Page 87 of Sequel to the Easter Bunny

Jack dries and dresses me. The fabric that drapes over me isn’t see-through this time.

“Do you want me to send him away?”

“No. Let’s see what he has to say.”

I take Jack’s hand and let him lead the way out into his domain.

Minoka lays in our bed, clutching one of the pillows to his face and inhaling deeply. “The two of you fuck like rabbits, don’t you?”

Jack snaps his finger, and the bed disappears, Minoka drops to his back on the grass and chuckles. “Such a touchy bunny.”

“You want to make a deal,” I say, backing up to Jack again. “State your terms.”

Minoka turns on his side, one hand propping up his head, the other flicking at the flowers in front of him. “I will convince my father to give you his blessing…. In exchange for one small thing.”

I doubt that. “What is the small thing?”

“You carry my child into the mortal realm.”

“No. I already told Heim I’m not giving Jack up. That doesn’t change because you’re the one offering.”

“And you don’t have to give up your bunny boy.” He springs to his feet and claps his hands together. “Twins!”

I stare at him, because this is not the god I met in Babel and that leads me to believe this is just another one of his tricks… but it also might be our only option.

That’s why I bite back my knee-jerk reaction to tell him absolutely not and get rid of him.

“We’ll think about it.” I say, cautiously.

“Of course, but we all know I’m your only chance.”

He disappears in a puff and the scent of brimstone lingers once more.

Jack relaxes when he’s gone, but I know his mind is divided. He wants to figure out how Minoka got in, so he can shut that door as well.

“Would it work? The twins thing, I mean?”

“Yes.” He tips his head to the side. “His child would be much smaller than ours… but if you were to carry both of them, you would give birth to them at the same time.”

I don’t like it. I don’t like that I’m even considering it.

But Minoka’s right. He’s the only one his father likes.

He’s our only real chance.

“Would you hate me for saying yes?”

There’s a pause, but he shakes his head. “No. You’ve been put in an impossible place. If this is the only way, it’s the only way. Though…. I will hate that it’s a choice you had to make.”

“And we both know it’s a trick.”

“It’s most definitely a trick.”

Minoka thinks he’s already won…. And why shouldn’t he…. But I might have one more option.

“I need to see Ester.”

Jack watches my face for a long moment, and then nods, opening a doorway directly to her domain. “Don’t be gone too long.”

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