Page 35 of Freed By the Witchbone Knife

“Follow me,” Axel said, his voice gruff. He grabbed my duffle bag and headed toward the back of the cabin.

“I’ll be back, little gremlins,” I whispered to my bunnies.

Axel led me to a large room that was unmistakably masculine. He set my bag on the bed. “You’ll sleep here. Got clean sheets just this morning. But if there’s anything else, let me know.”

I glanced through a side door, spying a full bath and a collection of toiletries on the counter. Masculine toiletries.

My heart skipped a beat. “Wait, is this your room? I can’t⁠—”

“I’m afraid it’s the only room in the house, little witch.”

I ignored the way his endearment made my belly erupt into warmth.

“Didn’t exactly build this place with company in mind. So unless you intend to sleep on the couch.”

“I’ll sleep on the couch⁠—”

“Over my dead body.” The words came out a growl. Then his eyes darted to the bed before finding mine. It was impossible to hide the heat flushing my skin. “You’ll sleep here. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“I’m a wolf. Half the time I sleep outside in my form.”

“Oh.” I pressed my lips together.

“Now, shall we see to the little snacks?”

“Axel!”

“Right. Right. No salivating. Got it.”

We made our way back out into the main room.

It took an hour to get the bunny enclosure frame and acrylic panels up and secure. Axel’s house was beautiful and I worried about all the wood. My bunnies never saw a piece of wood they didn’t like and made sure to leave little teeth marks in everything.

I chewed on my bottom lip.

“What’s wrong?” He frowned. “Did I set it up wrong? We should put it over there, shouldn’t we?”

“No. It’s not that. I just… They like chewing. Wood, mostly. But they’ll chew anything. Carpet is Basil’s specialty. If I let them out⁠—”

“If you let them out?!”

“Well, yeah?” I gaped at him. Did he really not know. Ugh. Was he one of those who thought bunnies should stay in tiny little cages? “Bunnies aren’t meant to be in small spaces. They need room to roam, to run around and exercise. It’s good for their health and keeps their guts mobile.”

“You cannot be serious.”

“I am!”

Axel’s jaw tightened. “I see.”

“I don’t want them to ruin anything.” I twisted my fingers together. “But they’ll go crazy if they’re stuck in there too long. Then they’ll really want to chew everything.”

He sighed. “It’s just wood, Rebecca—Becca. Do you prefer Becca or Rebecca?”

“Either is fine.” What I didn’t say was how much I liked his little witch endearment.

He gave a stiff nod. “Let them out when you need. I’m going to cook some dinner while you get them settled. You got any food allergies?”