“No, you are going to have to get up. I can’t hold this trap back forever.”
It continued to lay there, a stubborn spirit filling its eyes.
“You are at least going to have to help me out here and move your fat ass a little bit to get your damned leg out of here,” she snapped feeling the trap begin to pull back against her. “So, either move, or I let this go and use your foot as a good luck charm.”
With a lurch forward the rabbit pulled its leg from the trap. A dramatic huff leaving its lungs before letting the leg drag after it, Adelaide could not help but laugh. “See? Not so hard,” she teased before letting go of the trap, disabling it in the process. Throwing it aside, she shifted to gently pick up the animal and cradle it against her, stomach-up. Blood coated its normally soft cream belly, and the injured leg shook in her hand. The frown returned to her lips. “Let’s get you back to my house.” She looked at its hind end briefly, which only seemed to infuriate the rabbit further. “I need to tell if you are a boy or a girl. Get over yourself. You really are full of piss and vinegar, aren’t you?”
He glared up to her, his leg still quivering in obvious pain. However curiously he seemed to lean against her when she rose to her feet and made her way to her house. They approached the modest structure soon after, and the rabbit was nearly asleep in her arms. She was careful to not jostle him while she made a small bed in a cage and placed him in it. She kept her movements quiet when she went to stoke the waning fire to life. The room went from dark to brightly cozy satisfying Adelaide before she went to fetch water to warm.
She breathed deep before preparing another spot to set the broken bones. Covering her best down pillow with several plush blankets in front of the hearth, she retrieved the rabbit from the cage and sat him down with infinite care into the soft mound. While the water heated, she used her thumb to stroke from his nose to back between his ears, sending him into the trance-like state she knew well. “It won’t be long. Then, we will get you fixed up good as new,” she cooed to the hypnotized rabbit.
Examining him closer, she saw the copious amount of blood that matted his fur. A frown came to her lips when she saw cuts and scratches crossing his skin. “What kind of life have you lead, little guy?” she asked, continuing to stroke his forehead. “It is odd for you to have so many injuries.” Careful to keep her thumb moving, she took the opportunity to check his other paws. Adelaide found some splintered nails from his obvious attempt to get out of the trap, but relief filled her chest when there were no other open wounds.
The water beginning to bubble drew her attention, and she watched the rabbit blink itself back to the present. “Stay there. We need to get you cleaned up before I set the bone.” She felt his eyes boring into her back as she carried the heavy pot of water over and placed it next to the makeshift bed. He relaxed some into the pillow and it surprised her that he did not try to take off. He appeared to have resigned to waiting for her to set about the humiliating task. “Let’s get you cleaned up,” she said with a smile. Getting a soft cloth, she dipped it into the now-lukewarm water and watched the cream begin to show through the crimson while she carefully wiped the blood away. It was an arduous task; however, he surprised her again by shifting around seemingly trying to help her. “You must not like all this blood on you. I can’t really blame you.”
She sat back, a heavy sigh leaving her chest after she finally removed the last of the blood from his coat and exposed the gruesome injury. Adelaide focused beyond herself to feel where the bones were snapped. “You seem to have gotten lucky, little guy,” she murmured to herself, feeling the rabbit seemed to study her with intelligence beyond normal capabilities. She knew she still must set the bone in place to ensure use later, and guilt filled her face when she gazed down to him. “I’m sorry. I hate this part as well.” She took his leg in her hands with infinite care and closed her eyes, allowing her mind to reach outside itself to feel the injury once more. She noticed he remained perfectly still, enabling her to set about her work unimpaired. Adelaide sobbed when the shriek of mind numbing agony echoed in the room, drowning out the soft pop of bone realigning. The rabbit looked dazed as she gently wrapped his leg. “I’m so sorry… I’m so, so sorry.” Her voice betrayed the tears she bit back when she tucked the last bandage into the brace on his leg.
Lifting the rabbit back into her arms, Adelaide settled in front of the fire. To her delight, he seemed to fall asleep quickly in her arms, exhausted from the trauma of the day. She could not help but notice the way his demeanor was nearly human. “You are something else, little guy. We are going to get you better soon enough.” His infectious sleep seeped into her body and Adelaide felt her eyes droop. In her dreamlike state she noticed a slight movement towards her and he took comfort in her presence. Her last memory before unconsciousness took her was the silken texture of his fur as he nuzzled into the hollow of her throat.
2
The sunlight fell on her face, waking Adelaide from her slumber. Before she opened her eyes, she relished the warmth spilling across her and resisted the urge to move. Sighing, she became aware of the soft fur nuzzled into her neck. A tiny nose moved pushing and pulling warm breath over her skin. She looked, and the rabbit was splayed out over her chest, using her breast to support his injured leg. “Well, you got it all figured out, didn’t you?” she teased quietly. “I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing.”
She did the best she could not to wake the rabbit, but when she tried to examine his leg, he shifted to try to get closer to her skin. “I know. I don’t want to do it, either, but it needs to be done, little guy.” Careful not to move him, she made sure there was no blood seeping through the bandages. “Alright, good. I don’t have to mess with it anymore for now.” She smiled and nuzzled the rabbit before he burrowed into her neck again. His silken fur tickled her skin and she could not help but giggle.
A knock at the door drew her from her childlike reverie. “Who is it?” she frowned and the rabbit went still against her.
“It’s Peregrine, my Pet.” The low tenor invaded the safety of her home.
“Perry, go away.” Anxiety lurched into Adelaide’s chest. Instantly she found herself wishing she didn’t live alone. Whenever he showed up at her door it never ended well for her.
“Let me in, Pet.” She cringed when his whine came across her ears like a knife across a bottle. “I want to see your beautiful face to make sure you’re safe.”
Adelaide sighed heavily and held the rabbit to her. “One minute,” she called before groaning. More quietly she spoke to the rabbit, “Hopefully, he won’t stay long. We don’t like him. He invites himself in constantly. The only reason why we put up with him is because we don’t have a choice. He is the son of the second most powerful person in town, after all.”
He answered with a sneeze of disgust.
She chuckled to herself. “My thoughts exactly.” Keeping the rabbit in its place, she got up from the floor—stretching best she could. Her eyes closed and she steeled herself to answer the door. “I can do this.” The rabbit nuzzled into her neck again apparently trying to encourage her. She smiled down to him. “Thank you.”
Adelaide walked over behind the door. She barely had the knob turned before Peregrine burst into the house. He scooped her into his arms, and she clutched the rabbit to her while protecting his leg.
“Hello, Addy,” he murmured bringing his lips down towards hers.
“Hello, Perry.” She turned her head into the rabbit’s fur avoiding his kiss. Easing herself from Peregrine’s arms, she stepped back away from him. “What do you want?”
“So direct. Can a man not come check on the welfare of the woman he intends to court?” He gave her what she knew was his most charming smile, and it still managed to make her skin crawl.
Rolling her eyes, she shook her head. “You only show up when you want something. What is it?”
“I am here to take you on a picnic!” he declared with a wide smile.
“
No,” she ground out between clenched teeth.
He encroached on her further. “I think you would have fun, Addy dear. Don’t say no so quickly.”
Adelaide backed up further and shifted towards the cage that was offering her an escape route. “I can’t leave him alone,” she said gently putting the rabbit into the cage. “He has a broken leg and it could become infected at any time.”
“Oh, you and your animals,” Peregrine said with a genuinely affectionate smile on his face. “He can come with us.”
“It happened only yesterday.” Her words were blunt as she turned from the cage.
“Pish-posh. He will be fine.” He waved off her concern and impinged on her once more. His body was nearly touching hers, and the pungent scent of fermented hops filled her nose.
“I said no, Peregrine. I have things to do. Can you leave, please?” Adelaide squared her shoulders, a fiery determination igniting in her eyes.
“There’s the spark that draws me in so quickly.” He reached out and caressed her cheek before pulling a lock of her long, blonde hair. His face inched closer to hers and she could smell the sheer amount of alcohol on his breath just before his lips touched hers.
“Peregrine, stop.” He had her pinned against the cage not allowing her to dart away to safety. The scent of the alcohol was nauseating. Her stomach started to rumble signaling the fear rising in her chest. He’s so drunk… STOP! She pressed her eyelids together, trying to transport herself to a different place, when an ear-piercing shriek filled the house.
“What the hell is that?!” Peregrine shoved her to the floor, clearing the path to reach into the cage. His large, dirty hand grabbed the rabbit by the neck and pulled it in front of his face. “YOU!” he bellowed.
“Peregrine, no! Put him down!” Panic filled her chest and she scrambled to support the rabbit’s rear with one hand. The rabbit glared the man down, seemingly unafraid of the monster, while she struggled to pry Peregrine’s hand from around his neck. “I said let him go, you dumb brute!” He refused to release the rabbit leaving her exasperated. Think Addy… What did Dylan teach you? Recalling what her oldest friend had taught her, she tried to pull Peregrine’s fingers back against his tightened grip. And then, inspiration struck. She balled her hand into a fist and brought it down on Peregrine’s wrist at an angle, ensuring she hit one of the outside bones head on. A satisfying crack echoed off the walls, and she was forced to catch the rabbit when Peregrine dropped it.
Peregrine bent over, holding his wrist and howling in pain. “You daft wench. You broke my wrist!” His blue eyes pierced through her after rising to his full height to tower over her. Sneering at her, he barely missed her when he spit in her direction. “You’ll pay for this.”
“I don’t doubt it. Now, get out of my house.” She cradled the rabbit against her. “Next time you come calling, you will be met with the end of a weapon.”
“We will see about that,” Peregrine growled slamming the door behind him.
Immediately, she knelt on the old wooden floor and looked the rabbit over. “What on earth were you thinking?” A heavy sigh left her chest and relief spread throughout her. She held him against her burying her face into his soft fur. “Whatever it was,” she pulled him back to press a kiss to his forehead. “Thank you.”
Curiously, she thought she saw a glance of affection in his eyes. So expressive for a rabbit. I don’t understand this one. Normally they just sit and stare at me. She rubbed her thumbs under his eyes and watched them close. He seemed to enjoy the affection—pressing his face into her hand. She picked him up and placed him on the pallet after nuzzling his nose and put more wood on the fire.
“Now, I’m not going to put you in the cage, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get into trouble.” She glanced back over her shoulder to see him look up to her wearing a look of complete innocence. “You know you get into trouble, and I don’t want to hear it,” she scolded while the fire blazed back to life. “I have to go into town to get some supplies and food for you. My garden isn’t quite ready yet, so I don’t have enough to feed you.”
“Be good while I’m gone.” A soft smile came on her lips when he looked up to her as if to say Don’t go. “I have to go or you’ll starve, Bunny. I’ll be back soon. I promise.” With one more affectionate pet, Adelaide put her hat on to shield her from the bright sun outside. Turning just before she left her home she saw him snuggle down into the pallet and quickly fall asleep.
Sighing to herself after closing the door quietly, she made her way to town. The spring day was warm. It was enough to make her want to grab a small patch of soft grass for a quick nap while the birds sang above in the puffy cloud-clad sky. The soil was still damp from an overnight rain despite the sun shining down over her.
It was not long before she reached the town. However, she found herself wishing she had brought a horse instead. “It definitely would have made it faster, that’s for sure,” she muttered to herself. Yet despite the aching in her leg from her fall, she found herself enjoying the day. It rained for nearly two weeks before, so the light was a welcome change as she made her way through the town market.
Adelaide did see Peregrine out of the corner of her eye— wrist bandaged— but she ducked back into the crowd before he saw her. Relief filled her chest when he faded from view, lost among the crowded booths. She took a moment to look around, and to her delight each cart was filled with different wonderful things. There were some filled with jewels, and others filled with delicious cakes. However, the one that always took her eye was the one filled with aromatic flowers. They always seemed to be the objects of perfection, not a bad bloom among them. She wondered how Dylan managed to know exactly what flower to have at any given time.
His cart was always just outside his shop. The inside of his shop was even more magical. Bouquets, arrangements, and even single flowers filled every open space, making her feel like she were walking through a pristine field of perfectly arranged flowers. Entering the shop, she could not help but smile. She absolutely loved coming into his store. It never ceased to make her stand in awe of its beauty.
“Good morning, Adelaide.” Dylan’s deeper voice filled her ears when a tulip appeared in front of her face.
“Good morning!” She turned around, a huge smile on her face as she took the flower. “I hope today finds you well.” Her heart skipped a beat when his fingers brushed hers.
“I could be better,” he smiled slightly, pain etched into the handsome angles of his face.
“What happened?” She frowned deeply.
“It’s nothing. Just a silly accident.” He smiled again, wiping the pain away. Taking the tulip from her hand, he deftly tucked it behind her ear along with a lock of hair. “Beautiful, as always.”
Adelaide blushed crimson. “What’s gotten into you today, Dylan?”
“Can’t a man tell a woman how beautiful she is without being accused of being off?” He teased with a wink.
“Well, yes, he can.” She blushed deeper feeling Dylan’s fingers brush away Peregrine’s earlier touch, replacing it with his own. He’s always known what to do. Eerily so. Truth be told, she was thankful. Where Peregrine had touched her earlier was burning until Dylan brushed it away. A frown slipped onto her lips when she saw his heavy, painful limp. “Did you break your leg?” Without asking permission, she slipped her arm around his waist and pulled his arm around her shoulders. “Let’s get you sitting down.” He leaned heavily against her while she helped him to the stool he usually sat at behind the counter.
“I think I did. I was clumsy and slipped while collecting among the rocks yesterday.” His heavy sigh of relief when his weight was lifted from his leg confirmed his statement.
“Why are you in here today, then?” She frowned seeing the swelling in his upper leg through his slacks. “You should be home, or at least visiting a healer.”
The look in his eyes took her breath away when he spoke. “I am, though. I knew you were going to be in here, so I had to ma
ke sure I made it down the stairs without killing myself so I could see you.”
“Oh, stop it,” she laughed, unable to hide her blush. “You’re a horrible flirt, and you know it.” She gently pushed his shoulder. “We both know Sarah has the hots for you and would be a far better fit.”
“I somehow doubt that, Addy.” She could nearly hear the smirk in his voice without looking. “Sarah is so dull,” he droned. “All she can talk about is fashion and what she would do to me if she got me alone. So not interested in that.”
Adelaide laughed to herself before setting about looking at the flowers that filled the shop almost to the ceiling. Picking up a flower here and there, she found herself unable to choose. Pursing her lips, she became frustrated with her indecisiveness.
“Look up in the window, Love,” Dylan called from his perch.
Adelaide made her way up to the front of the store where a huge bay window worshipped the sun. Colorful stalks with multiple blooms stood tall in the sun. There were five stalks of different colors. Crimson, a deep pink, bold orange, orchid purple, and white all blended into each other as they adorned a deep green stalk. She stopped in her tracks and her eyes grew wide. “Are those—”
“They are,” he cut her off, a proud tone lacing through his voice.
“But they don’t bloom until August! How did you get gladiolus this beautiful out of season?” She reached up to run her fingers over the beautiful petals.
“That’s what I was doing when I hurt myself yesterday. I found this amazing place last year and wanted to get the bulbs started. However, when I went to collect them yesterday, they were in full bloom.”
“They even have the bulbs attached!” She gasped with delight.
“They do,” he chimed. “I knew you wouldn’t want them cut. And your garden doesn’t have any of these. I wanted it to be a surprise.”
She turned around to see the proud smile on his face. “Well, it most definitely was,” she said, turning bright red again. “You chose well, Dylan.”
A Paranormal Easter: 14 Paranormal & Fantasy Romance Novellas Page 56
