Christopher had always known his life would never truly belong to him, but he had hoped, foolishly, that he would at least have a few more years before being thrown away.
Yet as he listened to his parents whisper in the cold corner of their rabbit den, something inside him fractured.
"We will send him to Jessie in seven days." Lily murmured, "She has offered enough pelts for the exchange. It is a good deal. And she wants another cheshire male before the cold season locks the paths."
Mir nodded with a tired expression, rubbing his arms as though the cold had seeped into his bones, "It will give us more protection through winter. We...need this."
"You mean I need this." Lily corrected sharply, "I raised a cheshire male. I should be compensated."
Christopher pressed himself deeper into the shadows, heart pounding so violently he feared they would hear it. His legs trembled. His breath grew shallow.
