Flix glanced at the table and froze all over again.
Ani had slapped a printed picture of the two of them there for both Baikal and Berga to see. It showed Flix and him making out against a white wall, though the blindfold had been removed. It also happened to be a cleverly shot image that left out the chains Flix had been held up in.
He had to have kissed him one of the times Flix had been unconscious. This was clearly a still from the security feed footage, just zoomed in.
But why?
“What is this?” Baikal repeated, though he directed the question Flix’s way now.
His throat went dry, and his mind scrambled to come up with a logical explanation that wouldn’t implicate Ani, but the man still standing seemed too impatient.
And clearly had a death wish.
“His vacation,” Aneski stated smugly.
“Excuse you?” Baikal’s eyes narrowed.
“We’re dating.”
What the— “Aneski.” Flix’s hands dropped to his lap beneath the table, and he clenched them into fists to keep himself from doing anything crazy.
“You’re dating the leader of the Shepards?” Baikal drawled, setting his sights on Flix. There were no noticeable changes in him, but Flix could sense the way Shout power coiled within him.
Another reason Flix had kept the secret. Baikal wouldn’t be okay with knowing Flix could read him better than he thought.
But that was probably also why Kal had been staring at him oddly before Aneski’s arrival. Even without knowing that Flix had developed Shout abilities, he would be able to feel that same twisting power within him. He most likely just thought it was something else. Everyone had an energy pattern, and some Shouts could tap into that.
The Insight 2.0 contact lens that allowed Baikal to read people’s body temperatures to help gauge their mood also helped in that regard. He’d be able to tell Flix was anxious, and that anxiety could explain away what he was feeling about the power.
“I can assure you,” Flix said, “I am not.” He sent Ani a warning look, but the other man wasn’t paying him any attention.
“Since he’s too scared to tell you, I will.” Aneski held his ground.
This was ridiculous and a lie. As far as Flix was concerned, anything that was between them was meant to have come to an end the other night. That was why he’d left afterward and why he hadn’t contacted Aneski since. Instead of being grateful, Ani was here stirring the pot?
Why?
“These past few weeks, he was with me,” Ani insisted. “If you don’t believe me, there’s video footage of the two of us. If you don’t mind seeing your Runner in a compromising position, of course.”
“Aneski,” Flix warned.
“And you’re telling me all of this, why?” Baikal kept his voice even, but considering all of the cafeteria had started taking notice of the drama, he could be heard loud and clear.
Shit.
Flix risked a glance around and saw most eyes were now on them. Those who were still talking amongst themselves were doing so in hushed whispers so as not to miss anything important. As if this were some damn spectacle they’d all purchased tickets for.
“He’s taken too long to tell you himself,” Aneski stated matter-of-factly, lying through his teeth like a champ. Another surprise, because Flix hadn’t been joking the other day when he’d called him a bad liar. Typically, he was. Seemed like he could muster up the skill when he really needed it.
“The thing about Flix is,” Aneski continued. “You give him too much time to sit on something and he’ll end up never telling you.” Finally, he looked at him. “I got tired of waiting.”
“Aneski, that’s enough. Cut the bullshit.” Flix was torn between physically removing him and acting physically removed.
“Are you dating,” Baikal asked him tersely, “or not, Flix?”
“Aneski has had a thing for him for years,” Berga finally spoke up. “Everyone knows that. He’s probably trying to force him into a relationship he doesn’t want.” He propped an elbow on the table and rested his chin on his knuckles before he said to Ani, “Coveting that which doesn’t belong to you can be considered an offense, you know.”
“Who’s offended?” Aneski, the absolute fool, asked. “You?”
