“You’re in most of his exhibitions in one form or another. The last time, it was a sculpture of half your face. It’s honestly surprising more people haven’t put two and two together, but I suppose that’s probably due to the fact none of the Satellite are all that big in the art scene.”
It was certainly more something Kelevra Diar, the prince of the planet, and his people would be interested in.
The reason Flix hadn’t gone was a bit more personal, though. He’d been trying to keep his distance. Arriving at the guy's personal showing would have been counterproductive, no matter how he spun it.
“If you’ve got something to say about Ani, get on with it.” He was risking being rude now, but Rabbit was toeing the line.
“Ease your hackles,” Rabbit said. “I just figured I could offer you some advice as an artist myself. Since you’ve gone so far as to order men to the other side of the planet for him, it’s obvious that forced hand or not, you care about your Onus. But if you’re not interested in hearing my suggestions…” He planted his palms on the glass surface of the table and rose to his feet regally.
Everything about Rabbit was like that. Graceful, dignified, and majestic. A more perfect match for the King of the Brumal didn’t exist.
Unfortunately, he was intelligent too.
Flix sighed. “All right. Tell me.”
He loathed the idea of someone else teaching him about what was his, but…He had to admit there was very little he understood about an artist or their inner workings. When they’d been younger, he’d encouraged Ani to chase after his passion, but aside from a few smaller sculptures made with cheap clay, he hadn’t really seen any of the other guy’s work.
That had really only started to develop when he’d attended Guest, and partway through that first year, Flix had left him so…
“Aneski is a free spirit,” Rabbit began, holding his ground when Flix snorted at that description. “If you kill his creativity, you’ll effectively be killing his soul. I understand you’re afraid, but you can’t keep him locked up forever, no matter how badly you may want to. Not if you’re intention is to keep him for that long.”
It sounded an awful lot like what Ani had told him, and Flix frowned. “What do you suggest?” Because clearly Rabbit had something in mind. He would know better than to come to Flix without a potential solution. “I could set up a makeshift art studio in the room.” Though the thought of allowing him to touch metal and pointy tools had his stomach lurching.
Rabbit shook his head. “That won’t be enough.”
“If you’re suggesting I free him—”
“I’m suggesting,” he cut him off tersely, “you come up with another way.”
“Another way?”
“To tie him to you,” he elaborated. “You’re anxious right now that he’ll leave you behind. So, do something to ensure he never can. Somethingotherthan locking him up like a prisoner or a princess in a tower. If you make it so he has nothing left to live for, you’ll snuff out his soul and lose him for good.”
“…But if I make it so he can only live for me…” Flix liked the sound of that.
“Not exactly where I was going with this, but sure.” Rabbit shrugged and turned when the sound of the front door opening echoed through the foyer toward them. “That’ll be Void. One final suggestion? You should talk to him about where you sent Hael and why.”
“Or you’ll do it yourself?” Flix asked.
Rabbit paused. “Who do you think I heard that from in the first place?”
“And the other thing?” The cryptic thing he’d been alluding to at the beginning of this conversation that neither of them had voiced aloud. “Does he know about that as well?”
He smiled at Flix again, but it was hard to tell what was behind it this time. “I’ll repeat myself. If there’s something I can help you with, I’m willing.”
“Willing to do what?” Baikal strolled into the room, taking in the scene of the two of them alone together before going straight for Rabbit. He held him around the waist and pulled him in, placing his lips on the musician's forehead lightly. The look he set on Flix was less delicate. “What have the two of you been talking about?”
“I’m late for practice.” Rabbit stepped away from Baikal. “It was nice chatting with you, Flix.”
“How nice?” Baikal called out as Rabbit headed for the door he’d just come through. “Little Bunny? How nice?”
Rabbit ignored him, vanishing from sight.
“We were discussing what I’m doing with Hael,” Flix told him before he could demand answers. “I sent him to Mid Vest to find someone for me. That’s actually why I’m here now. He called earlier and sent over some information.”
“And you can’t do that in the comforts of your own home because your Onus might catch wind you’re hunting down his brother for him?” Baikal took the empty seat Rabbit had just vacated, staring at the mug for a second before lifting it to his lips to sip at the remaining contents.
“You already knew the details. Of course.”
