The corner of Ani’s mouth lifted.
He never had. Flix had always been the first one to notice when his clothes were frayed or his backpack had stains on it. He’d replace the items and ask for nothing in return. Not even Russ bothered noticing things the way the Brumal member had. It was the same with everything. If Aneski needed something, Flix would provide it.
When Ani had been torn over his desire to major in the arts or the responsible choice of following in his brother’sfootsteps and going to Vail, Flix had been the one to talk him through it. He hadn’t laughed or called him ridiculous for wanting to sculpt for a living.
Flix had taken him out for a fancy dinner in a private, quiet corner of a restaurant Ani could never have even dreamed of affording and had asked him questions. What were the pros? What were the cons? Where did Ani want to be in ten years? When all of the answers had something to do with being a successful artist, he’d cheered him on.
“Don’t worry about the tuition fees,”he’d said.“Your brother has been saving. I’ll convince him to allow you to use the funds for the school of your choice. All you have to do is get in. Can you do that, Tiny Terror? Are you good enough?”
Aneski had exclaimed that he was and had hugged him, completely unabashed that they were in public.
He chuckled and fell back onto the bed. That might have even been the moment he realized he was into exhibitionism. He’d wanted the other diners to notice them. Wanted them to see how close he and Flix were, to assume that they were dating.
He’d wanted Flix, then and now, and…
“You were planning on leaving him,” he muttered, dropping an arm over his eyes to block out the bright sunlight pooling in from the window. He’d figured he’d confront Russ with Flix there as protection and support if the Brumal had agreed to help find his brother, and once that was settled and done with, he’d leave them both in the past. If Flix had refused, then Ani would make him name him as Onus and leave still.
Flix wouldn’t be able to name another no matter who he fell for later, which meant no matter what or how far apart they became, Aneski was always going to mean something to him. He’d always be the one who bore the title.
In a sick way, he’d always be Flix’s.
And he’dlikedthat notion.
Where do you want to be in ten years, Ani?
Where did he want to be?
“With you.”
Which meant finding a way to convince Flix that he was in it for the long haul, whether he was chained up or not. It meant finally admitting to the both of them what he’d always known all along.
Aneski was in love with him.
Despite it all.
That love held true.
Chapter 18:
“You sent someone to Mid Verse.”
Flix lifted his head from the dining room table to find Rabbit standing in the kitchen doorway, a steaming mug of something in his hand.
It’d only been a few months since Rabbit Trace had started dating Baikal, but it felt like he’d been a permanent fixture at this residence for years. Known as the Prince of Music on campus, Rabbit had a reputation for coming off icy and sticking to himself. He was a quiet presence, and while he and Flix had spoken many times before, it was rare for them to be alone.
It was also rare for him to speak to Flix about Brumal matters that didn’t directly involve Baikal, yet here they were.
As Kal’s named Possessio, Rabbit had the authority to question Flix whenever he felt like it, though they’d all been ordered not to refer to him as such by title. Apparently, Rabbit wasn’t fond of it.
“My Onus begged me to claim him,” Flix said as the other man entered and took the seat across from him. “He was after the title more than anything else.”
Rabbit sipped at his drink. “Are you asking me why I’m so opposed to hearing mine?”
He considered that and then shook his head. “I think I’m just trying to sort through everything and make sense of it all.”
“What’s to make sense of? Your Onus stabbed himself, did he not? That kind of desperation speaks for itself.”
Flix’s brow furrowed. “Desperation?”
