The entire farm fell silent.
Bunny's smile remained frozen on her face.
"...and my fiancé."
For several seconds...
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Her father's eyes traveled slowly from his daughter...
To Jax.
Her mother did the same.
Around them, Bunny's enormous family seemed to collectively forget how conversation worked.
Jax stood beside the carriage.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Blonde-haired.
And unmistakably...
Human.
Bunny's ears slowly lowered.
There it was.
The moment she'd spent two days imagining.
Maybe longer.
She'd rehearsed explanations.
Arguments.
Defenses.
She'd thought of everything she could possibly say.
He's not like that.
He doesn't believe in slavery.
He fought the Slave Guild.
He protects beastkin.
He treats me as an equal.
He loves me.
She opened her mouth.
Her father spoke first.
"Jax Darquebane?"
Bunny blinked.
"...Yes."
Her mother looked toward Jax again.
"The merchant from Solmere?"
Jax stepped forward.
"Yes, ma'am."
One of Bunny's older sisters suddenly leaned around another sibling.
"The Jax Darquebane?"
Another brother whispered,
"Oh."
Bunny looked around.
"...Oh?"
Her twin brother folded his arms.
"So it is him."
Bunny's ears rose slightly.
"You know who he is?"
Her father gave her a strange look.
"Aurabelle..."
He gestured toward the crowd of villagers still gathered around their farm.
"We live in the country."
A pause.
"We don't live under a rock."
Several siblings laughed.
Bunny stared at him.
"But..."
Her mother smiled.
"We've heard about the Vixens."
Another sister practically bounced.
"Everyone has!"
"The Crystal Caves!"
"Crescent Moon!"
"The gryphon!"
"The Slave Guild!"
"The schools!"
Questions suddenly erupted from every direction.
"How did you really become S-Rank?"
"Is it true you have a legendary weapon?"
"Did you really beat three adventurers at once?"
"Did you fight in Crescent Moon Canyon?"
"Did you see the dragon?"
Bunny stared at them.
All the fear she'd carried for two days suddenly had nowhere to go.
Her father noticed.
His expression softened.
"You thought we'd be angry."
It wasn't a question.
Bunny's smile disappeared.
She looked toward Jax.
Then back toward her parents.
"I..."
Her ears lowered again.
"...I didn't know."
Her mother stepped closer.
"You thought we'd see a human..."
She left the rest unfinished.
Bunny nodded.
No one laughed this time.
Her father's expression became more serious.
"We've lived long enough to know why you worried."
He looked toward Jax.
"And I've lived long enough to know that a man's ears don't tell me his character."
Bunny stared at him.
Her mother reached up and gently touched her daughter's cheek.
"We've heard stories about this man for months."
"Good ones."
"Mostly," one brother added.
His wife elbowed him.
"What?"
He rubbed his side.
"Some of them are weird."
Jax nodded.
"That's fair."
A few people laughed.
Bunny's father continued.
"We heard about the businesses."
"The Schools."
"The beastkin working openly in Solmere."
"The Slave Guild."
His eyes remained on Jax.
"And we've heard quite a bit about the Vixens."
Then he looked back toward his daughter.
"But more importantly..."
"...we know you."
Bunny swallowed.
"You left this farm because you wanted something more."
"You wanted to become an adventurer."
"You did."
A small smile appeared beneath his whiskers.
"Apparently a very good one."
Bunny's eyes started watering.
Her mother pulled her into another hug.
"If you came home after two years and told us this was the man you chose..."
"...then the least we can do is meet him before deciding you're wrong."
Bunny laughed into her mother's shoulder.
"That's not quite the unconditional approval I was hoping for."
Her father grinned.
"Don't get greedy."
The yard erupted in laughter.
Jax smiled.
Bunny pulled away from her mother and quickly wiped her eyes.
Relief visibly traveled through her entire body.
Her ears rose.
Her shoulders relaxed.
And for the first time since the carriage had entered the valley...
She looked completely like Bunny again.
Then one of her brothers stepped forward.
"Hold on."
Bunny closed her eyes.
"...And there it is."
Her twin brother joined him.
Then another.
Three Rabbitkin men slowly gathered between Jax and the farmhouse.
Bunny's father sighed.
"Boys."
"No, no."
Her twin folded his arms.
"Being human isn't the problem."
Another brother nodded.
"Could've been Rabbitkin."
"Elf."
"Dwarf."
"Celestial."
The third shrugged.
"Still wouldn't be good enough."
Jax looked between them.
Then toward Bunny.
She covered her face.
"My family."
"I like them," Jax said smiling.
"Give it time."
Her twin stepped toward Jax.
"We still have standards."
Nyxian's eyebrow rose.
Jax noticed.
He subtly shook his head.
Not yet.
The brother stopped directly in front of him.
He was solidly built.
Years of farm labor had given him broad shoulders and powerful arms.
His legs were even more impressive.
Typical Rabbitkin.
Fast.
Strong.
Built for explosive movement.
He extended his hand.
Jax accepted it.
The handshake immediately tightened.
Jax felt the pressure.
He looked down.
Then back up.
The brother smiled.
Jax smiled back.
The Rabbitkin squeezed harder.
Jax's hand didn't move.
The brother's smile became considerably more strained.
Jax continued smiling politely.
Finally...
Bunny's father cleared his throat.
"Are you two finished?"
Her brother released him.
"Yep."
Jax nodded.
"Nice meeting you."
The brother flexed his fingers behind his back, strained from the attempted intimidation.
"...Likewise."
Bunny burst out laughing.
The introductions resumed.
There were...
A lot of them.
Twenty-one siblings.
Spouses.
Children.
Cousins.
Neighbors who apparently qualified as family after living nearby long enough.
Jax listened to every name.
Asked questions.
Repeated names when necessary.
Within half an hour...
He seemed to know everyone.
One of Bunny's older sisters eventually noticed.
"You remembered all of us?"
Jax looked around.
"Of course."
Her twin pointed toward two nearly identical younger brothers.
"Which one's Perrin?"
Jax pointed left.
"Perrin."
Then right.
"Terrin."
The twins exchanged looks.
Perrin narrowed his eyes.
"Lucky guess."
"You're wearing different boots."
Both looked down.
Jax smiled.
"Also, Terrin has a scar beneath his right ear."
Terrin immediately touched it.
Jax shrugged.
"I pay attention."
Bunny's father quietly nodded.
Another point earned.
Eventually...
Jax returned to the carriage.
"Before everyone gets too comfortable..."
He opened the rear compartment.
"...I brought something."
Bunny's ears immediately rose.
"The cases."
Jax smiled.
"The cases."
Two reinforced containers were removed from the carriage.
Several of Bunny's brothers immediately volunteered to help.
Jax let them.
The first was carried toward the farmhouse.
Bunny's father looked between the case and Jax.
"What is this?"
"Tradition deserves respect."
Jax rested one hand on the lid.
"When I asked for Llandra's hand, I brought gifts for her family."
He looked toward Bunny.
"I wasn't coming here empty-handed."
Her mother smiled.
"A dowry?"
"Two gifts."
Jax opened the first case.
Inside...
Two curved blades rested against dark velvet.
The entire family went silent again.
The weapons were beautiful.
White metal formed the central blades.
Subtle red and blue patterns flowed along opposite edges.
Intricate Rabbitkin designs had been carved into the hilts.
Beside them rested a custom double sheath.
Bunny stepped closer.
"Jax..."
Her father didn't touch them.
Not yet.
Jax carefully lifted one.
"Brannic forged them."
That name alone created murmurs.
Jax continued.
"They're designed as a matched pair."
"Virtually indestructible under ordinary use."
"Each increases the wielder's strength and endurance."
He rotated the blade.
"The enchantments also react against extreme temperatures."
"Against creatures aligned with fire..."
"...the cold enchantment strengthens."
"Against creatures aligned with ice..."
"...the fire enchantment answers."
Her twin stared.
"That's..."
Jax handed the weapon to Bunny's father.
He accepted it carefully.
"And if you throw one..."
Jax nodded toward the open field.
"...call it back."
Bunny's father looked at him.
"What?"
"Try it."
He hesitated.
Then stepped forward.
He threw.
The blade spun through the air.
Twenty feet.
Thirty.
Forty.
It buried itself deep inside an old fence post.
Bunny's father stared at it.
Jax smiled.
"Hold out your hand."
He did.
"Now think about the blade."
Nothing happened.
Then—
The weapon ripped free.
Several people shouted.
It flew across the yard.
Bunny's father nearly ducked before instinct took over.
His hand closed.
The blade landed perfectly in his palm.
Silence.
He stared at it.
Bunny stared at Jax.
Jax stared at the blade.
For just a moment...
Something about the enchantment seemed oddly familiar.
Then Bunny's twin finally spoke.
"...How much is that worth?"
Jax glanced toward him.
"In my shop?"
He considered it.
"The pair?"
"Probably around twenty-five million."
Absolute silence.
One brother slowly sat down.
Another whispered,
"We could sell those and never work again."
His wife immediately nodded.
"We could sell those and our children would never work again."
Bunny's father carefully returned the blade to its case.
"No."
Several heads snapped toward him.
"No?"
He closed the lid.
"We aren't selling them."
"But—"
"They were made for this family."
His hand remained on the case.
"They stay with this family."
Jax smiled.
Exactly the answer he'd hoped for.
"And the second case?" Bunny's mother asked.
Jax looked toward it.
"That's for you."
Her eyes widened.
Bunny immediately moved closer.
"What is it?"
Jax smiled.
"You'll find out with everyone else."
Bunny's mother laughed.
"I like him."
Bunny pointed triumphantly toward her brothers.
"One down."
Her father cleared his throat.
"I haven't voted yet."
"Mom counts more."
"She does not."
His wife looked at him.
He reconsidered.
"...She might."
The afternoon disappeared beneath food, introductions, stories, and an alarming amount of alcohol for a farming community.
Rabbitkin apparently believed deeply in two things.
Working hard.
And celebrating harder.
By three in the afternoon...
Wine had appeared.
By four...
Something stronger joined it.
Jax politely stuck with the lighter drinks.
He wanted to remember meeting his future in-laws.
Nyxian, meanwhile, seemed delighted by the cultural discovery.
"I like your family."
Bunny narrowed her eyes.
"You've said that four times."
"They keep giving me drinks."
"That's why."
"Still counts."
Questions came constantly.
Most were directed at Bunny.
The family wanted everything.
Her first dungeon.
Her first real fight.
How she'd become a Vixen.
The Crystal Caves.
Her weapon.
Her adventures.
Bunny answered enthusiastically.
Sometimes Zee corrected her.
Sometimes Llandra added details Bunny had forgotten.
Nyxian occasionally made everything considerably less appropriate.
Jax mostly listened.
He liked hearing Bunny tell the stories.
Especially because every time she did...
She seemed to sit a little straighter.
Her family wasn't merely accepting the woman she'd become.
They were proud of her.
Eventually...
A young Rabbitkin girl noticed Llandra's hand.
Her eyes widened.
"That's pretty!"
Llandra looked down at her wedding ring.
"Thank you."
"Is that a wedding ring?"
"It is."
"Where's your husband?"
Llandra hesitated.
The girl continued.
"Is he an adventurer?"
"Does he live in Solmere?"
"Is he an elf?"
Llandra glanced toward Bunny.
Unfortunately...
Bunny had only heard the last question.
"Who?"
"Her husband."
"Oh."
Bunny casually pointed across the room.
"Jax."
Silence.
Again.
Jax slowly lowered his cup.
The little girl looked toward him.
Then Llandra.
Then Bunny.
"But..."
She frowned.
"...I thought you're marrying Jax."
"I am."
Bunny smiled.
"And Zee will."
Zee nearly choked on her drink.
Bunny continued.
"And Nyxian."
Nyxian raised her cup.
"Eventually."
The whispering began immediately.
"He's married to Llandra?"
"Aurabelle's marrying him?"
"All four?"
"Is that legal?"
"I thought I had heard about his marriage before."
"Humans do that?"
"Is she ok with that?"
Bunny's father slowly rubbed his forehead.
"Aurabelle."
She looked toward him innocently.
"Yes?"
"You left out several details."
"...I was going to get there."
"When?"
She thought about it.
"Dinner?"
Her mother laughed.
Her father looked toward Jax.
Jax raised both hands.
"This one wasn't my secret."
That earned another round of laughter.
Eventually...
Bunny's father shrugged.
"If that's the life you've chosen..."
He looked toward his daughter.
"...and everyone involved chose it freely..."
Bunny nodded.
"We did."
"Then that's your business."
Nyxian smiled.
"I really like your father."
"Stop encouraging him."
By evening...
The farmhouse had transformed into organized chaos.
Nearly 100 people crowded into rooms clearly designed to accommodate exactly this kind of event.
Children ran between tables.
Adults carried chairs.
Food appeared from seemingly everywhere.
Jax stopped outside the kitchen.
Ten Rabbitkin moved through it with astonishing coordination.
Roasted meats.
Fresh bread.
Vegetables.
Stews.
Pies.
Platters passed overhead without collisions.
Jax watched in genuine admiration.
Bunny's mother noticed.
"What?"
"I've run restaurants with less organization than this."
She smiled proudly.
"I raised twenty-two children."
Jax nodded.
"Fair point."
She walked away.
Jax continued watching.
Then Bunny's twin brother appeared beside him.
"Tomorrow."
Jax looked over.
"Tomorrow?"
The Rabbitkin smiled.
"The Trials."
Jax raised an eyebrow.
"What Trials?"
The smile widened.
"You didn't think you could just show up..."
"...give Dad twenty-five million gold worth of knives..."
"...and marry our sister, did you?"
Another brother appeared on Jax's other side.
Then another.
Jax looked between them.
Across the room...
Bunny saw what was happening.
She immediately groaned.
"Oh no."
Her twin smiled.
"Tomorrow morning."
He slapped Jax on the shoulder.
"We find out whether you're actually good enough for Aurabelle."
Jax glanced toward Bunny.
She covered her face with both hands.
Her father continued eating as though he hadn't heard a word.
Her mother was visibly trying not to laugh.
Nyxian leaned toward Llandra.
"This should be entertaining."
Llandra smiled.
"For whom?"
Nyxian watched Bunny's brothers surround Jax.
"Me."
Jax looked back toward the Rabbitkin men.
Then smiled.
"Alright."
The brothers paused.
"Alright?"
"You want Trials?"
Jax raised his cup.
"I'll do your Trials."
Bunny slowly lowered her hands.
Her twin grinned.
"Good."
Jax took another drink.
He had faced dragons.
Dungeons.
Armies.
And creatures that shouldn't exist.
Tomorrow...
He would face something potentially far more dangerous.
Twenty-one protective siblings.
And somehow...
He suspected Bunny was going to enjoy every second of it.