Sébastien. “Afterward, Remus will throw salt all over your room to make it extra safe.”

“Sit on the couch next to me,” said Remus. “He’ll check your whole room.”

She agreed to that, and Sébastien went into the hall. Her bedroom door was cracked open. The light from the small crystal lantern on her bedside table showed nothing amiss. One of her dolls was in the bed, and she must have been too scared to get near and snatch her toy. He’d look around so he could be honest with her, and they’d figure out what to do from there. Of course, there weren’t any real monsters like she thought.

Sébastien heard a clink from under the bed, and he froze. What the fuck? He was tempted to call Remus, but maybe it was just a mouse. She’d said she’d seen a black thing run under the bed, and with the dim light, she hadn’t realized what it was. He didn’t need his husband to see if it was a mouse.

He took the lantern from the bedside table, dropped to his knees, suppressed a sigh, and lifted the bed skirt. They'd have to buy traps, set them, and-

A huge pair of silvery eyes like coins stared back at him from a black void. Sébastien almost yelled in shock. The void made a small sound, and he realized what it was.

“Oh, Elira,” he swore under his breath.

The coin eyes vanished as it turned around, and Sébastien had an idea. With the lantern, he rushed out.

“Sébastien?” called Remus.

“Give me a moment. I need to get something.”

“You forgot your sword!” shouted Éloïse.

That was the last thing he needed.

It wasn’t as noticeable upstairs, but downstairs, he caught the faint odor. Milly had cooked fish stew for dinner, and even though she’d opened up the doors and windows, the smell hadn’t quite gone away, and it wasn’t exactly pleasant after so many hours.

They’d eaten most of their stew, and Éloïse had grown full before finishing her bowl. On the work counter, the dishes sat where they’d left them for the servant to wash in the morning. It was cold, congealed, and nasty, but it might work. He plucked out a fat piece and rushed back upstairs.

By Éloïse’s bed, he lifted the bed skirt, placed the food down, and backed away again a little. The smell would lure it, right? After a minute, the bed skirt twitched, and he heard a noise.

He made kissy noises and hoped it worked. If it wasn’t trusting, Remus would have to help him catch it.

A black nose poked out, and a huge pair of eyes ringed in yellow followed as it looked for more fish.

“Come here.” Sébastien held out his pinched thumb and forefinger. “I’ve got more fish.”

It worked.

Sébastien entered his and Remus’s sitting room. “Éloïse, it wasn’t a monster under your bed. It was a kitten.”

Éloïse’s mouth dropped as she stared at the black kitten, and she squealed. “I’ve always wanted a kitten.”

“Er, I guess it's your lucky night.”

“So…we have a cat now?” asked Remus.

“Uh, I guess so. I had to show her so she’d see I wasn’t lying.”

“It’s certainly better than a farting wardrobe dweller.”

“I want to hold it!” Éloïse tried to reach for it.

“Hang on.” Sébastien sat by Remus on the couch and put the little furball on his lap. The kitten looked to be around five or six months old, he only had one tail unlike most cats who had two. Despite everyone staring at him, he didn’t seem too nervousor ready to bolt. He was more interested in smelling Sébastien's hand to find more tasty snacks. “You have to be very gentle with him. Just use a finger to stroke his head.”

Éloïse gently petted its head as Kitty looked around. With Sébastien’s warmth, a tidbit of fish in his belly, and someone petting him, he started purring. Sébastien gave his shoulders a little rub. Remus reached over to stroke under his chin.

“He’s cute. Cats will protect you from monsters too.”

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