Page 86 of Pet: Genesis

I look at him angrily, but he’s watching me in pity.

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t hate him?” Remus’s tone is strangely gentle. He pulls the necklace from my hand, studying it while he speaks.

“Sometimes... we do what we think is best for our siblings so that they don’t have to suffer as we did. And sometimes we’re so busy protecting we don’t see how our actions are doing more harm than good,” he says, offering me a smile. I pick up on the double meaning of his words, but I push down the shock of him opening up to me.

“I’m sorry about your brother,” I say softly. I don’t know why the apology comes out of me. Everything Remus has done to me and humanity as a whole is enough to make my flesh crawl. And yet, here I am apologizing about his brother’s fate. Maybe because if I were in Remus’s shoes, I would be worried sick about Cypress, just as I am now. Maybe because when I lost, Remus was there to guide me to finding peace.

I look at Remus, and he’s watching the waves. He seems somewhat at peace as a small smile ghosts across his lips.

“Are you? I thought you’d be thrilled about the results of his capture,” he says. After a brief silence, his smile falls.

“It’s a cruel thing, war. My brother knew how dangerous things were becoming when he volunteered. I’m sure he’ll be fine one way or another. My concern is the weapons they are using and testing on him. While the information you seemed to have given has benefitted humans, it won’t bode well for Ezra. We are not the same. I can only hope Iriel sees that before he kills him on accident,” he says.

“Why wouldn’t he just... kill him now? Use him for leverage?” I ask.

“Iriel isn’t a fool. He may be their leader, but he isn’t the only one that has betrayed me. If he kills Ezra, the entire planet will die, including him and his followers. The only chance he has at survival is to figure out a way to kill me. Ezra is just another means to that end. His capture is giving them a way to fight against the Leviathan race, but not me. Not even Xion.”

I feel a chill ripple across my skin from his words. They’re so cold and matter-of-fact. He has no reservations about ending life on this planet if Ezra dies. What’s more, I don’t think the rebels have taken into account that Xion is not as weak as Ezra. They are outmatched, and she hasn’t even set foot on our planet yet.

“What do you plan on doing if you find the resistance?” I ask. I’ve dreaded this question for a while now, but I’ve been too scared to ask.

“Why? Are you going to tell them that as well?” I flinch from his tone but keep my eyes trained forward. I know if I look at him, I’ll lose it.

“Why didn’t you just give us a chance at peace? You just came in and took our home and deemed that we weren’t worthy of it or a place in your ‘empire,’” I say.

“Your planet has a knack for repeating its history. Your leaders didn’t want peace—”

“Our leaders don’t speak for all of us,” I say quickly. Remus laughs. He actually laughs.

“Yes, they do, Iris. Why do you think they are in charge? Do you think they magically put themselves there? The mass population each of them ruled looked to them upon our arrival. I have nothing to do with your planet’s decision. Besides, had I not intervened, your leaders’ stupidity would have killed all of you before I ever had the chance to interact.”

“I would have never chosen this,” I say.

“I never said there weren’t humans who wanted peace. Of course, there are. Unfortunately, their voices don’t matter to their leaders, and they end up being casualties of war, just as you and your brother almost were,” Remus says.

“So you’re okay with your brother being a casualty of war?” I ask bitterly.

“No. But as I said before, if Ezra is killed on this planet, the plans for your world will change because I, as the leader and an individual, have the power to do so. There will be no plan for humanity. Iriel knows this. I’m confident he won’t do anything foolish until he’s had a chance to kill me.”

“But he can’t,” I say. When I look at Remus, my blood runs cold at his expression. He’s looking at me with a strange smile on his lips, a smile that reaches his eyes.

“Of course not, Pet.”

I release a deep breath, looking back out over the ocean.

“You said you can’t kill me... Why?” I ask. I hear the sound of Remus moving, and when I turn to look at him, he’s inches from my face, his eyes traveling over my features to rest on my lips.

“I’ve grown very attached to you in our time together. I know it’s a foolish endeavor, but I’m also aware that I can no longer fight it or try and pretend it’s a light infatuation,” he murmurs.

His lips come into contact with my throat, eliciting a shiver over my flesh. He continues to place gentle kisses along my throat, trailing to my exposed shoulder. I let out a soft sigh as pleasure once again builds up within me at the slightest touch from Remus. He gently eases me onto my back so that he is straddling me, looking down at me with lust. His eyes burn bright as he watches me, clearly enjoying himself.

“Even if you did give information, it isn’t enough to halt my plans altogether, only delay them. After I thought about it, I wasn’t angry about the information you shared. I was angry because I felt betrayed... by you.” He scoffs lightly as a thought crosses his mind before continuing.

“But I know you only did so because you weren’t fully aware of your situation, nor did you understand your place.”

“... My place?”

“Yes, Pet, your place...” he presses a kiss along my collarbone using his free hand to pull the thin strap of my dress aside, “By my side...”

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