Page 19 of Pet: Torment

“Ezra—” Noah attempts to step between us, but Ezra is quick to stop him.

“I am not speaking to you,” he says. His eyes never leave mine as he speaks to Noah, and I notice they glow threateningly.

He’s warning me.

“It’s okay,” I say, gently pushing Noah back.

“I’ve been curious about how Sky’s adjusting anyway,” I say.

And just like that, the murderous facade Ezra dawned melts away into the carefree younger brother of Remus that I have become accustomed to. He even holds his arm out for me, and I place my hand in the crook of his elbow as he leads me back to the party. Although my exterior is calm, my heart beats frantically against my chest as we walk, and Ezra makes sure he acknowledges it.

He laughs, shaking his head. “I can hear your heartbeat.”

But I ignore his jab, hoping we re-enter the party soon, as I would feel much more at ease if Remus saw us together. He always makes it a point to shield me from his siblings. And after our conversation earlier, I know this time would be no different.

“So, how is she?” I ask.

Ezra is silent for a moment, and I almost think he’s not going to answer me.

“As good as someone who just lost everything can be,” he says. His tone throws me, but I don’t look at him. It’s the first time I’ve heard him speak so empathetically.

“She didn’t want to come tonight?” I ask.

Ezra chuckles, his footsteps coming to a halt as he turns to look at me.

“Did you?” he asks. “It is a celebration of the end of our time on Earth. Permanently. I figured you would be more…obstinate at the idea of attending.”

I use the opportunity to move past Ezra as I continue the walk to our destination.

“I chose this. I don’t have the right to be that way any longer,” I say.

I expect Ezra to respond with some snarky comment, but he doesn’t. He resumes walking behind me, but I don’t miss his laughter as he follows me back into the party. Before I can enter fully, I pause, turning to look at Ezra.

“How’d you do it? How’d you stop her?” I ask.

Ezra’s grin widens until he is smiling, his eyes glimmering in excitement as he moves past me. He doesn’t give an answer as he enters the party with me in tow. As we enter, it takes me all but five seconds to find Remus. He’s separated himself from the crowd and is sitting on the throne at the front of this level. His expression is blank as he sits, and I note that he isn’t looking for me, his words to me earlier playing in my head.

“I am yours. And you are mine. No matter how you feel about that fact.”

I guess Noah was right. I am no longer a slave. I am his equal.

I pull in a deep breath before crossing the room. I expect Leviathan to stop me at some point, but no one does. I am only a few feet away when Remus glances in my direction. My heart flutters in my chest as a small grin forms on his lips at the sight of me. He is so different now that we have arrived onXyrannis. It’s hard to imagine Noah’s warning to me—that everything I saw on Earth was only a fraction of Remus’s power. And that in bonding, I could unleash even worse.

Remus stands, closing the space between us. I want to hate the feeling of safety and calm he exudes as I step into his arms, but after my brief exchange with Ezra, being with Remus feels like heaven.

“Where have you been?” he asks.

I almost laugh at his innocent question. It’s never been this way, Remus allowing me to roam and asking me about my time away from him. He’s always known where I am and what I am doing, as he’s always been the one in charge of it.

“There is a portrait of your mother out there. Is she not attending tonight?” I ask.

“You have a curious obsession with her whereabouts,” Remus says.

I shrug, pulling away from him.

“I’m curious about the woman who raised you,” I say, earning a laugh from Remus.

“My mother doesn’t like coming to this plane. It holds negative memories for her,” he says.