Page 59 of Sequel to the Easter Bunny

“I have to get Gren’s blessing.”

Jack’s hackles raise and he bears oddly sharp teeth before turning away from me and looking at the darkness above us. “I’m sorry. Gren doesn’t like me. I don’t like that I can’t guess what they’ll want.”

“But, it’s not likely they’ll make us have sex with them in exchange for their blessing?”

“I honestly don’t know with them. You are temptation personified—even before you had the Power—but Gren is ever changing. They’re utterly unpredictable.”

“And they don’t like you?”

He shakes his head, ears bobbing. “They think I’m the reason Juun chose Ester.”

“Chose? Why do they have to choose. If they don’t actually love one another, why not come to some mutually beneficial agreement?” Even as I say it, I know the idea is ridiculous.

The Principal gods don’t play nice. If nothing else, I’ve learned that truth by now.

Eyes closed, Jack shakes his head, “It’s a complicated history.”

“Well, I have to try. Should I go to them alone?”

“No. I think it’s best if we don’t try to hide who you are to me.”

“Or who you are to me.”

When I stand, my clothes from the mortal realm fall away and once again, I’m in the long gown Jack seems to adore. The only difference is in the opaque fabric covering all the fun places.

He takes my hand, and in a blink we’re in front of the entrance to Gren’s domain. Dark and twisted branches form an archway that makes me want to step back.

A chill flutters out to us and it feels like cold fingers grab my skin, drawing me forward. I let that influence take me. It’s where I need to go, no matter how much I’d prefer the relative safety of this space between domains.

Inside, Gren’s domain isn’t as horrifying as it felt from the outside. I walk through the dense carpet of fallen leaves—Jack crunching behind me—as yet more fall, and keep my eyes open for a god I’ve never heard described before.

And then, the ground clears, leaving behind a surface so clear, it reflects the nothing overhead….

The leaves don’t stop falling, a brittle brown flutter that vanishes a moment before it would touch the glossy water of the pond. It’s mirror-like until my steps disturb it.

And the god I seek for waits for us at its centre.

Gren sits on a throne of antlers and branches, a dark shadow with glowing eyes and green horns.

“I wondered when she would send you to me.” There is no emotion in Gren’s voice as they speak. “A little mortal in over her head… but one poised to bring a great change. I’d hoped to meet you before you failed.”

Those glowing eyes shift to Jack—though I don’t know how I can tell.

“Leave us.”

Jack hesitates, and those glowing gold eyes narrow. “Your bride is safe. She’s already made too many deals. She won’t be trapped by one of mine.”

With one last glance at me, Jack disappears in a puff of smoke that smells like toasted sugar. I inhale it deeply, and when I turn back to the throne, Gren is gone.

No, that’s not right.

I just have to look down.

They’re smaller than me now. I don’t know if that’s by necessity, or a preference.

Their long hair covers skin that’s darker than mine, but their eyes still glow that eerie gold, and antlers sprout from their forehead, sweeping back like a crown dripping with moss instead of jewels.

If they weren’t so terrifying, they’d be too beautiful for words.

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