Page 63 of Pet: Genesis

I look out at the garden surrounding us, thinking about what he’s saying. I note that Jude’s body heat is warm. It’s nothing like Remus’s unnaturally high body temperature. It’s comforting. I ease into that comfort, trying to think of a solution.

“If what you say is true, and his brother is missing, then someone out there has a weapon that can injure them critically. I’m sure the resistance either has access to it or knows who it is,” I say.

“And what about humanity? How do we protect them from the fate he has planned?” he asks.

“The port. Remus said that they only have a certain number of cities because they don’t believe in messing with the planet’s ecosystem. So that’s why they only have one destination for import and export. Remus may be immune to our ‘primitive’ weapons, but I don’t think their buildings are,” I say with a smile.

Jude is silent, his brain moving a mile a minute.

“What are you thinking?” I ask, unable to take the silence.

“I think... I have to get this information to the resistance as soon as possible,” he says with a smile. I feel my heart picking up speed at his smile, and excitement fills me.

“Do you think we can pull this off? Can they really beat him?” I ask.

“We have to. He’ll wipe us out otherwise until all that’s left are the slaves in captivity. We’ll be an endangered species—an entire planet. Gone just because we don’t fit into his perfect empire,” he says, referring to what Remus said.

I laugh softly, thinking of everything Remus has said about humanity up to this point. “He resents us so much, Jude. If he finds them, it’s over.”

“So we’re on a time clock then. They’ve concluded their business in this city. Today is their last meeting regarding this place. Zaya will be returning to her region, and Remus will be setting out closer to finding the resistance,” he says.

The hope that I felt dies a little as I look at Jude.

“What? Are you sure?” I ask.

Jude nods his head. “I’m sure.”

“Dammit,” I hiss.

“Hey, it’s okay. You’ve given us more than enough information and planning for us to have a chance. You’ve done amazing, Iris. More than could have ever been expected of you.” His smile is comforting and genuine. And I can’t help but feel warmth in my chest at the sight of it.

“I just can’t let Margot down. I can’t let her death be in vain,” I say softly.

Jude frowns, taking in my sudden shift in mood. Now that I’m away from Remus’s scrutiny and the silence of his empty home, tears come flowing out of my eyes in the presence of another sentient life that isn’t out to control me. Someone with free will to react on their own.

“Iris?” he asks.

“One of the slaves with the inhibitor. She was my friend. He took her from the facility to taunt me, and he killed her... he killed Margot,” I say softly.

I can feel my bitter smile as I look down at my hands. “I pushed him. And he punished me for it. He took Margot from me.”

I look at Jude with a bitter smile. “It’s my fault she’s dead. Because of me, he used her as an example...”

Jude places his hand on my shoulder, placing his forehead against mine. We sit silently for a moment, just breathing before he speaks.

“Don’t cry. We’re going to avenge them. All of them. And we’re going to kick these bastards off of our planet.” His thumb runs comfortingly over my cheek, and I open my eyes, looking into his deep green depths. There’s so much warmth there. So much life. It’s nothing like Remus’s. It’s human. I get a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach as I gaze at him, and his smile deepens.

“We will, Iris.”

His smile slowly drops as he looks at me with the same level of intensity that I look at him. His eyes slowly drop to my lips, and Iimmediately lick them out of habit. His pupils dilate slightly, and I’m suddenly aware of how close he is to me. He leans in closer to me, his lips hovering over my own, and I feel my heart skip a beat as he presses his lips to mine.

My world was taken from me at a young age. It was taken before I had a chance to learn more about it and especially enjoy it. I went through puberty in the midst of fighting for survival, so love was never something I thought of, let alone entertained. There were barely any people my age, as everyone too young to survive without parents was killed during the attack or soon after.

Remus may make my body feel good, but this feeling that I have with Jude is something completely new and foreign to me. It stretches beyond physical pleasure. Just the thought of his lips against mine puts my stomach in knots and makes my face heat up. But it isn’t a bad feeling. It’s pleasant. I had never focused on my growing affection for Jude. I’ve been scaring myself trying to survive while spying on Remus. But now that our plans have elevated to the next level, I find myself almost at peace, his words ringing in my ears like a battle cry.

“We’re going to kick these bastards off our planet.”

I can only hope he’s right. I look up just as the sound of the door opening fills the air. Remus never came for me back at Zaya’s. He had a servant send for me and bring me home without him hoursago. If what Jude said about them leaving the city is right, and that was the last meeting, I understand why. I stand from my seat on the cushions as I wait for him to approach.

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