Page 105 of Pet: Torment

“It was never my intention—”

“Your intentions do not matter. You, keeping us here like this gives us everything we need to know about your intentions,” I say.

I don’t look back.

“Get out,” I say.

To my shock, he leaves and Xion’s tears intensify as she sobs about the pain that she feels. I continue to hold her, my mind swirling with a mixture of emotions from despair to rage. I know my memories have more in them than hers. I don’t know what was done to her by our mother, but I do know the pain of realizing what has been taken. That, mingled with the loss of people we trusted most in this world, is enough to drive us insane.

Or, in my case, revenge.

Chapter Forty-Six

Remus

My home is quiet. It’s quiet, organized, and cold. It shows no signs of life, the way it did when Iris lived here. The snow that surrounds this place adds to the cold nature of it. When Iris lived here, there were signs of life, whether it was books or clothes strewn everywhere, or even warmth from the hearths.Iris brought warmth into my home—into my life that I didn’t realize I was missing.

And how did I repay her? By causing her to lose not only hers, but the one inside of her. This place, though filled with memories I will hold onto, holds so much pain now. It can’t be left to stand. This whole world can’t be left to stand. The pain that I feel doesn’t deserve to be mine alone. Everyone who benefited from it should face the consequences.

I hear Kuron moving behind me as he takes in the pristine home. I can see that he’s trying to ingratiate himself with me, but I have no interest in joining him, let alone returning to my true home. He’s removed all blocks, allowing my power to slowly but surely return in an attempt to prove he is not my enemy. Once I fully recover, however, I will spend whatever is left of my life to kill him. I won’t let Ezra’s death go unnoticed. And if he kills me in the process, so be it. I have no purpose now that the light I found for myself has been taken from me.

I ignore Kuron’s presence behind me, making my way up the hall to the room that I created for Iris. It no longer exists, my mother made sure of that. Every little moment of our growth together has been stripped from this world. Every piece of her was taken from me. I slowly lift my hand, pressing it against the solid wall that now exists in its place. The plant I brought back was destroyed, the pendants, the gifts…every piece of Iris’s existence. I’m sure the hairpin I gave her now joins her at the bottom of the sea, where her body will never be found.

I release a trembling breath, moving out of the hall. There is nowhere in this home that brings me comfort. I don’t know why I came here. Kuron was right. I could never continue a life here. But I don’t need to.

I make my way out of the hall, and Kuron is waiting for me at the center of the living room.

“Remus—”

“Don’t. You do not speak here,” I say, walking past Kuron.

But he grabs my shoulder, forcing me to face him. I shove his touch away, my rage at being so weak fueling me.

“Why do you continue to follow me around? Why do you pretend that either of us means anything to you? Go back to your world, have more children who will take over for you. Xion and I will not,” I snap.

Kuron’s patient facade cracks slightly, his eyes glowing in a calculated rage.

“Remus. No matter what you say, I have no intention of replacing you. You are my one true heir,” he says.

I scoff, turning away, but he grabs me again.

“Where does this animosity come from? I have explained to you that I made a mistake—”

“A mistake you cannot take back! If you really think I won’t try to kill you when I can, then you are not as smart as I thought you were,” I growl.

Kuron glares at me, unfazed by my outburst. After a moment, he steps closer to me, angling his head as he takes me in. He steps back, his eyes roaming over my home, lingering in certain areas.

“Your mother was here. Her trace is all over the place. From what I’ve gathered, she didn’t care for you enough to be a frequent visitor,” he says, watching my reaction.

“She wiped someone’s presence,” he says.

“How do you—”

“When you are aCelesitivine. A fully maturedCelestivine, you can sense the tampering of matter,” he says.

“This mourning isn’t just for the half-ling,” he says, his eyes widening slightly when he remembers what happened that day.

“The vessel I sensed your essence in was the woman,” he says.