Page 67 of Sequel to the Easter Bunny

Babel erupts in laughter as Minoka stares at us, enraged.

There’s literal fire in his eyes when he pushes to his feet.

I catch sight of Calico and Minx, pointing and laughing. I wonder how Lako will feel about the retelling.

Strings of Minoka’s come still hang from his face, stuck in his dark fur.

Illusion completely gone, there’s no mistaking him for Jack.

Side by side Minoka is like his shorter, wider shadow. Made with harder edges.

He stalks to us, hooves incredibly loud, his voice terrifyingly low when he asks, “You think you won?”

The branch-like cuff breaks, falling from my arm, and it splashes in the water now flowing around my feet and Minoka’s hooves. Water that’s a familiar, murky green.

“I think that means I did.” This round at least.

“Be careful of the enemies you make, Lily of the Valley. It will come back to haunt you.”

Jack says something to him in the old gods’ tongue. Low and menacing.

Minoka flinches away. “The difference between us, Eebie,” Minoka says it with a sneer, his wide nostrils flaring. “Is that when I make a threat like that, I intend to keep it.”

He steps back, out of the stream that now flows through Babel. “Push me and I will take her from you.”

My laugh is a snort. It’s utterly ridiculous. “I’d like to see you try.”

Dark eyes turn to me, “Be careful what you wish for.”

He disappears, leaving the faint scent of brimstone behind.

Tides Turn

The water rushing around my feet sends a chill through me and I shiver, stepping closer to Jack.

His hand brushes over my shoulders and a new gown wraps around me

It shimmers like starlight, and like all the others, is see-through.

The hem drags in the water as Jack lifts me up and holds me tight to him, our faces perfectly aligned.

“How did you know?” he asks.

“That it wasn’t you? I could see him, despite his glamour. Don’t know why, but even if I couldn’t, I don’t think he could have pretended to be you in any convincing way.”

He would always have felt… off.

“But I did know he wasn’t you. And not just because he kept calling me the wrong things. And now it’s over. Gren has given their blessing.” I try not to let my relief drag me under.

“Which means there’s only one more task between us and the end of this ridiculous charade.”

And I don’t want to waste any time. “I have to go back to her.”

Jack nods, even as he scowls. “Go, and hurry back.”

This time, I follow the water to Juun. Even inside the blinding white of her domain, the stream—now wide enough I’d call it a river, even if it isn’t deep—is that dull green. Fuzzy algae tickles my feet, and the dress drags along behind me.

That river flows right to the steps of the broken stone temple Juun never seems to leave. And when I step onto the warm rocks, I wish I could stay in that water instead.

---