Chapter 11.

Abigail.

IF I WAS GOING TO BEeternally linked to the Eater Bunny, then I wanted to know exactly what I was getting myself into. Obviously, due to issues of anatomy we couldn't have sex at certain times of the year—which I could live with—but what other kinds of rules were they? I continued to stare at Pascale, brow raised, hands on my hips, hoping he'd get the message.

"Um... it's almost midnight," he said sheepishly. "Are you sure you want to go see the burrow now?"

Fuck it!

I'd been exhausted before our intimate session and had desperately needed sleep. In fact, I'd been an irritated, borderline mess. Now though? I was buzzing with energy! I'd had one of the best orgasms of my life, I was fresh, clean, and comfy... "Well, I'm not super tired anymore. I've had a bit of a second wind," I told him, crossing my arms over my pajama top. "But from the sounds of your hesitation, I'm guessing it's better to see your place during the day?"

Pascale smirked in response.

Considering how well things were going, all things considered, that was a strange reaction, and it made the simmering flame of anger in my belly flair to life. "What's so funny?" I asked, confused.

He shrugged. "Oh, it's just the way you say my place, as if it's a house, or a mansion, or something."

"Well, what is it?" I asked. Had he called it a burrow before? Like... a real rabbit burrow? Amery had mentioned it was underground. And Pascale had made a passing comment about workrooms. I mulled the thought over. So, he lived in some kind of Easter Bunny community? Maybe that was more like it?

Oh... God. Can I hack that?

"It's a burrow," he said simply. "It's a system of underground, interconnected tunnels for all of my colony, including work and living spaces."

"Your colony?" I repeated, gulping back the lump in my throat. "As in all rabbit shifters? How many are there?'

He tilted his head as though thinking. "Well... my burrow is specifically for those that work for the Easter Bunny, and their families. Though most of the shifters who work for me are single and young, so it's not like we have too many kids living in our burrow. It's orderly if that's what you're worrying about. We have a system and a comfortable way of life."

I had to sit down, my head was starting to hurt. Thankfully the bed was nearby. I threw back the covers and climbed onto the mattress and made myself comfortable. "Okay," I said, trying to come to terms with it all. "So, you're saying you live underground, together, and there's other burrows around the place with other rabbit shifter colonies?"

He nodded, walking closer to the bed, but stopped short of getting under the covers with me.

I forged ahead. "And you've mentioned before that the rabbits that live with you work on Easter... stuff...?"

Do they actually make the chocolates? Wrap them? Prepare them for delivery, maybe?

I felt like an idiot asking questions that I was sure he thought were juvenile or obvious, but I was definitely out of my depth, here. I mean, I'd lived in a world my whole life where you go to the local grocery store to buy human made confectionary—chocolate eggs, bunnies, and all manner of seasonal sweets. To learn the Easter Bunny was a real, in the flesh entity, and not only that, but that he played a key role in local Easter traditions just blew my mind.

But Pascale's smile was beautiful, and it lit up his whole face.

I reminded myself to remain calm and take my time digesting all this new information. Our worlds were different, but with time and understanding, we could make it work, I was sure. And as I calmed down, I couldn't help but admire his incredibly muscled body and marvel at his strength.

He must be the most handsome rabbit shifter alive!

"How about I show you everything tomorrow?" he suggested. "Then I can give you a proper tour?"

I nodded with a smile and pulled back the covers for him, inviting him to join me, all the while steeling myself for the possible rejection that might be coming my way. "Are you staying?" I asked hopefully, my cheeks flushing with warmth.

The Easter Bunny regarded me thoughtfully, his gaze softening. "I'd love to, if you're okay with that?"

It was my turn to simply nod and smile.

He climbed into bed with me, his fur brushing up against me as he snuggled in.

As soon as he put his head on the pillow, I rolled over to lay on his chest. "Can I say something without you freaking out?" I asked, my heart skipping.

He set his paw on my back and inhaled sharply as if preparing for whatever I might say. "Yes. Go for it," he answered.

I giggled and turned my face into his fur, nuzzling him and inhaling his scent. "I love how soft you are in this form."

He chuckled softly and lifted up my pajama top so that he could set his paw against my skin. "I'm very grateful you feel that way." With his other paw he stroked my hair, brushing stray strands from my face.

I closed my eyes, expecting to lay with him, wide awake for hours, but instead, sleep came easily and with a sigh of contentment, I dreamed.

***

image

I WOKE UP TO A SUMPTUOUS, hot cooked breakfast just brimming with sugar. It smelled heavenly and the delicious aroma filled the house. "Wow, thank you," I said, my eyes wide with an instant hunger as I sat up and a plate of pancakes with melty chocolate chips was placed on my lap. "You seem to have a sweet tooth like the cupids," I observed with an appreciative grin.

Pascale laughed and sat down on the bed with his own stack. "Yeah, well... this time of the year is all about chocolate so I do indulge, I must admit. The rest of the year, though, not so much. We have a pretty well-rounded diet, just like most, I think."

I cut up the pancakes and forked some into my mouth. "Mm," I moaned. "These are so good, Pascale." The fluffy breakfast cake dissolved in my mouth, and I swallowed, ready to attack my next mouthful. "So, are we heading off when we're done?" I asked.

He nodded as he cut into his stack. "Yeah, if we can? That would be great. My team will start to worry if they don't see me soon. As you can imagine, I don't sleep away from home very often."

I grinned at him. "I'll take that as a compliment. Did you sleep well?"

He groaned. "Amazingly well. Either I need a new mattress back at the burrow, or you need to sleep with me every night from now on. I feel so well rested."

I stared down at my pancakes, not quite sure how to answer that. I was excited to figure this all out, but I didn't have any firm answers for him just yet; so, I asked another question. "Is that what would happen? If we decide to follow this fated mate thing?"

Pascale choked on his pancake and started coughing madly to clear his airway, catching labored breaths in between each painful-looking spasm.

I reached out to pat him on the back.

But he stood up abruptly and paced the room, spluttering away until he cleared the blockage. "If?" He managed to choke out.

I stared at him, not understanding for a moment, then realized what I'd said.

Ugh! I misspoke. Bloody words.

"Oh! I mean... It's fate, right? We will be. I just meant... like, maybe you could try living here? Or maybe we could live somewhere else? Does we have to be in the burrow?"

Pascale was still struggling, that was obvious, and I hadn't helped matters. I could see it in his expression and body language, clear as day.

I pushed my plate aside carefully and slid out of bed. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said it quite like that. I'm still new to all this." And I also didn't want him to think that I assumed we were a sure thing just yet. That wasn't fair to him—or me. We might very well be fated mates, but the reality was that we barely knew each other, and it was still early days. We shouldn't expect anything special, not yet anyway. Love took time. We'd have to decide for ourselves, despite the pull and feel-good side of things, that we'd work out long-term.

He nodded. "All right, let's just go. It'll be so much easier to explain once we're there."

I knew he was right, but I still felt nervous about being thrown straight into the deep end of his world.

Never mind nerves! This is what you wanted, remember? Experience. Learn. Get to know him and see where all this goes.

"Great," I said, bounding toward the tall boy drawers. "I'll just throw some clothes on, and we can go, then."

"Cool, I'll clean up and see you out in the lounge," Pascale said, and before I could thank him for his hospitality in my home, he was gone with our dishes.

I stared after him.

Wow.

A man who knew how to look after a woman! Who would have thought such a creature existed? I snorted aloud at my own joke, then stopped. What was I going to wear? I checked the weather app on my cell and realized it was going to be a lovely warm April day.

Time for a dress!

My favorite was hanging in my closet, a light, short baby blue dress with a bright white and orange flower print. "Yes... this one." I slipped it on along with my best underwear, then grabbed for a pair of cute sandals. It was time to see Pascale's world, so I should run a hairbrush through my hair as well. I wanted to make a good impression, after all. Five minutes later I was brushed, dressed and pretty.

"You look gorgeous," Pascale said, standing by the front door in his large, hooded jumper.

I grinned at the compliment and swished to and fro, to show it off. "Are you okay to go outside?" I asked. "Will your invisibility thing work?"

Pascale grinned at me in return before grimacing in the most adorable way. "You're making me sound like some kind of superhero."

I stepped right up to him, sliding my arms around his waist so I could bring my face close to his for a kiss. "To me, you kind of are, Pascale." I tilted my head up in open invitation.

He pressed his lips to mine, softly, but lingering, stealing my breath away in the most delicate way possible. Then he pulled back and reached out to open the door for me, ever the perfect gentleman. "No one else should be able to see me, love, so you'll just look a bit crazy talking away to yourself."

I laughed aloud at the mental imagery. "That's okay by me! Let's go." It wasn't like the neighbors didn't think that I was a little strange already. I grabbed my keys and my tan handbag, then we headed out the door—ready to start our adventure.

It was time to see where the Easter Bunny lived and worked and meet some more rabbit shifters. My life had definitely taken a turn for the bizarre, and I couldn't be more excited about it. Rescuing angels was one thing, but this was something else entirely! I'd been wanting the chance and time to live my own life, to find love, and experience new things, and it finally looked like I was getting to.

With a belly full of chaotic, dancing butterflies and the sweet warmth of the sun kissing my skin, we set off toward the burrow.