Page 90 of Pet: Genesis

“Rem-AH!” I feel a sharp stab in my throat, and I realize he’s biting me. Pleasure disappears as pain ripples through every vein in my body. I cry out, pulling at his hair as I screech in pain, my eyes focusing on the rain clouds above us. His jaw locks on my throat, deepening his attack. I don’t think the pain is going to lessen when I finally feel him let go of my throat, my consciousness waning. My breathing is shallow, and I suddenly feel weak. Extremely weak.

Remus uses the moment to press his lips over mine, but instead of kissing me as I expect, I feel something foreign enter me. The frigid chill that weakened me is replaced by an incredible warmth. The warmth is extreme, bringing me back from the brink of unconsciousness. It fills every corner of my body, all the way to my fingertips, inviting me in. I vaguely register that it’s Remus who is giving me this warmth. And it finally brings back the feeling of pleasure, rocketing me over the edge.

I cry out as my body spasms on his thrusting shaft, the world around me spinning. It becomes too much, too bright, and I can’t handle it. I feel my nails clawing at Remus’s flesh, but he doesn’t seem to notice as he continues to press his lips against mine. My body feels like it’s going to implode from pain or pleasure, I don’t know which.

Finally, the world around me disappears, along with my pain.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Remus

Conquer.

That’s all I’ve ever known. War, battles, and protecting my people have always been at the front of my mind. Being a leader has always been my main priority. Untilshecame along. I wonder how different things would have been if I had never laid eyes on her. Seeing her there, clearly frightened and outmatched yet still risking her life for others, piqued my interest. But I should have just killed her or added her to the slaves, where I would never have seen her again. I never should have taken her in.

Iris is asleep in my bed, her features lax of emotion. Her body gave out from the amount of energy it was taking in. And up until an hour ago, it didn’t look like she would survive the transfer of my essence.

I bonded her to me. I hadn’t meant to. I understood her frustrations initially. She’s always been very vocal about her attachment to her planet. I expected her to give me pushback when it came to leaving. But when she tried to take her life instead of taking the one I had offered her, after everything we’ve been through, I snapped. She would still choose humanity, who has offered her nothing but disappointment, over me. And I couldn’t take the thought of her life being so fickle any longer.

Nothing mattered other than claiming her.

My gaze shifts to her throat. Even now, I can see the puncture wound. It won’t heal until her body is fully coded to my DNA. Already, the symbols that belong to me are beginning to form on her body. Bonding is a very intimate act only my siblings and I can perform. It is something that was passed on to us from our mother to allow our lifemates to share our lives because not every species lives as long as we do. I can already sense the change in her bloodstream as her body begins to fit mine.

The last thing I wanted was to bond with Iris. She’s always been a distraction, but now she will be even more so, her emotions visible to me in our new shared state. It is something I’ve both admired and disliked about her: her ability to let her emotions rule her. I’ve been alive long enough to understand the negative impact being emotional can cause. I’ve learned to tamp down my emotions and live rationally. But somehow, she has awakened that side of me each time I’m in her presence.

What began as a curiosity has become something I can no longer control.

I take a seat next to where she lies, admiring her. Her hair has grown significantly in our time together. I reach toward her face, pushing her hair aside, and she doesn’t stir. Her chest’s slow rise and fall lets me know just how deep of a sleep she’s in.

“What do you want me to do?” I murmur as I study her.

Humans are a valuable resource among the galaxies. Though the humans of the solar system are unaware, their kind exists in other star systems. They are intelligent, and their bodies are compatible with most species that exist. Finding a planet-full so far behind in their evolution was disappointing, but the fact that they’ve managed to put up this kind of fight for so long is impressive.

However, my patience has run out for both sides. I know Iris will be disappointed if her brother gets caught in the crosshairs, but I’ve put it off long enough because of her. Clearly, I can’t control myself when it comes to her, so it’s time to put an end to this. The percentage of humans that are hidden within the resistance living as not only rebels but also refugees is astounding. They’ve managed to create a society wherever they are hidden, giving a large percentage of humans freedom. If not taken care of immediately, it could lead to an uprising in the future. I can’t be here forever, and now that they have access to weapons that can harm the Leviathan, they are to be taken much more seriously.

I’ve treated them with mercy long enough.

I look back at Iris when I notice a shift in her state. Since bonding is an intimate act between us and our chosen, I should be excited for her to awaken and explain to her everything that this means, showing her the newest state of her body, but I’m not. I know thatonce she awakens, there will be hell to pay. I eye her form, watching closely as my essence within her begins to form physically atop her skin.

I find myself smiling as I watch the process. The energy is forming my mark on her throat where I initiated the bond. It slowly appears as the puncture wounds heal, traveling across her collarbone before dipping under the thin shirt she wears. It’s done. Already, I can feel her emotions weighing on me.

I also feel my own anger with myself for doing something so immature in a fit of rage. But it’s done now. I silently place my palm against her throat, focusing on the energy. She won’t like this once she awakens. When I remove my hand, the symbol is gone, embedded under her skin until a time I feel it is right to let her know what has happened and what it means for her life.

Taking in her sleeping form one last time, I stand to make my way into my office. Already, the screen is flashing with a transmission. The screen flashes, and Xion appears smiling back at me. I barely get a greeting out before she launches into how much she misses me and Ezra and everything that’s been going on at home. I smile as I take in her features, listening to her stories. I missed her. It’s nice to see a face that is excited to see me and speak with me after all this time.

I’m pulled from my musings when I pick up something that she said.

“Wait. You said Ezra contacted you?” I ask. She nods her head, visibly noticing my concern.

“When?” I ask.

“A few weeks ago, why?” she asks. I feel slight irritation but hide it.

“What did he say, exactly?” I ask.

“Just that he was on a mission and not to worry.” Xion takes in my silence, her mood shifting.

“Remus... is something wrong?” she asks. I mull over my options for a moment before responding.

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