Page 18 of Sequel to the Easter Bunny

It doesn’t come.

“My kittens are right. I can solve this problem. Though cat scratch fever shouldn’t be a true trail for a newly wed woman, like yourself. You have a willing participant to drive away the heat that fills you now.”

Her finger traces my collar bone, and she pulls it away, licking my sweat.

“What will it take to rid myself of this?”

“Oh!” She flutters her hands like I’ve offered her a present. “You want to make a bargain.”

“That’s what the gods do, isn’t it?”

Her gaze travels past me, but I don’t turn back to Jack.

I don’t step away when she leans forward.

“He doesn’t play games with the rest of us.” Her whiskers twitch, tickling my cheek. “And mortals are greedy little creatures who only want us for what we can give them….”

I don’t disagree with her. Maybe that’s all most are. I doubt it.

“It would be a singular treat to play with your bunny.”

“No.” I say it before I can think better of it and she shifts back, eying me with a smile that catches on one of her long, sharp teeth. Something in the gesture makes her seem even more feline.

“Like you said, I’m a greedy little mortal. He is mine and I have no intention of loaning him out like a toy.” To you.

I have no idea why giving her a pass is repulsive to me.

Her smile widens and I see the sharp white points of all her teeth.

“Nothing comes for free, sweet child.”

“What else would you have us do?” Jack is at my back, and I lean into him. The warmth has already started to sap my strength.

“I know you won’t let your bride play with me or my kittens.” Her gaze falls to me. “Mortals aren’t the only ones who are greedy.”

She taps her fingers against her cheek. “A show then. As I missed your wedding night, I’ll accept an encore performance.”

I look up at Jack, and when he hesitates, Lako chuckles.

“It shouldn’t be hard… as long as you are.”

Like Rabbits Deux

A murmur of giggles echoes from the dark forest surrounding us. Bright eyes reflect in blues and greens.

The performance Lako has asked for will have a larger audience than the first did.

“What kind of show would you like?”

The gaze Lako rakes over me is as sharp as her teeth. “You’ll know if I’m disappointed.”

Jack makes a noise beside me and then, he lifts me, dragging me to him with an arm around my waist, but when he speaks, it’s to Lako. “You’ll excuse us for a moment.”

The words are a command, and I see the way she bristles at them, but a moment later, she looks as if she couldn’t care less. Waving us away. “Make your preparations.”

Jack draws me away and shadows shift in the trees as we near. More kittens skittering away.

When he sets me down, it’s on a stone that is oddly warm amidst the white drifts on the ground. And my skin doesn’t sting at the contact.

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