Page 62 of Sequel to the Easter Bunny

“I don’t know.”

Mossy brows raised, they tut at me. “That also affects things.”

Dropping my hand, they motion to the kittens to join me. “You’ve been very disruptive. It makes all the wrong sorts of gods want something from you… some of them want things you won’t be willing to give.”

It feels like a warning.

“There will be a test,” Gren says, nodding as though they are only now certain of it. “In Babel. If you pass it, you will have my blessing.”

“Can I know what kind of test?”

They shake their head, hair moving in the nonexistent wind. “Don’t let yourself be led astray. After all, if you are what you feel like, you should be able to see what they’re doing and if you can turn the tide of your fate….”

They chuckle, the sound like snapping branches. “Few of us like each other, Lily. The sooner you learn that, the better. Diyo, of course, my sweet child could make friends with anyone they want to… but otherwise…. I would love to see you embarrass the other gods. It would amuse me and others too. And perhaps, angering just one more of us will be all that you need to see yourself safely through this charade.”

“I think I have enough enemies already.”

“Maybe you do.” They look me over and with a wave of their hand, they shift my clothing into a deep green, gauzy material that turns copper in the right light… purple when shifted the other way. “Maybe you’ll need to make enemies of us all before you’ll survive this.”

I don’t like the way they say it. I don’t like the way they turn their back on me.

But I don’t have to like anything. I just have to do whatever they make me.

Minx and Calico hurry me away.

“Why are you afraid of them?”

“They are one of Lako’s primaries. If they chose to take us from her, she can’t do anything about it. She hasn’t claimed us.”

“They only borrow us when they want to make a point.” Calico’s head is bowed, her ears twitch.

When we pass through the doorway, they stop me, and Calico draws my hand up, studying my wrist. “It’s a clever way to keep track of you.” She bites my thumb before releasing me.

Sharp little teeth poke my skin and Minx says her name under her breath as her tail wraps around Calico’s wrist, pulling her back.

“What? You want to bite her too.”

“I do, but not until she asks us to.” Minx winks at me. “We have a vested interest in helping you survive this.”

Calico leans on her. “Just imagine all the fun things we can do with our tails.

“If I survive, I may take you up on learning all about them.”

Silly Tricks for Silly Rabbits

They pull me back into Babel, relaxing once we’re inside the darkness of the club-like purgatory.

I don’t get a chance to ask them any more questions before a shadow falls over us.

“Hello, Eebie,” Minx says with a little too much sugar in her words.

But when I turn… it’s not Jack.

He’s a similar size and shape, but there’s something hazy around him that fades the longer I look at him.

Whatever it is, I don’t think it’s Gren’s magic that’s doing this, but still… I put a smile on my face and wait to see what this false version of Jack wants.

Each time I look at him, I see through the veil a little more.

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