Page 77 of Pet: Genesis

The heat of Remus’s body consumes me as he leans over me, placing another soft kiss along my shoulder blade.

“Do you really think I would put so much effort into reuniting you with your long-lost sibling, only to snuff his life out?” he scoffs lightly, rolling me over so that I am facing him. His bright purple gaze is calm as he looks down at me with a new emotion swirling in his eyes—one that I haven’t seen before. The pulsating rhythm of the energized symbol that rests on his body moves ever so slowly as he looks down at me.

“You think so little of me,” he jokes. He reaches for my palm, pulling my knuckles to his lips as he speaks.

“I gave you a task, and you executed it wonderfully. Even when the time came for you to turn on me, you didn’t. You truly understand now, don’t you?” he asks, studying me.

My eyes widen as his words find meaning in my head, and I find myself nodding slowly. When Cypress and the rebels had their weapons and armor aimed, I urged them to stop. I begged Cypress to leave... not to fire his weapon. Not once did it cross my mind to fight.

Not once.

“I...” I trail off, not knowing what there is to say.

“It’s okay, Iris.You did well.”

Everything I’ve done, everything I’ve sacrificed, is all for nothing. I’ve failed. I’ve failed the human race, I’ve failed Margot, I’ve failed Jude, I’ve failed my brother. I’ve failed.

Jude silently steps behind me, placing an eccentric vase filled with water next to me. I look away from him to the array of plants that Remus has in his courtyard. Among them is Margot’s plant. Even in his rage toward my betrayal, Remus kept it alive. I silently pour the water over the plant, watching as the soil absorbs the liquid.

Remus was able to create a flower out of thin air and fuse Margot’s essence with a plant. Remus was able to single-handedly wipe out a group that was taking out Leviathan towns. Remus has been patiently dealing with the resistance during his time on Earth, but I fear what will happen if they push him too far. And with the capture of his brother, I don’t think it will be much longer now.

His words are burning in my skull.

“You truly understand now, don’t you?”

Do I? I slowly hold my hand up, and it’s still trembling as my mind tries to come to terms with what I saw. I’ve been able to survive Remus this long only because he’s grown “fond” of me. Fear of him is beginning to take hold of me and my actions. Can he truly be unbeatable? If that’s the case, then why is he dealing with humanity in such a way? Why not just wipe us out and be on his way like he’s done other planets?

I release a breath trying to calm my nerves by studying Margot’s plant. It’s grown taller since being planted here, and my eyes widen when I notice a few buds have begun to sprout. I slowly reach forit, drawing my hand back at the last second when I notice Remus in the reflection on the glass. I turn to face him as he steps into the courtyard, a lazy grin on his lips. He’s dressed in his usual all-white attire, and his hair is held out of his face in a tight ponytail. His gaze is intense as he approaches.

He rotates his hand in the air, and I watch in awe as an iris appears. He then gracefully kneels to accompany me on the ground, holding the flower out to me. I study the flower before eyeing him warily.

“When can I see him?” I ask softly. Remus thinks about his answer as he brings the flower to his nose. His eyes roam over the plants, lingering on Margot’s before he takes a seat next to me. He’s silent before finally speaking as he studies the flower.

“My weakness is my siblings.”

He focuses his eyes on the sky before looking back at me with a smile.

“As the oldest, it’s my job to protect them. Xion has always been stubborn, barreling ahead and earning her respect. But Ezra... he’s always making rash decisions hoping to garner the same respect Xion holds.” He leans back, angling his head toward the sun. His eyes close as he speaks with a soft smile.

“I’ve always been proud of him. He’s overcome... so much. Especially growing up with Xion and me so far ahead of him. I was just never able to properly show him. I treated him like a child, making him increasingly reckless, trying to win my approval. Xion and I just... hovered too much.” He releases a soft laugh, holdingout the flower to me, and I take it from him, totally entranced by his sudden vulnerability.

“I remember when we were young, he made a wild pack oftryps1so angry just to prove that he was strong enough to fight them on his own. We ended up having to bail him out of it. Like we always do.” Remus’s smile slowly disappears.

“But now, I fear the worst. He has jumped headfirst into his own plan without concern for the repercussions. And with the advancement of these weapons, I can’t find him. I’m terrified that I won’t be able to bail him out of this one.” Remus finally looks at me with a serious expression. “I tell you this because I understand the importance of family. And I envy you for being able to connect with your brother again,” he says.

I’m in shock as he reaches out, pushing a stray hair behind my ear. His hand drifts to the locket around my neck, and he studies it for a moment before looking back at me.“You can see him if you’d like.”

I blink in confusion at his out-of-character compassion. This is Remus. The same Remus I watched devastate the rebellion. The Remus that enjoys human suffering,mysuffering. The same being that lacks emotion and feeling and manipulates people. But somehow, he is telling me I can see my brother. A human that not only threatened him but is a leader in the rebellion?

“You’re serious?” I ask.

He nods hishead. “Very.”

If this week has taught me anything, it’s that Remus doesn’t do things just to be nice. He has a purpose. He always has a reason. I shake my head in disbelief.

“Why are you doing this?” I ask.

He raises a brow, feigning confusion.

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