Page 90 of Sequel to the Easter Bunny

“Stay out of it, bunny boy, this is between me and your Easter Lily.”

“No, Jack will be present.”

Minoka looks like he’d rather invite a skunk to join us. “Fine, I will hear the bunny’s demands, but I’m not agreeing to them yet.”

“I am present the entire time.” Jack holds up his hand, counting off his requirement on his fingers. “You will respect her magic word.”

“Of course.”

“And when this is over, it’s over. You get your eight hours to try, and then, you leave her in peace.”

“Just her?”

“We both know you don’t want to tangle with me. Your horns aren’t as sharp as you like to pretend.”

Minoka watches us both for a second, dark eyes drawing along our bodies. “I accept.”

I don’t enjoy feeling like I’ve somehow forgotten an important point of negotiation, but it’s done now. All that’s left is to pay the price.

I blink, and we’re in Minoka’s domain.

It’s a lavish space. Every effort for comfort is made. Luxurious fabrics cover everything. Cushions and couches and beds fill the space. And yet, I’ve never been anywhere that feels so… lonely.

The space sits inside an enormous stone circle dotted with doors. Beyond them….

Mazes.

Dozens upon dozens of mazes.

Beyond each of those doors is a perfect place to get lost and never be found again.

Except for one.

“Don’t get distracted, baby girl.” Minoka waves his hand, twisting those long fingers, and an enormous hourglass forms in front of it, silvery grey sand already trickling through. “All of your attention belongs to me.”

We’re All Fucked Here

Minoka waves his hand toward the bed. “Go, wait over there. I want to pretend like she’s mine alone.” His eyes never leave me, but those words are meant only for Jack. “Surely you can’t begrudge that desire.”

Jack meets my eyes and dips his head in the tiniest of nods before he does as he’s bid. But even on the bed, he’s never out of my sight.

“The magic word is ‘carrots’.” I say, noting that he hasn’t asked, and I imagine, he hadn’t planned to.

“Carrots,” he repeats back to me, eyes narrowing. “Is that how you knew it was me in Babel.”

“I could see through your disguise. The Power still works here in small ways.”

“I’ll have to remember that.”

Minoka’s eyes devour me like he might very well try to take a bite out of me if given the chance.

There’s a weight in that desire that settles over me.

It’s greed, plain and simple.

But I’m not going to give him everything he wants—even outside the baby. And I don’t think he fully understands that yet.

The trickster god is a needy being, and I know, deep within my soul, when he looks at me like that, that he thinks I can give him something he’s missing.

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