The Vixens decided to sleep in the caravan.
With twenty-two children, cousins, and relatives filling every room in the house, there simply wasn't space.
At first, Bunny's family protested.
They assumed the five of them would be squeezing into the small carriage space visible through the windows.
But Bunny quickly gave them a tour.
The caravan doors opened to reveal a full living area.
A comfortable sitting room.
A large dining table.
A fully equipped kitchen.
Gasps echoed through the small crowd.
When they peeked into the bedroom—
They saw one massive bed.
The reactions were immediate.
"Oh…"
"Well…"
"I guess they really do all live together."
There were a few raised eyebrows, but Rabbitkin culture wasn't overly rigid about such things.
Many couples lived together before marriage.
Most simply shrugged and moved on.
The Vixens waved everyone goodnight and closed the caravan doors.
Morning arrived like any other day for the group.
Jax woke up tangled in blankets—
And in several pairs of arms.
The Vixens were sprawled across the enormous bed in a chaotic pile of limbs and hair.
Nyxian's wing draped lazily across Zee.
Llandra's arm rested across Jax's chest.
Bunny was curled into his side.
And it was Bunny of all people who woke first.
She gently nudged Jax awake.
"Come on," she whispered.
"We have a big day today."
Jax groaned.
"The trials?"
"Yep."
"Then five more minutes."
Bunny grinned.
"Nope."
And then she moved her head lower from his face to motivate him in a way that was sure to get him moving afterwards.
After bathing and getting dressed, the group headed into the farmhouse for breakfast.
The smell alone stopped Jax in the doorway.
Country breakfast.
Fresh bread.
Eggs.
Roasted potatoes.
Herbs.
Real herbs—not the dried city variety.
It smelled incredible.
Jax stepped into the kitchen holding a carved wooden spice rack.
Several glass containers filled with colorful spices rested inside it.
A small recipe book was tucked behind the rack.
He presented it to Bunny's mother.
"Please accept this," he said politely.
"In case you ever want to adventure in your cooking."
Arial's eyes widened.
The rack itself was beautifully carved from aged wood and immediately looked like it belonged in the kitchen.
She ran her fingers over the spices.
Then lifted one jar and inhaled.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
"Oh my…"
She smelled another.
And another.
Her excitement grew with each one.
"Jax," she said suddenly, waving him closer.
"Step in here."
She handed him a wooden spoon.
"I'm going to show you how to cook."
Behind them, the Vixens immediately started laughing.
Llandra stepped forward.
"I should probably—"
Bunny grabbed her arm.
"No."
Nyxian grinned wickedly.
"This will be fun."
Arial proudly began explaining the kitchen tools.
"This," she said, lifting a spatula, "is what we call a spatula."
Bunny covered her face and rubbed her temple.
But Jax never corrected her.
He nodded respectfully.
"Interesting."
She handed him another tool.
"And this is a spoon."
Jax examined it with exaggerated seriousness.
Nyxian nearly choked trying not to laugh.
Eventually Arial placed Jax at the stove.
"Alright," she said.
"You can start by flipping the pancakes."
Jax nodded.
A massive skillet already heated over the fire.
He poured batter into the pan.
Arial watched closely.
At first everything seemed normal.
Then she noticed something.
Jax wasn't guessing.
He was measuring the heat.
Watching the texture.
Timing every movement.
When the pancake reached the perfect moment—
He flipped it.
The pancake sailed through the air.
He caught it perfectly with the spatula.
Arial blinked.
Later she watched him flip pancakes directly from the pan onto a waiting plate.
Each one stacked perfectly.
By the fifth pancake she leaned toward Bunny and Nyxian.
"Um…"
"I think he actually knows how to cook."
Nyxian nodded casually.
"He's a renowned chef."
"And he owns dozens of restaurants."
Arial slowly turned toward her daughter.
Aurabelle smiled innocently.
Arial's ears drooped slightly in embarrassment.
"Oh…"
By the time the pancakes were finished, Jax had quietly taken control of the kitchen.
He moved easily between stations.
Helping one person adjust seasoning.
Showing another how to balance a sauce.
Organizing plates so everything finished at the same time.
And then he gave a speech the Vixens knew by heart.
They mouthed the words along with him.
"Food is of the earth," Jax said.
"But flavor was bestowed by the gods."
"You are the gods of this kitchen."
"Each dish is a reflection of your soul."
He tasted a sauce one of the Rabbitkin girls was making.
His eyes lit up.
He gave her an approving nod.
"Will your dish be tainted by hurry and haste?"
"Or will your dish be flavorful with love and taste?"
Nyxian and Bunny repeated the words softly along with him.
Arial watched the entire scene.
The energy in the kitchen had changed.
Everyone moved faster.
More focused.
Proud.
They wanted their food to be perfect.
Jax stepped back as breakfast preparations finished.
When he returned to the doorway, Arial was waiting.
She smacked his shoulder playfully.
"You didn't tell me you were a chef."
"You let me explain what a spoon does!"
Jax smiled.
"Well…"
"It gave me a chance to spend time with you in the kitchen."
Arial tried not to smile back.
But failed.
She glanced behind him.
The kitchen bustled with excitement.
Every cook worked with renewed pride.
Then she looked at her daughter.
Aurabelle stood nearby watching Jax with open admiration.
The same look she had seen yesterday.
Arial walked over and pulled Bunny into a hug.
She said nothing.
It wasn't her place to give the official blessing.
That was her husband's duty.
But in her heart—
After seeing how Jax treated people…
How he inspired them…
And the way Aurabelle looked at him—
He already had her approval.
And after breakfast—
It would be time for the Trials.