Page 33 of Sequel to the Easter Bunny

There’s a looping stream, slow moving, with chunks of ice flowing in the dark water.

I don’t see a bridge or a log or any other way of crossing it without getting wet. And I have no doubt it’s terrifyingly deep.

“Of course it would be there.”

“Why of course?” I ask hopping down the small embankment to stand on the frost glittered rocks that line the shore.

Ari joins me, nodding to the dark mouth of a cave behind it that’s curtained by the icy remnants of a waterfall. “That’s how Heim could enter this place from the old gods’ realm. It’s how you can get back before sunset.”

“Just have to go for a soak first.” I look down at the water. The chill that comes from it makes me want to tempt Juun’s wrath.

Could she reach me here if she can’t see her damn bird?

Either way, she’d find me eventually. Or I’d freeze and meet Death anyway.

I’m going to get soaked one way or another, I’m not going to go back to Juun’s sandbox with wet boots.

I sit on a brittle stump and start to unlace my boots. Ari doesn’t move.

She stares at the bird.

“Are you coming?”

She looks a little lost when she meets my eyes and then she winces. “I can’t swim.”

It takes me a moment to respond. Ari seemed like the sort of woman who could do anything. Who has done everything.

There’s something strange in the way she said it, but… why would she lie to me about that?

“That’s alright. I’m pretty sure it has to be me, anyway.”

I stuff my socks into my boots and, wincing at the cold river rocks beneath my feet, I toss them across. Hating the thwack they make, thanking all the gods that it doesn’t send the bird flying.

I wad up and toss my coat over next….

But as soon as my foot touches the water I jump back.

“Mother fucker!”

Ari’s chuckle from behind me isn’t helpful. “That bad?”

“Glacial.”

I don’t want to do this.

“I wish I could just fl—” I look at the water in front of me and have to pause. Maybe I don’t need to fly.

“Everything alright?”

It might be. I shiver when I look at her, wanting my coat back. “You said next time I think of something crazy… right?”

Her lips quirk in a smile as I raise my hand, imagining myself on the other bank.

One snap—

And I’m looking at her from across the stream.

“See,” she says, the chill air carrying her words. “I told you there was more to it.”

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