“You played beautifully,” he complimented as soon as the two of them were shut into the dressing room and finally alone.
Rabbit grunted. “It’s so weird hearing you say words like that.”
“Because I’m a Devil?”
“Something like that.” Rabbit went over to the table to check out the flowers and gifts that had been brought, brightening when he spotted the familiar bouquet of the Rose Ephemeral. He rolled one of the silky petals between two fingers and leaned in to take a whiff of their sharp sweetness.
“You really like those,” Baikal said. “I’m getting a bit jealous.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Rabbit rolled his eyes and plucked the card free. There was only a single word this time, the word soon in bold lettering. He frowned and held the card up toward Void. “Soon what?”
Baikal gave him an odd look. “What do you mean? Why are you asking me?”
Rabbit faltered. “Didn’t you…” He turned back to the flowers. “Aren’t you the one who’s been sending these?”
He was quiet a moment and then asked, “Why would you think that?”
“You said you’d started watching me a year ago,” Rabbit explained. “That’s around the time these started appearing. I just assumed…You aren’t the one sending them? But they’re so expensive. Who else could even afford these?”
“And why would they send them to a stranger,” Baikal drawled suspiciously.
Rabbit shook his head. “I don’t have any friends, Void. Remember?”
“Well, someone seems to be under the impression the two of you are close.”
He stepped away from the flowers. It was odd because he’d only concluded recently that Baikal had been the one sending them, so it shouldn’t be such a disappointment that he wasn’t. It shouldn’t tarnish the joy that Rabbit had always gotten whenever he did receive them, and yet…
“Don’t look so forlorn.” Baikal stepped up and pulled a different bouquet from the packed mix. “I have been getting you flowers, little bunny. If anything, I should be the one upset since it’s obvious you’ve never noticed them.”
They were roses as well, though not fancy Ephemeral ones. A dozen blood-red roses on long stems were wrapped in silver paper and tied with a teal bow.
“They’re beautiful.” There was something about the simplicity of them that Rabbit liked. He had paid attention to them a time or two, he now recalled, it was just he’d gotten so attached to the Ephemeral ones and the idea of having a secret admirer, he hadn’t paid as much care to the other gifts as he should have.
Now, he took the time, his gaze sweeping over the contents of the table. There were cards and boxes with bows and stuffed animals. The audience had always lavished him with presents, even when he’d been a kid.
“You have a lot of fans,” Baikal said, watching Rabbit closely.
If Rabbit took his mother out of the equation, how would he feel about all of this? Would he enjoy the attention like he used to? The fame? Playing on that stage just now had given him a rush he hadn’t experienced in a long time. Something akin to elation. Something he wouldn’t mind feeling again.
“I haven’t decided on anything yet.” Rabbit needed more time.
“And you don’t have to.” Baikal cupped the base of his skull and bent down to place a tender kiss on his brow. “Don’t consider their feelings,” he motioned to the gifts, “or your mother’s,” he paused and then said in a slightly less enthusiastic tone, “or mine. You have to choose this for yourself, Rabbit. Choose what will make you happy.”
“What if—”
“Don’t say it,” he warned. “We were having a good moment.”
Rabbit laughed. “I wasn’t about to suggest leaving you.”
“Sure you weren’t.”
He had been, but only as a joke. He shrugged, smiling playfully to ease some of the tension now in Baikal’s shoulders.
The Brumal Prince took a step closer, easing into his personal space, but just before he could say anything, his multi-slate dinged. He hesitated but ended up sighing and checking the message anyway, stilling the moment his eyes scanned the screen.
“What’s wrong?” Rabbit didn’t like the way the room’s temperature had seemingly dropped, or the wisps of black smoke now drifting off of Baikal’s shoulders.
“It’s my father,” Baikal said tightly. “He passed out. They took him to the hospital.”
