Page 99 of Sequel to the Easter Bunny

I take Jack’s hand instead of reaching up to clutch the egg at my throat. “Thank you, but this was business.”

From above me, Jack says, “We upheld our end of the bargain, now it’s time for you to do the same.”

The smile Minoka wears leaves me wary, but he sweeps his hand toward the hourglass and it bursts in a shimmering shower of sand.

I don’t look back as Jack follows me through the door and away from him.

Hand in hand, we go back to Jack’s domain and some of the last remaining tension leaves me as my feet touch the grass and the perfume of dozens of flowers reach my nose.

The softness of this place is so different from Minoka’s that relief weakens my knees.

I don’t have the opportunity to stumble. Jack sweeps me into his arms and lays me down in his bower, snuggling me close.

Lips in my hair, he cuddles me.

“What if it didn’t work?” I ask, giving voice to that little fear.

“He won’t go back on his word.”

I might not trust Minoka, but I trust Jack.

All I can do now is hope. As I snuggle closer to him, the heavy weight of sleep brushes over me. This can’t be the end of what I’ve found with Jack.

No matter what happens with Heim, I won’t let it.

Winter of Discontent

Whispers of my name draw me from sleep, and I stretch against Jack before snuggling down against his chest once more.

I don’t want to wake.

When I do, I know we’ll have to leave Jack’s domain and it’s the only place I feel at peace anymore.

When I tell Jack as much, mumbling and holding more tightly to him, he says, “I’m glad to hear that, but if we don’t go now, we’re sure to lose Juun’s game.”

Perhaps it’s petulant, but I roll away, flopping onto my back and don’t bother to hide my pout.

“Heim has summoned us.” He lifts me from the bed and sets me on my feet.

With a snap of his fingers, I’m in pants and a t-shirt very like the ones I wore when I returned with the peacock, but softer. The fabric slithers over my skin, making me shiver.

He snaps again as he walks to his throne, and a chunky sweater forms around me, warm and perfect. Boots lined in pale blue fur surround my feet, and he sweeps his hands over my shoulders, a coat forming beneath them.

“I won’t let you freeze again.”

I hold up my gloved hands and don’t comment on a missing hat and scarf. I’d probably be as wide as I am tall if I let him wrap me up the way his worried scowl makes me think he wants to.

It’s already more clothing than I’ve worn since I first arrived back in the old gods’ realm.

He doesn’t put on anything to ward off the chill. The privileges of godhood.

“Ready?” He asks, and I don’t bother to lie.

“Probably not.”

I feel even less prepared when we arrive in the glacial halls of Heim’s domain. He sits on his throne, looking as though he too was carved of ice.

“We came, as summoned,” Jack says, tipping his head in a bow that I don’t mimic.

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