Pete pulled out a chair and flashed his jewel-green gaze at Destiny. She waited for him to sit down, but he just stood there, holding the back of the seat.
“Let the man be chivalrous,” Sophie said around another mouthful of shrimp. “Sit.” She gave Destiny’s hip a shove.
Pete smiled, and she accepted the gesture, sitting just as he slid the chair forward and tucked her into the seat. He sat catty-corner to her, and Crimson set the plates on the table before joining them.
The savory scents of thyme and garlic filled her senses, making her mouth water. Fried eggplant slices sandwiched roasted tomatoes with melted mozzarella, and a side of pasta with marinara complemented the recipe perfectly.
She took a bite, closing her eyes as the flavors danced and melded on her tongue. “This is delicious.”
“Very.” Pete’s knee brushed hers beneath the small table, and she pulled away.
Jane hadn’t been kidding when she’d said the attraction between them was off-the-charts hot. If he were any old rabbit shifter, she might entertain the idea of meant to be…or let him hop on down her bunny trail at the very least.
But he was the frigging Easter Bunny for heaven’s sake. He might as well have been the allfather because, either way, there was no chance in all the realms that he and she were meant to be anything more than a walking curse and her victim.
“So…” Sophie set her fork down. “Now that you’ve found him, what are you going to do with him?”
Destiny’s stomach fluttered. She could think of a few things she’d like to do. “Umm…” She cleared her throat. “I have to figure out a way to give him his memory back. I’m hoping Crimson might know a spell to help.”
“Already on it,” Crimson said. “I’ve got something that might just do the trick.”
“Then what?” Sophie took a sip of tea, eyeing Destiny over the rim of the glass.
“Then, we…” She cut her gaze to Pete as he took his last bite of eggplant. “Save Easter.”
He coughed. Then he sucked in a massive breath and wheezed. His eyes bulged, his mouth hanging open as he slapped at his throat. Oh, dear lord, he was choking. Why had Destiny tempted Fate by asking what was next?
“You okay, Pete?” Crimson slapped his back. His body heaved as if he were going to cough it out, but not even the tiniest bit of breath made it past the wad of eggplant lodged in his throat.
His face turned red from straining. As the hue morphed to purple, Destiny leaped to her feet and moved behind him, fisting one hand below his ribcage, bracing it with the other, and jerking inward and up. He made anuhsound with her second thrust, and with her third, the eggplant dislodged from his throat and shot across the table, splatting right in the center of Sophie’s forehead.
It slid down, leaving a trail of mush and spit before hitting her nose and plopping onto her plate.
Pete heaved in a breath, pressing his hand to his chest and gripping the edge of the table.
“Are you okay?” Still standing behind him, Destiny wrapped her arms around his shoulders, her left cheek resting against his right.
He pressed a hand to the side of her head, gently holding her against him. “I’m good. Thank you for saving my life.”
She scoffed and pulled away, returning to her seat. “You might’ve passed out, but I definitely did not save your life. You’re an immortal fae. You can’t die.”
“I’m fine too. Thanks for asking.” Sophie wiped a napkin across her forehead.
Pete took a giant gulp of tea and folded his hands on the table. “My rabbit is just a rabbit. I can’t be the Easter Bunny. That’s something I wouldn’t forget.”
“Then you don’t know how strong angel magic can be,” Crimson said. “I was raised by angels. Their magic is stickier than glitter in a drag queen’s cleavage.”
“I’m just a rabbit shifter,” he muttered, sounding more like he was trying to convince himself of the fact as he rose and carried his plate to the sink.
Destiny followed, joining him as he rinsed his dishes and put them in the dishwasher. “You are a rabbit shifter, but you’re also a fae.”
“Wouldn’t I feel it if I were?” He dried his hands on a towel and leaned against the counter.
She paused, eyeing him, looking for signs he might be ready to shift and tuck tail. His calm demeanor and the causal way he leaned gave her the courage to push further. “You don’t feel it because your fae side is the part my magical cake subdued.”
He screwed his mouth to one side. “I suppose the demons forget they’re creatures from hell when they eat them as well?”
“Well, no, but…”
