Page 94 of Pet: Genesis

“I feel strange. Ever since...,” I trail off, not knowing how to broach the subject, but lucky for me, I don’t have to.

“Strange?” Remus asks. I immediately look away, my cheeks burning at the thought of having to voice my emotions. Remus chuckles, speaking my thoughts.

“You don’t have to be jealous of Zaya, Iris.”

“I’m not jealous,” I snap. Remus scoffs at my reaction, and I tense when I feel his lips hovering over the sensitive area of my neck.

“I know you, Iris. Everything about you is an open book. You don’t have to lie to me,” he murmurs.

“I’m not jealous,” I repeat. I look at Remus with anger in my eyes.

“I would never be jealous of you. You’re despicable,” I hiss. Remus’s smile widens, and he looks away from me.

“Of course,” he says. I use the opportunity to look around the room at the inhabitants of the society, and I notice they are all very excited. There seems to be an aura in the air.

“Speak your mind,” Remus says over me.

“They all look so happy,” I say. Remus nods, looking at them as well.

“They have known security, peace, and a thriving society their whole lives. How could they be anything but?” he says. I don’trespond, looking at his people. He’s right. I’ve seen every part of Remus’s society from the top to the bottom, and on every level, they are happy.Content. Remus has somehow given that to them.

“Not bad for a despicable ruler,” he adds.

Everyone is too excited as if they are anticipating something.

“What is this celebration for?” I ask. Remus watches me momentarily, his eyes searching my expression before he gently places his hand in mine.

“How perceptive you are.” He doesn’t say another word as he leads me toward the balcony, away from the party. We step onto the balcony, and I can still hear the music from inside playing. I take in the scenery around me, noting that we’re sitting near the ocean. So the air is warm.

“Can you see it?” Remus asks. I follow his gaze, but I can’t see anything.

“See what?”

“The main port.”

My eyes widen as I look ahead, but I can’t see anything. This is the place I told Jude about—the one I couldn’t figure out the exact location of because I didn’t remember Earth’s geography. And Remus is showing it to me. Remus takes in my struggling situation and chuckles softly. “Don’t worry. You’re human, so your eyes can’t see that far, but it’s there.”

“What does the port have to do with this celebration?” I ask.

“It’s the only reason Zaya was so excited speaking to me. She and my sister are very close. She’s as excited as everyone else about her arrival tonight,” Remus says.

My heart slams against my chest from his words.

“What?” I ask in a shaky whisper. His attention remains focused on the port, though.

“We’re celebrating Xion’s arrival.”

I suddenly feel dizzy. Xion is arriving. She’s coming here to Earth.

“Why? Why is she coming here?” I ask. Remus notices my tone, watching me with a strange expression. He opens his mouth to respond, suddenly tensing. I tense as well when I feel a slight tremor ripple over the land, shaking the building. Remus’s expression is stone as he looks out over the ocean, and I follow his gaze, my eyes widening from the sight. It’s an explosion. I couldn’t see the port, but I can now see the flames and smoke. Just as I notice it, the doors to the balcony fly open, and a panicked Leviathan steps out, shouting something at Remus.

Remus tenses beside me, quipping his response, and I notice the Leviathan paling. Remus doesn’t respond as he grabs ahold of my hand, pulling me back into the party. My heart beats wildly in my chest as I take in Remus’s demeanor. I haven’t seen him this way since our first encounter in the blight. He finds Zaya, snapping something to her quickly before looking at me.

“Do not leave her side,” he snaps. That’s all he offers as he speeds out of the room, leaving me with Zaya. My eyes widen, and I look at her in a panic.

“What’s happening?” I ask. She doesn’t respond, though. Her eyes are narrowed, and her muscles are tense as she looks around the room. Out of nowhere, a commotion happens. It’s barelynoticeable at first, only a few dishes crashing. But then, the screams happen. The Leviathan around me breaks out in panic just as the lights dim slightly.

Zaya pushes me behind her, looking around with a narrowed gaze. “We are being attacked.”

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