“Whoa.” That wasn’t any old bunny hole. It was a portal to the fae realm. His head spun, but he didn’t have time to contemplate what he’d just done. He hopped into the hole, and it closed behind them, opening into his office inside the egg studio.
He lowered Eostre into a chair and stumbled, catching himself on the edge of the desk. The goddess rested her hand on his and lifted her head, the sparkle in her lavender eyes slowly returning. “Do you remember now?”
He gazed at the gilded egg on his desk and picked it up, tracing his finger over the baroque pattern. It was a hen’s egg, as all Easter eggs should be. Max climbed onto the windowsill and peered through the blinds into the workshop.
How could he have forgotten his right-handelfen, the most loyal friend he’d ever had? And the goddess who made him into the man he was? The Easter Bunny. Pete Hasen was the one and only Easter Bunny. He had been for over a thousand years, and he would continue to be until the end of days.
“I remember everything.” He followed Max’s gaze and took in his team of artists, the beloved creatures without whom Easter could not happen. Eachelfenstood shackled to their workstations, using stencils to paint goose eggs in Helga’s image.
He turned to Eostre. “How many days until Easter?”
“Nine.”
He nodded. “Then we still have time to save it.”
He moved toward the door, but the goddess grasped his hand. “Have you forgotten Destiny?”
“I couldneverforget my fated mate.” And he would do whatever it took to wrench her from Helga's clutches.
The goose’s unmistakable undead squawk sounded in the studio, and theelfengasped. Pete peeked through the office blinds and found them cowering behind their easels as Helga, her bill full of angel hair, dragged Destiny onto the platform. The iron chains still encircled her wrists, weighing her down, and as Helga forced her to her knees, she groaned.
Pete’s nostrils flared, his heart kicking into a sprint.
“Beho—” Helga spit, slapping at her bill until a feather caught the long strand of copper hair tying her tongue. She pulled it out of her mouth and sputtered before spreading her wings wide. “Behold my power, minions. I captured an angel, and I’ll drain her dry as an example. Do my bidding, or you’ll meet the same fate. I am your master now.”
Destiny laughed dryly. “The only thing you’ve mastered is this idiotic villain monologue.”
Helga squawked, ruffling her feathers, and Pete eyed Destiny’s hands. She’d gotten the thin nail he’d tossed her into the lock. She just needed to twist it the right way.
“What’s the plan, sir?” Max asked, his voice hushed.
Pete glanced at Eostre. Though the faery sparkle had returned to her eyes, her pallor was still ashen, her hair lacking its usual luster. She wouldn’t have the strength to end this, so it was up to him to cook that goose.
“Will you be okay alone?” he asked the goddess.
“I am recovering already,” she whispered. “Go now. Both of you.”
Pete nodded, stomped his foot three times, and hopped into the rabbit hole. Max followed, and they landed at the back of the studio. He took the raccoon’s hands in his and sent a burst of Easter magic into his being.
“You’ve got about ten minutes of my power,” he whispered. “Look. Theelfen’sshackles aren’t iron. Touch as many as you can and set them free quietly.”
“The only reason you could trap me is because my magic is bound,” Destiny continued goading the goose. “I’m basically human right now, so big deal. Vampires feed on the mundane every day. Whoop-de-do.”
Pete crept toward the platform, crouching so the easels hid him, unlocking theelfenhe passed along the way. “Stay quiet,” he said under his breath.
Helga shook, spreading her wings to take up more space, and three feathers floated to the floor. “There’s nothing basic about you, and I am so much more than a vampire.”
“If you say so, goose.” Destiny stilled her hands, waiting until Helga turned to the crowd to continue working on the iron lock.
“Your precious Peter Cottontail isn’t coming to save you. Any of you,” Helga honked, and Pete bristled.
That was why he hated that name and the song that went with it. Helga had taunted him with it for centuries, her way of reminding him she believed birds were superior to all other animals.
“I have vampire speed and strength.” The goose waved her wings. “I have the power of Voodoo running through my veins and, yes, I even have an angel on my side.”
“Why does that not surprise me?” Destiny unlocked her chains, but she held onto them, pretending to still be bound. “I bet her name is Gabriela. Good luck working with her. She’ll rake you across the coals the first chance she gets.”
“Enough!” Helga lunged and sank her fangs into Destiny’s jugular.
